Dear Colleagues,
It was wonderful to see so many of you at the 42nd Annual Conference of the American Association for Aerosol Research in Albuquerque, NM. The conference provided a fantastic opportunity to reconnect with old friends, meet new colleagues, and celebrate our scientific community. The insights gained during the sessions left many of us inspired and motivated to continue championing the vital contributions our work makes to human health, environmental sustainability, and technological innovation.
This year, the Representation and Equity Affairs (R&EA) Program provided many valuable lessons, highlighting the importance of community engagement and inclusiveness in research. On Monday evening, a panel session moderated by Cliff Davidson featured insightful discussions from Andrea Ferro, Lupita Montoya, and Michael King on the significance of community-engaged research (CER). The panelists shared their personal experiences, challenges, and successes in conducting CER, offering practical perspectives to AAAR members. The session emphasized the need to prioritize the voices of those directly affected by environmental events in their communities and to approach research with a commitment to improving their quality of life. Enabled through a grant by the R&EA program, AAAR was honored to host several Native American students, staff, and faculty from Northern Arizona University who had never attended a conference previously and shared their firsthand perspectives on the transformative impact of CER. This collaborative and thought-provoking session underscored the vital role CER plays in advancing equity and meaningful scientific contributions.
Monday evening was capped off with the highly anticipated annual Geeks Who Drink Trivia event, which drew an impressive and enthusiastic crowd. The lively atmosphere was filled with friendly competition as teams tested their knowledge across a wide range of topics, sparking laughter, camaraderie, and spirited debates.
Tuesday’s conference events began with a special surprise visit from Mayor Tim Keller of the City of Albuquerque. Mayor Keller delivered a concise and impactful message addressing environmental justice challenges in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and highlighted new initiatives the city is implementing to improve air quality.
Following the Mayor’s on-theme message, Tuesday’s plenary “Wash Day: Supporting Air Justice” was given by the enigmatic Shirley Malcolm from the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Shirley’s plenary provided a deeply personal and thought-provoking journey into the realities of environmental justice and injustice. Shirley provided a unique perspective on how air pollution disproportionately affects the health and education of minoritized and economically disadvantaged communities. She highlighted the deep connections between environmental harm and structural inequalities, while also emphasizing the transformative role of science, communication, and community empowerment in addressing these challenges. Her compelling presentation served as both a personal reflection and a call to action for the scientific community, urging attendees to engage more deeply in the principles of environmental justice in their research and outreach efforts. It left the audience inspired to consider how their work could contribute to more equitable and sustainable outcomes. “Get into good trouble” Shirley declared, as she closed her inspiring plenary to the AAAR community.
Tuesday’s events showcased two highly anticipated special symposia: “Bioaerosols in Agriculture” and “Coast to Coast Campaigns on Aerosols, Clouds, Chemistry, and Air Quality”. Both symposia drew engaged audiences and featured insightful presentations and discussions. During lunch, new researchers gathered for the New PI Event. The event fostered a sense of community among early-career PIs and offered a platform for networking, collaboration, and shared learning. The day concluded with the annual Welcome Reception, where attendees mingled, enjoyed beverages and snacks, visited exhibitors, and previewed the posters. Students seeking future employment participated in the Meet the Job Seekers Poster Session, which provided an opportunity to connect with potential employers. The evening was filled with lively conversation, new connections, and a sense of excitement for the days ahead.
Wednesday morning began with the AAAR 5K(ish) Fun Run/Walk, taking participants on an invigorating jaunt through downtown Albuquerque. Later that morning, the highly anticipated Lundgren-Marple Lecture was delivered by Jim Cutts from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. His presentation, titled “Atmospheres and Aerosols of Other Worlds,” offered a captivating exploration of the history and challenges of studying aerosols in the atmospheres of planets such as Mars, Venus, and Jupiter—an intriguing and novel topic for the AAAR community. Jim provided a review of current knowledge about extraterrestrial aerosols, highlighting the potential of innovative exploration platforms like rotorcraft and balloons, as well as advancements in miniaturized aerosol instrumentation. He also shared fascinating insights into the possibilities of other planets sustaining human life and serving as venues for future exploration. The lecture was both informative and thought-provoking, leaving the audience inspired by the potential for groundbreaking discoveries beyond Earth. The plenary featured nicely with the Tuesday special symposia “Planetary Aerosols: From Earth to Exoplanets” which continued the discussion on this extraordinary topic! Wednesday at the conference also featured the first of many of the sessions for the special symposia on “Chemicals of Emerging Concern in Aerosols” a timely and noteworthy topic for the AAAR community.
