Small Particles, Big Impact: A Historical Perspective on the Global Relevance of Aerosols

Colloquium
Speaker
Prof. Y. S. Mayya
Affiliation
Indian Institute of Technology Bombay
Date and Time of Talk
Venue
auditorium
Abstract
The aerosol state of dispersed matter is inherently a non-equilibrium system, 
consisting of solid or liquid particles suspended in a gas. In recent years, 
aerosols have gained unprecedented attention due to growing recognition of 
their influence on human health, disease transmission, drug delivery, weather, 
and climate. From a technological standpoint, aerosol engineering plays a 
pivotal role—often enabling single-step processes—in material synthesis, 
nanoparticle-based drug formulation, and spray technologies. The COVID-19 
pandemic has further underscored the importance of aerosols in understanding 
the transmission and spread of infectious diseases at both local and global 
scales. 
Aerosols and smoke have a rich and fascinating history dating back to ancient 
times. The Indian astronomer Varahamihira suggested that observations of light 
scattering by airborne particles could provide insights into the size of 
paramanus (atoms).  The modern scientific study of aerosols began in the 19th 
century with the recognition of the connection between atmospheric particles 
and cloud formation. The field matured in the early 20th century, driven both by 
the emergence of smog episodes in Europe and USA and by foundational 
theoretical contributions from eminent scientists such as Albert Einstein, 
Willard Gibbs, Marian Smoluchowski, Nikolai Fuchs, Christian Junge and 
Sheldon Friedlander.  In India, aerosol science developed in its formative years 
at institutions such as the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research and the 
Bhabha Atomic Research Centre. 
This talk presents an overview of this fascinating discipline, highlighting its 
historical evolution and emphasizing its critical relevance in the contemporary 
world. 
 
Email Speaker
ysmayya@iitb.ac.in
About Speaker

Prof. Y.S. Mayya is an Aerosol Physicist who is engaged in studies on diverse aspects of fine particle science and their technological applications for the past 51 years. His fundamental contributions include theory of Brownian motion, aerosol charging, modelling of ionizer systems, plume coagulation, charged particle levitation, aerosol spray drying and transmission of diseases through aerosol route. His expertise includes applications in radiation epidemiology, radiation safety, radon emission modelling and transport, nuclear aerosol behaviour and experimentation. He spear-headed the establishment of the first Nuclear Aerosol Test Facility in BARC, country-wide radon mapping project, and conceptualized the setting up of Outdoor Air Cleaning Systems in Delhi as a technological alternative for combating urban air pollution. He has authored 206 publications in refereed Journals and mentored generations of aerosol scientists during his long career at the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre and at the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay.

Prof. Y.S. Mayya was nominated an Aerosol Pioneer by American Association for Aerosol Research, in 2018. He was the President of the Asian Aerosol Research Assembly (2005-2007), member of the Editorial Board of Journal of Aerosol Science (2004-2014) and recipient of K.G. Vohra Memorial award (2018). He was conferred “IASTA Fellow” award in 2025.

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