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William Chameides

Nicholas Distinguished Professor Emeritus of the Environment in the Nicholas School of the Environment
Earth and Climate Sciences
Box 90328, Durham, NC 27708-0328
Room A246, LSRC, Durham, NC 27708

Overview


Dr. Bill Chameides has combined more than 30 years in academia as a professor, researcher, teacher, and mentor with a 3-year stint in the NGO world as the chief scientist of the Environmental Defense Fund. He joined Duke as the Dean of the Nicholas School of the Environment in 2007. He is a:

  • member of the National Academy of Sciences,
  • fellow of the American Geophysical Union,
  • recipient of the American Geophysical Union’s MacElwane Award.

Bill’s research focuses on the atmospheric sciences, elucidating the causes of and remedies for global, regional, and urban environmental change and identifying pathways towards a more sustainable future. Specifically his research helped lay the groundwork for our understanding of the photochemistry of the lower atmosphere, elucidated the importance of nitrogen oxides emission controls in the mitigation of urban and regional photochemical smog, and the impact of regional environmental change on global food production.

Bill has served on numerous national and international committees and task forces and in recognition was named a National Associate of the National Academies for "extraordinary service." In November, 2008, Bill was appointed the Vice Chair of the Committee on America’s Climate Choices http://americasclimatechoices.org/, commissioned by Congress to develop a multi-decadal roadmap for America’s response to climate change.

Bill blogs on The Green Grok and The Huffington Post, and the website for Scientific American, and is a guest blogger on the Popular Science Magazine’s website PopSci.Com.

Current Appointments & Affiliations


Nicholas Distinguished Professor Emeritus of the Environment in the Nicholas School of the Environment · 2015 - Present Earth and Climate Sciences, Nicholas School of the Environment
Professor Emeritus · 2015 - Present Earth and Climate Sciences, Nicholas School of the Environment

In the News


Published May 5, 2014
Duke University adds $6.5M building to Beaufort marine lab
Published February 28, 2014
Bill Chameides: Stonemasonry -- environmental art as struggle to perfect the imperfect
Published November 21, 2013
Leading biologist E.O. Wilson establishes partnership with Duke

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Recent Publications


In Response.

Journal Article Anesth Analg · December 2018 Full text Link to item Cite

In Response.

Journal Article Anesthesia and analgesia · October 2018 Full text Cite

Lightning and atmospheric chemistry: The rate of atmospheric NO production

Chapter · January 1, 2017 Although 80% of the atmosphere is composed of molecular nitrogen (N2), this element is often the limiting nutrient in both terrestrial and marine photosynthesis. The reason for this apparent paradox arises from the high chemical stability of nitrogen when ... Full text Cite
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Education, Training & Certifications


Yale University · 1974 Ph.D.
Yale University · 1973 M.S.
State University of New York, Binghamton · 1970 B.A.