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Professor
Jan van der Leun receives European honour
Yesterday evening the European Society of Photobiology
(ESP) has awarded professor Jan van der Leun at the bi-annual congress
in Vienna. The ESP committee praises Van der Leun because of his
long, dedicated and outstanding scientific contribution within the
field of photobiology, a scientific discipline which researches
the effect of (sun)light on living beings.
Van der Leun started his
research on the effect of sunlight on the human skin in 1956. Decades
of research work resulted among other things in therapies for extreme
photosensitivity and an understanding of mechanisms causing skin
cancers.
In 1971 Van der Leun got
involved in the issue of ozone depletion in the United States. At
that time the attention was focused on the potential damage supersonic
passenger planes could cause. Later it turned out that propellants
and leaking coolants cause severe damage to the ozone layer.
Van der Leun has been
the chair of the United Nations panel, which is responsible for
reporting on the effects of ozone depletion on the environment,
since its establishment in 1987. The scientific findings of the
panel play a major role in the Montreal Protocol, which aims at
reducing the worldwide emissions of substances that harm the ozone
layer.
Even after he was accorded
emeritus status in 1993 Van der Leun continued to play a major role
in research and policy development in this field of expertise. Currently
he works at Ecofys, a consultancy firm specialised in energy and
environmental issues, and at the University of Leiden.
Note
for the editorial staff
Ecofys
Ecofys (www.ecofys.com) is a leading company in the field of renewable
energy and energy efficiency. More than 150 employees in six countries
deliver integrated sustainable energy solutions. Ecofys is part
of the Econcern group (www.e-concern.com), with the mission "a
sustainable energy supply for everyone".
For more information please contact:
Drs. Ellen Hendrix
Marketing Manager
T: + 31 (0)30 – 280 83 19
E: e.hendrix@ecofys.nl
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