Wayne Magazine Back to School 2023 | Page 10

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7THINGS YOUSHOULD KNOW ABOUT

Bryan Bzdek Wayne chemist ’ s research leads to better UK public policy WRITTEN BY CINDY SCHWEICH HANDLER

It ’ s probably safe to say that before COVID-19 , there weren ’ t alot of people who gave much thought to aerosols — tiny particles suspended in the air — and how they affect our health . In that way , Bryan Bzdek was ahead of his time .

“ Aerosols serve asthe vehicles for disease transmission , which came to the forefront during the pandemic ,” says Bzdek . His interest in chemistry has taken him from his hometown of Wayne to the University of Bristol inEngland , where the Royal Society of Chemistry awarded his research group the Marlow Prize for their pioneering contributions to aerosol physical chemistry .“ Aerosols are ( also ) amain component of air pollution , which … we perhaps became more aware ofduring the recent Canadian wildfires that impacted New Jersey ,” he says .“ They are relevant to all aspects of our lives .”
Here are 7things you should know about Bryan Bzdek .
BETTER OUTCOMES THROUGH SCIENCE Dr . Bryan Bzdek , who grew up in Wayne , stands next to aerosol chemical analysis instrumentation in his lab at England ’ s University of Bristol .
HIS PARENTS WEREN ’ TSCIENTISTS , BUT THEIR FIELDSAFFECTED HIS CAREER CHOICE . Bzdek ’ s mother was a teacher in Paterson , and his father was a banker in Bloomfield . But he sees their skill sets as contributing to his abilities . “ My job involves research and teaching , and both aspects involve educating others ,” he says .“ Moreover , you need to be good with numbers and managing budgets and people . So , Iwould say that what Idotoday isacombination of my parents ’ careers , just in adifferent area .”
HIS HIGH SCHOOL TEACHERS SPURRED HIS INTEREST IN THE SUBJECT . After attending Randall
Carter Elementary School and George Washington Middle School , Bzdek went to Wayne Valley High school ( Class of ’ 04 ). He says he had excellent teachers there who made him want to learn more and more about chemistry .
HE ORIGINALLY PLANNED TO LIVE IN BRISTOL FOR ONLY THREE YEARS . Bzdek was an undergraduate at Bucknell University and agraduate student at the University of Delaware . When he moved to Bristol for athreeyear stint as apostdoctoral researcher , he thought itwould be fun to live abroad for awhile . Then an appealing position opened up as aUniversity of
Bristol faculty member .“ It ’ sagreat chemistry department and afun and historic place to live , with strong ties to American history ,” he says , pointing out that John Cabot , the first person to sail to North America since the Vikings , departed from the city in the late 1400s , and that Blackbeard the pirate , Cary Grant and Bob Hope all came from Bristol .
BZDEK LIKES THE VARIETY HE FINDS IN HIS RESEARCH . He says he enjoys studying how aerosols are relevant to so many different areas , including climate , disease transmission and making nanomaterials ( particles one-millionth
COURTESY OF JIM WALKER
8 BACK TOSCHOOL 2023 WAYNE MAGAZINE