Wednesday evening was a memorable highlight for all conference attendees as the AAAR community gathered at the National Museum of Nuclear Science and History for the “Night at the Museum” event. The evening featured engaging presentations by Sandia National Laboratory and Los Alamos National Laboratory, showcasing their aerosol research efforts, unique capabilities, and contributions to science. Participants were enthralled by the museum’s captivating exhibits, including standout features like the uranium cubes and heavy water display. The museum traced the evolution of nuclear science from its early experiments to its transformative modern applications. The private setting offered a rare opportunity to explore the museum in an intimate and immersive atmosphere, free from the usual crowds. This extraordinary event seamlessly blended history, science, and inspiration, providing attendees with a deeper appreciation for the rich legacy and exciting future of nuclear and aerosol research. It was, without a doubt, an evening to remember!
Thursday morning kicked off with the Friedlander Lecture “Don’t Hold Your Breath! Tissue Chips and Other In Vitro Models for Studies of Inhalation Toxicology” provided by Ivan Rusyn from Texas A&M University. This plenary presentation on inhalation toxicology provided an in-depth look at this vital yet complex field, which examines the adverse effects of gases and aerosols on human and animal health. Ivan’s presentation explored the range of experimental models used in inhalation toxicology, from human and animal studies to advanced cell-based approaches. He presented recent developments in tissue chips—complex, tissue-like constructions that offer exciting potential for advancing the field of toxicology. While these innovations have led to significant discoveries, Ivan emphasized the challenges in transitioning these models from research to practical application, particularly for regulatory adoption. His presentation underscored the importance of innovation in solving real-world problems related to air quality and public health.
A box lunch was provided on Thursday afternoon and participants used the time to spend catching up with colleagues, visiting the exhibitor booths, or attending the Atmospheric Science and Chemistry mEasurement NeTwork (ASCENT) or Representation/Equity Affairs and Community Engaged Research Program lunch and learn events. Thursday afternoon’s platform session highlighted the special symposium “Indoor Air Purification Technologies, Best Practices, and Their Health Impacts,” a highly relevant topic in the post-COVID pandemic era.
At the conclusion of the conference on Friday afternoon, Alex Huffman from Denver University delivered the final plenary presentation of the year, “A Perspective on Bioaerosol Research: Interdisciplinary Bridges Connecting Pollen, Pandemics, and Precipitation.” Alex provided an in-depth review of the history and the significance of bioaerosol research, highlighting its interdisciplinary nature and far-reaching societal impact. As the founder of the AAAR Bioaerosol Working Group and a long-time member of the AAAR community, Alex’s presentation celebrated the contributions of AAAR and its members to advancing bioaerosol science, while inspiring younger researchers to embrace the interdisciplinary and evolving nature of the field. It was a fitting and thought-provoking conclusion to the conference, blending historical reflection with a forward-looking vision for the future of bioaerosol research. Alex also will go down in history as the first-ever plenary speaker at AAAR to incorporate an AI-generated rap session into his presentation! It was a perfect and delightfully humorous conclusion to an incredible conference week.
Throughout the week, our esteemed peers were recognized for their significant contributions to the field of aerosol science and the AAAR community. Congratulations to all the award 2024 recipients of the Friedlander, Hering, Sinclair, Whitby, Liu, and Mercer Awards, the Aerosol Science and Technology Outstanding Publication and Reviewer Awards, the Juan de la Mora Prize, and the two new AAAR Fellows.
This year’s Exhibit Hall was bustling with activity, thanks to the efforts of Amy Sullivan, and featured a wide array of cutting-edge aerosol instrumentation and technologies. In its second year, there were three Exhibitor and Instrument Application Showcases—fondly referred to as ‘Scientists Doing Experiments Drinking Coffee’. Held within the Exhibit Hall, this interactive platform session offered attendees valuable opportunities for hands-on education and knowledge exchange. The showcases focused on real-world measurement applications and challenges, sparking meaningful discussions between exhibitors and participants. The event was both enjoyable and educational, fostering collaboration and engagement between industry professionals and the AAAR community.
