معرفی
Professor Prashant Kumar serves as Chair Professor at the University of Surrey, holding dual leadership roles as Founding Director of the Global Centre for Clean Air Research (GCARE) and Associate Dean (International) for the Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences. His expertise spans air quality management, green infrastructure development, and nature-based solutions for urban pollution and climate mitigation, with research focused on translating scientific findings into practical tools for cities worldwide.
His educational foundation includes a PhD in Engineering from the University of Cambridge and a Masters in Environmental Engineering & Management from the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi. This training underpins his multidisciplinary approach bridging environmental science, public health, and urban planning.
Research priorities center on nature-based solutions for urban challenges, particularly through GCARE's development of public engagement tools like HedgeDate (hedge effectiveness assessment), Heat-Cool (urban cooling strategies), and GeoIKP (knowledge platform). Current work integrates social-ecological-technological systems to address thermal resilience and pollution exposure in megacities, with strong emphasis on vulnerable populations and real-world applicability.
His recent 2025 publications reveal concentrated focus on urban air quality monitoring (especially low-cost sensors), green infrastructure effectiveness, and climate-health interconnections. Key themes include biomass burning impacts, children's pollution exposure, and smart city monitoring systems, demonstrating consistent application of modeling and field measurements to solve pressing urban environmental problems.
Professor Kumar has secured approximately £10.5 million in individual research funding from a total portfolio exceeding £30 million. He actively serves on editorial boards for multiple environmental journals and reviews for over a dozen international funding agencies, while advising governmental bodies on air quality policy. His leadership extends to major initiatives including RECLAIM and OPERANDUM projects.
As GCARE Director, he leads a globally connected research group developing nature-based solutions for pollution and heat mitigation. The team collaborates with city planners and communities worldwide, notably through OPERANDUM's development of real-time monitoring tools and public engagement platforms that translate complex science into actionable community guidance.
