Breathing easier learing the air has had a special meaning for alumna Prof. Sally NG Nga-Lee ever since her days as a Chemical and Environmental Engineering undergraduate at the School of Engineering (SENG) years ago. Indeed, she has gone on to make it her life’s work to contribute to improving global knowledge of air quality and its impact on human health and climate change. Now a tenured Professor in the School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology in the US, with a joint appointment in the university’s School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences and a courtesy appointment in the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, the atmospheric scientist is opening up fresh horizons in her eld by extending knowledge of fundamental chemical mechanisms related to the formation and composition of aerosols ( ne particles suspended in air) through her research and teaching. “The opportunity to participate in undergraduate research and the exchange program truly shaped my career path” Most recently, in October , she and her inter-university team received US$ million in grant money from the National Science Foundation in the US to generate high time-resolution (every to minutes), long-term measurements of aerosol properties. The work will be carried out via a network of sites nationwide in a project o cially known as the Atmospheric Science and Chemistry mEasurement NeTwork (ASCENT). The resulting data will assist understanding of how sustainability-based changes C Alumni 26 IN FOCUS Prof. Sally Ng Nga-Lee inside the Environmental Chamber Facility in her lab at Georgia Institute of Technology, where she is delivering greater understanding of aerosols and air pollution. Spurred by her School of Engineering student days to become an atmospheric scientist, alumna Prof. Sally Ng Nga-Lee is advancing sustainability through her leading air quality research, as well as fostering the next generation of aerosol explorers to electricity production and transportation are a ecting air pollution and climate change variables. In March , she was among the scientists featured by the US’ National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for Women’s History Month, an annual international celebration of women’s contributions in history and contemporary society. As Sally noted in the NOAA article: “I like that my work allows me to explore the unknown, discover, and learn something new and exciting all the time. I have the flexibility to pursue any research topics that I deeply care about.” In an email conversation with SENG, she also explained that she chose academia rather than a career as a researcher in industry or government as she really enjoys the enthusiasm and curiosity of students. “During my graduate studies and postdoctoral research, I had many opportunities to work with junior students. I found it very rewarding to be able to pass on my knowledge, learn new things, and grow with them. I enjoy learning and would
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