William C. Hinds (May 3, 1939 – May 14, 2021)

In Memoriam

The aerosol community mourns the loss of Dr. William C. Hinds, who passed away peacefully at his home in the Bay Area of California on May 14, 2021, at the age of 83. He is survived by his wife Lynda and his children, Sarah and Lucy, and their families.

Bill’s primary research area was fundamental and applied research related to aerosols and industrial hygiene controls of airborne contaminants including respiratory protection. He was a dedicated member of American Association for Aerosol Research (AAAR) and served on many committees including the Education Committee (1986-1992), Working Group on Respiratory Protection (1988-1991), Nominating Committee (1994-1995), Awards Committee (2002-2005), and Board of Directors (1990 -1993).

He gave the tutorial on Introduction to Aerosols at the AAAR annual conference for 26 years. He was also an invited speaker to other aerosol conferences in Europe and Asia. Perhaps his best-known contribution is the seminal textbook Aerosol Technology: Properties, Behavior and Measurement of Airborne Particles, the first such text in the field. The 1st edition was available in 1982, the 2nd in 1999, and the 3rd will be published soon with the co-authorship of Professor Yifang Zhu. A Japanese edition appeared in 1985.

Bill graduated with his Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1962 from Cornell University, obtained his Master of Science in Hygiene from Harvard University in 1969, and earned his doctorate in Environmental Health from Harvard University in 1972. In the Department of Environmental Health Sciences at the Harvard University School of Public Health, he held the following positions: Research Associate in Industrial Hygiene Engineering, 1972-73; Assistant Professor of Environmental Health Engineering 1973-80; and Associate Professor of Environmental Health Engineering 1980-82. He was then recruited by the UCLA School of Public Health and became an Associate Professor starting in 1982 (also founding the UCLA Industrial Hygiene Program), and became full Professor in 1986. He was honored as Fellow of the American Industrial Hygiene Association in 1994; the American Industrial Hygiene Association Donald E Cummings Memorial Award in 2009; and the AAAR David Sinclair Award in 2009.

Bill will be remembered for his dedication to AAAR, his impact on many young scholars by introducing them to the aerosol field, his integrity, his character, and his kindness.

This memorial piece was prepared by Yifang Zhu, Nola Kennedy, and Tony Wexler.