SACRAMENTO - The California Air Resources Board is accepting applications for the 2014 Haagen-Smit Clean Air Awards. The awards are annually bestowed upon scientists, policy makers, community leaders and educators who have made outstanding contributions to the advancement of clean air and climate change science, technology and policy.

“The Haagen-Smit awards give California the opportunity to recognize individuals who have championed public health with extraordinary contributions to air pollution and climate change science and policy,” ARB Chairman Mary D. Nichols said. “Their work saves lives around the globe and the Haagen-Smit Award is our way of saying ‘thank you’ to these extraordinary policy makers, scientists and researchers.”

California’s premier air quality award is named for the late Dr. Arie Haagen-Smit, known as the “father” of air pollution science and control. The award recognizes those who continue his work through perseverance, leadership and innovation in the areas of research, environmental policy, science and technology, public education and community service. The selection committee is comprised of past award winners.

Dr. Haagen-Smit, originally from the Netherlands, was a biochemistry professor at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena for 16 years before beginning air pollution research in 1948. Through a series of innovative experiments he demonstrated that most of California’s smog is the result of motor vehicle exhaust and industrial smokestack pollution reacting with sunlight to create ground-level ozone. This breakthrough provided the foundation for the development of air pollution control programs in California that later influenced regulations and vehicle technology worldwide.

The 2014 Haagen-Smit Clean Air Awards nomination period is between Oct. 1, 2014, and Dec. 1, 2014. To learn more about the award, click here.

For a list of all past award winners, click here.