Lidia Morawska, an internationally renowned aerosol physicist and distinguished professor at Queensland University of Technology, has been awarded Australia’s top prize for scientific research. As a result, Morawska emerged as an important advocate for changing health guidelines around the world in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Her interdisciplinary, ground-breaking work received international recognition for shaping our understanding of the airborne transmission of the virus. She convened almost 240 scientists from across the globe to advocate for this urgent cause. Their work resulted in historic infection control policy shifts on a global scale.
Morawska’s career in science started in Poland, where she built the groundwork for her future research. In 1991, she emigrated to Australia and took up a position at Queensland University of Technology (QUT). There, she established the Environmental Aerosol Laboratory, now known as the International Laboratory for Air Quality and Health. Today, she continues to serve as its director, steering important research that has improved global understanding of air pollution and its health implications.
Impact of Research on COVID-19 Guidelines
Lidia Morawska’s expertise became a key resource during the COVID-19 pandemic. She did yeoman’s work this year to raise awareness about the role of air quality in viral spread. Her leadership ignited a national awakening that the virus spreads primarily through the air. This new scientific narrative contradicted the prevailing scientific wisdom that transmission occurred primarily through larger respiratory droplets.
Morawska remembers one high-point, when her research team published an open letter calling for airborne transmission to be recognized.
“Our open letter — after huge, huge obstacles — was published … the next day, the WHO accepted the airborne pathway of infection transmission,” – Professor Morawska
This incredible accomplishment led to rapid revision of international public health standards. It represents a major turning point in the pandemic’s public health response. In 2021, the World Health Organization (WHO) released new Air Quality Guidelines. Despite much public resistance, this change was largely driven by Morawska’s research, which showed the dire necessity for more stringent regulations on indoor air quality.
She is dogged in her pursuit of better air quality. She is passionate about improving indoor air conditions to achieve the greatest public health impact, particularly on those most vulnerable.
“The reality is that there are no regulations for indoor air quality,” – Professor Morawska
In addition to her leadership on COVID-19, Morawska has had a massive impact on the field of air pollution. Her research on ultrafine particles has shed light on how these pollutants harm people. Notably, her research in city settings has measured catastrophic levels of ultrafine particles.
Contributions to Air Pollution Research
Her work has contradicted long-held assumptions that respiratory infections were mainly transmitted via larger droplets that fall onto surfaces.
“I took the probe of my instruments out the window of a busy Toronto street and to me that was — wow! A huge concentration of [ultrafine] particles were in the air,” – Professor Morawska
Despite facing mounting pressure from industry groups and government agencies, Morawska and her colleagues were adamant that airborne transmission was important and deserved urgent attention.
“They considered that respiratory infections are transmitted by very large particles that drop on surfaces,” – Professor Morawska
She has made it her mission to upend conventional wisdom. This commitment fuels her work to broaden scientific understanding of airborne pollutants and their effect on public health.
“It was absolutely clear to me and my colleagues that this is not the main pathway of transmission. But how do you fight against scientific dogma?” – Professor Morawska
Lidia Morawska’s legacy to atmospheric science and public health is exceptional. Because of this, Time magazine recognized her as one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2021. This recognition testifies to her work as well as her unique capacity to invigorate other members of the scientific community.
Awards and Recognition
Looking back on the road they’ve traveled, Morawska is proud of her team’s achievements and what their findings have done to shape public health for the better.
She has had a passionate commitment to advancing air quality indicators. Given that people spend more than 90 percent of their time indoors, she feels strongly that indoor air quality is key to improving public health.
“I realized this is a fantastic, extremely exciting scientific topic, but also very important for public health,” – Professor Morawska
Her ongoing commitment to enhancing air quality measures reflects her belief that indoor air quality is paramount, given that people spend more than 90 percent of their time indoors.
