Kirk R. Smith

Kirk Smith
Born(1947-01-19)January 19, 1947
DiedJune 15, 2020(2020-06-15) (aged 73)
Alma materUniversity of California, Berkeley A.B., M.P.H., Ph.D.
Known forFirst cookstove RCT
Contributions to IPCC
AwardsTyler Prize (2012)
Heinz Award (2009)
Co-Author of Nobel-Winning Climate Report (2007)
Scientific career
FieldsEnvironmental Health
Global Health
Energy Policy
InstitutionsUniversity of California, Berkeley
Tsinghua University (honorary)
Doctoral advisorsJohn Holdren, Robert C. Spear, West Churchman
Websitewww.kirkrsmith.org

Kirk R. Smith (January 19, 1947  June 15, 2020) was an American expert on the health and climate effects of household energy use in developing nations. He held a professorship in Global Environmental Health at the University of California, Berkeley, where his research focused on the relationships among environmental quality, health, resource use, climate, development, and policy in developing countries. Smith contributed a great deal to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), and the work of the IPCC (including the contributions of many scientists) was recognized by the joint award of the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize. Smith was a recipient of the 2012 Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement for his work with cookstoves, health, and climate. He is also credited with designing and implementing the first randomized controlled trial of the health effects of indoor air pollution (IAP) from cookstoves.