Dr Štěpán Nosek | Urban Air Quality | Best Researcher Award

Head of the department, Institute of Thermomechanics of the Academy of Sciences, Czech Republic 

Štěpán Nosek is a senior scientist and Head of the Department of Dynamics of Fluids at the Institute of Thermomechanics of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic (IT CAS). With a profound expertise in environmental aerodynamics, atmospheric turbulence, and urban air quality, he has published over 24 scientific papers with an h-index of 9 and over 200 citations. He has also led two national grants and served in various leadership roles, including as Head of the Laboratory of Environmental Aerodynamics. Štěpán actively contributes to the understanding of pollutant dispersion and turbulence through wind tunnel modeling and real-world studies.

PROFESSIONAL PROFILE

Scopus

STRENGTHS FOR THE AWARD

1. EXPERTISE AND IMPACTFUL RESEARCH:
   • His expertise in atmospheric turbulence, pollutant transport, and environmental aerodynamics directly addresses critical global issues such as air quality and urban pollution.
   • The high impact of his research is reflected in publications in reputable journals, with an h-index of 9 (Web of Science) and over 200 citations, showing that his work is well-regarded in the scientific community.
2. LEADERSHIP AND CONTRIBUTIONS:
   • He holds significant leadership positions, including Head of the Laboratory of Environmental Aerodynamics and the Department of Dynamics of Fluids at IT CAS.
   • His leadership extends to grant acquisition, having successfully led two national grants, further emphasizing his capacity to manage and advance research projects.
3. PUBLICATION RECORD:
   • Authorship of more than 24 papers, with several key publications in journals with impact factors exceeding 7.0, highlights the relevance and rigor of his work. Notable papers, such as those in Environmental Pollution (IF 8.3), emphasize practical applications like pollutant transport in urban environments.
4. INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATION AND EXPERIENCE:
   • A 10-month internship at the Technical University of Denmark and international co-authorships underscore his global research engagement.
5. PRACTICAL CONTRIBUTIONS:
   • His studies on ventilation in urban street canyons and livestock buildings have significant implications for urban planning, environmental policy, and sustainable development.

AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT

1. CITATION IMPACT:
   • While his research is impactful, increasing the breadth of his citations (204 across 24 papers) could further elevate his global recognition. Strategies such as more extensive collaborations and targeting high-citation open-access journals could help.
2. DIVERSIFICATION OF TOPICS:
   • Expanding his research to emerging areas like climate change mitigation or advanced computational modeling techniques could enhance the scope of his contributions.
3. GRANT ACQUISITION AND INDUSTRY IMPACT:
   • While successful in securing national grants, increasing engagement with industry-funded projects and international grants could amplify the practical application and visibility of his work.

EDUCATION

🎓 2000–2006: Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees, Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Czech Technical University in Prague.
🎓 2006–2010: Ph.D., Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Czech Technical University in Prague.

EXPERIENCE

🌍 2005–2006: Internship, Technical University of Denmark (10 months).
👨‍🔬 2012–2023: Deputy Head, Department of Dynamics of Fluids, IT CAS.
🔬 2014–2023: Head, Laboratory of Environmental Aerodynamics, IT CAS.
🚀 Since 2024: Head, Department of Dynamics of Fluids, IT CAS.

AWARDS AND HONORS

🏆 Principal Investigator of two national grants in environmental aerodynamics.
📜 Recognized for significant contributions to urban air quality and pollutant dispersion modeling.
✨ Lead author of multiple highly cited works in renowned journals, including Environmental Pollution and Building and Environment.

RESEARCH FOCUS

Štěpán Nosek’s research delves into atmospheric turbulence, pollutant transport, and urban air quality. He focuses on turbulence’s coherent structures and their role in pollutant dispersion in urban environments and environmental flows. His work spans advanced wind tunnel modeling and computational methods to improve understanding of atmospheric surface-layer dynamics and environmental sustainability.

PUBLICATION TOP NOTES

1. Ventilation Processes in a Three-Dimensional Street Canyon 🏙️
2. Impact of Roof Height Non-Uniformity on Pollutant Transport 🏢
3. Street-Canyon Pollution with Urban-Array Complexity 🌆
4. Combining Effect of Roof Shape and Source Position 🌀
5. Ventilation of a Cattle Barn under Atmospheric Boundary Layer 🐄

CONCLUSION

Štěpán Nosek’s research aligns well with the criteria for a Best Researcher Award. His impactful publications, leadership roles, and significant contributions to environmental aerodynamics and urban air quality make him a strong candidate. Addressing the highlighted areas for improvement, particularly in citation impact and topic diversification, could further enhance his profile for future recognitions.