Leeds researcher becomes first female winner of renowned indoor air science award
A University of Leeds researcher has received a major international award recognising advances in understanding how indoor environments affect health.
Professor Cath Noakes, from the School of Civil Engineering, has been named the 2026 recipient of the Pettenkofer Award by the International Society of Indoor Air Quality and Climate (ISIAQ).
Every two to three years, the honour is given for outstanding contributions to the indoor air sciences, and is ISIAQ’s highest award. Professor Noakes becomes the first British and first female winner in the 18-year history of the Pettenkofer Award, which commemorates Max von Pettenkofer, a pioneer of modern hygiene whose work laid the foundations for research into air quality.
Professor Noakes is recognised for her contributions to understanding airborne infection transmission and the role of ventilation in indoor settings. Her research brings together fluid dynamics and public health, exploring how airborne pathogens travel through enclosed spaces and how airflow influences exposure. This has informed both building design and operational guidance, particularly in environments where reducing infection risk is critical.
Professor Noakes played a prominent role during the COVID-19 pandemic, advising on transmission and mitigation as a member of the UK government’s Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE). For her work during this period, she was made an OBE in October 2020.
Reflecting on the award, she said: "This is really one for team airborne - all the folks at Leeds, across the UK and internationally, who I’ve worked with and everyone in Indoor Air who stood up during the pandemic to champion safer indoor air to mitigate infection transmission."
ISIAQ is an independent, multidisciplinary organisation focused on improving indoor environments through research and collaboration. Professor Noakes was formally given the Pettenkofer Award at the Indoor Air 2026 opening ceremony at Singapore Management University.
