26 March 2012, Doha, Qatar:

Professor Kirk R. Smith, one of the world's foremost environmental scientists, gave a presentation at Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF) yesterday. Hislecture, entitled "Incomplete Combustion: One of the World's Biggest Killers," represented the 14th edition of QF's Distinguished Lecture Series.

A Professor of Global Environmental Health at the University of California, Berkeley in the U.S., Professor Smith's work focuses primarily on the effects of pollution.Using combustion particles as his indicator, Smith was the first to quantify the exposure to polluted air amongst people in developing nations who cook indoors with solid fuels,such aswood or coal.

During his lecture, Professor Smith highlighted some of the world's most damaging pollutants, including biogas, kerosene and crop residue.  He also revealed that air pollutants produced from typical wood-firedstoves in Indiaand elsewhere haveextremely high carcinogen content. Consequently, the use of such cookers issignificantly more damaging to one's physical health than stoves powered by other means.

"It's not the spectacular that kills you, it's the mundane," explained Professor Smith. "And my purpose is not to push a particular technology,it's to get rid of smoke both inside and outside the household.  One wayto dothat is to promote electric cooking devices that don't use wood or coal.  Electric rice cookers and electric tea pots are efficient devices, and shouldn't be used over an open fire."

Professor Smith's research concluded that indoor air pollution directly affects 40% of the world's population.Exposure to the products of poor combustion, particularly small particles, is responsible for as many as 12 million premature deaths around the world annually.

Following his lecture, Professor Smith was fulsome in his praise for QF's pursuit of scientific innovation.

"Qatar Foundation is promoting the best science in the world, to cure the most serious problems in the world," he said."Health is a pillar of democracy, but democracy is also a pillar of health, to make sure that the poorest in the world are also covered. You can't have a sustainable planet without education, but you can't have a sustainable planet without good health either. And this includes the very poorest among us."

Dr. DirarKhoury, Acting Executive Director of QF's Research Division, highlighted the importance to QF of having academic luminaries share their expertise with a Qatari audience. "At Qatar Foundation, we believe that a knowledge-based society is the only way forward to confront challenges and take advantage of the opportunities of tomorrow," he said.

"As such, we are privileged to have Professor Smith share with us his experiences in the field of environmental health, a priority for Qatar. QF's Distinguished Lecture Series provides opportunities for exchange between international leaders in research and local research stakeholders, and inspires the young generation to be leaders of research in Qatar and around the world."

-Ends-

About Qatar Foundation - Unlocking Human Potential
Qatar Foundation for Education, Science, and Community Development is a private, non-profit organization that is supporting Qatar on its journey from carbon economy to knowledge economy by

unlocking human potential for the benefit of not only Qatar, but the world.  Founded in 1995 by His Highness Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa AlThani, Amir of Qatar, QF is chaired by Her Highness SheikhaMozabint Nasser.

QF carries out its mission through three strategic pillars: education, science and research, and community development.  QF's education pillar brings world-class universities to Qatar to help create an

education sector in which young people can develop the attitudes and skills required for a knowledge economy.  Meanwhile, its science and research pillar builds Qatar's innovation and technology capacity by developing and commercializing solutions through key sciences.  Finally, its community development pillar helps foster a progressive society while also enhancing cultural life, protecting Qatar's heritage and addressing immediate social needs in the community.

For a complete list of QF's initiatives and projects, visit http://www.qf.org.qa

For further information about this release please contact:
Basil Mahfouz
Tel: +974 44541730
Email: bmahfouz@qf.org.qa
Grace Wittenberg
Tel: +974 44541727
Email: gwittenberg@qf.org.qa

For more information about Qatar Foundation please contact:
Tariq Al Sada
Press Office Unit Head
Qatar Foundation
Tel: +974 4454 0991
Email:  talsada@qf.org.qa

Anwar El-Shamy
Press Office Coordinator
Qatar Foundation
Tel: +974 55904407
Email: aelshamy@qf.org.qa

© Press Release 2012