It was a sentiment echoed throughout the conference this year: AAAR truly feels like a family. This sense of connection was brought to life through an exciting new initiative featured at the History of Aerosol booth, where members could participate in an interactive tool to map their academic affiliations. Led by Suresh Dhaniyala from Clarkson University, this multi-year project aims to highlight the deep interconnectivity within the AAAR community. If you missed the chance to contribute your data during the conference, don’t worry—online instructions will be shared soon, allowing you to input your information remotely. Next year’s conference will feature the unveiling of the “AAAR Family Tree,” showcasing the shared academic roots and connections that bind this community together. It’s a wonderful reminder of how far-reaching and interconnected the AAAR network truly is!
Finally, none of the incredible experiences and events at this year’s conference would have been possible without the hard work and dedication of the following individuals. Thank you for your efforts—you are the true heroes of this year’s conference!
Working Group Chairs: Celia Faiola, Matt Berg, Andrew Metcalf, Lupita Montoya, Francesco Carbone, David Cocker, Manabu Shiraiwa, Andy May, Anita Avery, Claudio Mazzoleni, Jenna Ditto, James Davie, Yue Zhang, Marina Nieto-Caballero, Ogochukwu Enekwizu, Christine McCool, Tran Nguyen, Sarah Petters, Pete DeCarlo, & Maria Zawadowicz
Special Symposia Chairs: Caroline Duchaine, Stéphane Godbout, Douglas Collins, Jenna Ditto, Eleanor Browne, Melissa Trainer, Bo Yang, Lynn Russell, & Drew Gentner
Tutorial Instructors: Richard Flagan, Alex Huffman, Joshua L. Santarpia, Shalinee Kavadiya, Weining Wang, Rachel O’Brien, Shelly Miller, Marina Vance, Paul J. Ziemann, Georgios A. Kelesidis, Maria King, Sunil Kumar, Serena Chung, Monika Kopacz, Insung Kang, Sarah Petters, & William Lindsley
The Education Committee: Xuan Zhang, Sarah Petters, Raghu Betha, Shannon Capps, Andrew Metcalf, Marwa El-Sayed, Ricardo Morales Betancourt, & Joseph Woo
Early Career, Membership, and Internet Committees: Laura Fierce, Yang Wang, Anita Avery, Cassandra Gaston, Stavros Amanatidis, Raghu Betha, Cassandra Gaston, Stavros Amanatidis, & Raghu Betha
The 2024 AAAR Social Media Ambassadors: Raymond Leibensperger, Emily Costa, & Peter Chea
Organizers of all the Special Events: Cliff Davidson, Andrea Ferro, Cesunica Ivey, Michael King, Lupita Montoya, Amy Sullivan, Christine McCool, Anita Avery, Kaisen Lin, Andres Sanchez, Katherine Benedict, Sally Ng, Ann Dillner, Roya Bahreini, & Ted Russell
Abstract Team: Donal Dabdub & Jeff Lindley
Development Committee: Amy Sullivan & Cameron Martin
AAAR Executive Committee & Board of Directors
All the Session Chairs, Student Assistants, Platform, & Poster Judges
Virtual, Inc. Staff: Emily Charles, Caroline Tyschen, Taylor Brown, Erika Martin, Alyssa Godley, Claudia Houde, Mika Sonis, Angelina Baynes, & John Lessard
Exhibitors: Kanomax Holdings, Karsa Ltd., Mesa Photonics, Met One Instruments, Powered by ACEOM, OpenAeros LLC, Palas GmbH, Particle Instruments LLC, Particles Plus, Inc., Photonion GmbH, QuantAQ, Sailbri Cooper Inc., Sunset Laboratory Inc., TSI Incorporated, URG Corporation, U.S. EPA, & Wavemetrics, a division of Sutter Instruments
2024 AAAR Sponsors and Organizational Members
Lastly, I would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Amy Sullivan, 2024 AAAR President, and Andy Grieshop, 2023 Conference Chair, for their unwavering support throughout the year. From answering my countless questions (even in the middle of the night) to providing expert advice and kind guidance, you both have been incredible.
It has been an absolute honor to serve the AAAR community as the 2024 Conference Chair. Thank you all for making this year’s event such a memorable and successful experience. I look forward to seeing everyone next year in Buffalo and wish Jason Surratt, the 2025 Conference Chair, all the best as he prepares next year’s program—along with plenty of extra coffee!
Cheers,
Shanna Ratnesar-Shumate, Ph.D.
2024 AAAR Conference Chair
This Issue’s Newsletter Committee:
Editor | Sarah Petters, University of California, Riverside
Senior Assistant Editor | Lindsay Yee, University of California, Berkeley
Junior Assistant Editor | Qian Zhang, UL Research Institute
Junior Assistant Editor | Robert Nishida, University of Waterloo