Spring 2025 Updates

AQMEL ends the Spring 2025 term with several exciting updates and accomplishments! See below for details on graduations, papers, awards, and outreach activities.

AQMEL Graduations

This Spring, five group members will participate in commencement activities. Dr. Jennifer Ofodile, AQMEL's 1st PhD graduate at UC Berkeley, will receive her Ph.D. in Environmental Science, Policy, and Management. Dr. Ofodile's dissertation is titled, "Integrated Approaches for Investigating Air Pollution and Environmental Equity across Indoor and Outdoor Environments." She is now a Principal Air Pollution Specialist at the Bay Area Air District. Congratulations Jennifer, we couldn't be more proud of your life-changing accomplishment!

L to R: Dr. Ivey, Yi, Stessie, Sophie, Dr. Ofodile, Etchi, and Sumu at Jennifer's graduation dinner.

Sophie Castillo, ivette torres, Stessie Chounoune, and Srishti Hazra will also receive master's degrees this term. Stessie's master's degree has a research emphasis, and the title of her thesis is "Influence of droughts on electricity generation and air pollution in California between 2001 and 2023." Congratulations to you all!

AQMEL Publications

Spring 2025 was a busy term for student-led publications. Peruse the Publications or Home page to read more about these critical studies in the areas of GPU computing (Quevedo et al.), chemical mechanism sensitivity during extreme episodes (Phelan et al.), and spatial inequalities in hazardous air pollutants in Los Angeles (Ofodile et al.).

(1) Quevedo et al., ES&T Air, 2025. (2) Phelan et al., ES&T Air, 2025. (3) Ofodile et al., ES&T, 2025.

AQMEL Outreach

Sumu and Yi are leading community-engaged research and outreach in Martinez, CA with Healthy Martinez, a grassroots organization formed to advocate for community safety against nearby refinery incidents. Sumu is collecting filter-based measurements to better understand the impacts on households living near the refining complex.

Photos from the John Muir Earth Day Event

Sumu and Yi also taught AP Environmental Science students at Alhambra High School in Martinez about air pollution sources and abatement through an interactive live experiment. Thank you to APES teacher Ms. Emily Ferrario for making this event possible!

APES demonstration at Alhambra High School

Dr. Ivey and several UC Berkeley students supported community research and outreach events in Marin City on behalf of Marin City Climate Resilience. Some events included air pollution training sessions with Youth Leaders, a multi-agency stormwater and flooding workshop, and planning meetings with Marin County Public Health to assess cumulative health impacts.

(1) Dr. Ivey with Ms. Terrie Green, Paul Austin, and U.S. Congressman Jared Huffman. (2) Dr. Ivey leads a breakout group at the multi-agency workshop on stormwater and flooding in Marin City. (3) Tanvi and Mallory assemble black carbon monitors for co-location. (4) The Spring 2025 Marin City research team culminates the term with a group breakfast (L to R: Garima, Dr. Ivey, Mallory, Lauren, Tanvi, Alisha).

Other Events

AMQEL hosted "Networking 101" with Mr. Sean Wihera (VP of Business Development, Clarity Inc.) this Spring for students entering the job market soon. The lab also attended the Coalition for Clean Air Toast to Clearing the Air Event, with Secretary Yana Garcia in attendance. A few AQMEL members also attended the 2025 ENV Program Prom, themed "A Night Under the Stars."

(1) Networking 101. (2) Toast to Clearing the Air Event. (3) ENV Prom.

AQMEL Honors

Dr. Ivey was honored as a recipient of the Chancellor's Award for Advancing Institutional Excellence and Equity for her bold and visionary contributions to research, teaching, service, and mentoring. Dr. Ivey dedicates the award to her Brother and research mentees past and present.

(1) AQMEL graduate researchers. (2) Spring 2025 Marin City research team. (3) AQMEL with UC Berkeley Chancellor Rich Lyons. (4) Chancellor Lyons presents Dr. Ivey with the CAAIEE plaque that features original artwork. (5) Dr. Ivey with Dr. Philip Fine, Executive Director of the Bay Area Air District.

Dr. Ivey was one of three faculty who presented at the annual College of Engineering Advisory Board meeting. The day's events also included a toast to the end of Dean Tsu-Jae Liu's tenure as Dean.

(1) Dr. Ivey bids farewell to Dean Liu. (2) Faculty presenters enjoy the inaugural lunch on the terrace of the new Grimes Engineering Student Services building. (3) EAB, faculty, and staff toast to Dean Liu's tenure and pending departure to head the National Academy of Engineering.

Congratulations to everyone on these exciting achievements and have a safe and fun summer 2025! 🌟