Catherine J. Noakes

Catherine Jane Noakes is a British mechanical engineer who is Professor of Environmental Engineering for Buildings at the University of Leeds. Noakes specialises in airborne infections and the transport of airborne pathogens. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Noakes served on the Government of the United Kingdom Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE).

Early life and education Noakes' parents had careers in computer science and aerospace engineering.

In 1996, Noakes received a BEng in mathematical engineering from the School of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Leeds. During this time she became interested in the mathematics of fluid dynamics. As part of these efforts, Noakes has led collaborations with the National Health Service and Public Health England to prevent the spread of airborne viruses through hospitals. Airborne transmission is known to be an issue in tuberculosis and influenza. Noakes has developed computational tools to better monitor and control patient environments for infection control. In a presentation at the Bradford Festival of Science, Noakes revealed that one in fifty people acquire an infection during their time in hospital. The impact of these infections, and need for follow-up care, results in a major unnecessary expenditure.

In 2010 Noakes was made Director of the Pathogen Control Research Institute. Noakes is a member of the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) Centre for Doctoral Training in Aerosol Science. Noakes was promoted to Professor in 2014. She serves on the editorial board of the Elsevier journal Building and Environment and the Wiley journal Indoor Air. From 2014 to 2017 Noakes led the University of Leeds Faculty of Engineering Athena SWAN scheme. She has looked to understand whether indoor environments impact the cognitive performance of people inside. She serves as Deputy Director of the Leeds Institute of Fluid Dynamics, and co-directs their Centre for Doctoral Training.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Noakes became interested in the airborne transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and the related importance of ventilation to reduce the risk of inhaling small particles containing the virus. As a result of this work Noakes was one of the recipients of the Royal Academy of Engineering President's Special Awards for Pandemic Service.

Noakes was the guest on the BBC Radio 4 programme The Life Scientific in January 2021. 2016: University of Leeds, Women of Achievement Award 2018: International Society for Indoor Air Quality, Academy of Fellows 2021: Elected a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering. 2022: Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers, Honorary Fellow 2023: Awarded the Gabor Medal of the Royal Society for "her pioneering contributions to infection risk modelling and her exceptional leadership in the field through groundbreaking research and a multidisciplinary approach".

Selected publications