Professor Julian Marshall

Professor Julian Marshall has been appointed the UW’s Boeing International Endowed Professorship in recognition of his work in air pollution and environmental justice. This professorship is awarded to scholars whose research transcends traditional academic boundaries and promotes international collaboration.

Marshall’s research focuses on understanding and mitigating pollution impacts in diverse environments, from urban centers to rural areas in both developed and developing countries. His work places a strong emphasis on environmental justice, specifically exploring how racial and ethnic demographics influence disparities in air pollution exposure. His extensive collaborations with non-governmental organizations, governments, other academics and industries highlight the global and interdisciplinary focus that the Boeing International Professorship is designed to support.

“Air pollution is the largest environmental health risk factor globally,” Marshall says. “Addressing disparities requires sitting at the table with people from policy, law, economics, engineering and many other disciplines. We all have different ways of seeing and thinking about this complex problem, which is too big for any one discipline or approach to solve alone.”

Participants in the 2024 Grand Challenges Impact Lab (GCIL) in Bangalore, India. Photo courtesy of GCIL.

In addition to his research, Marshall founded the Grand Challenges Impact Lab (GCIL), based in Bengaluru, India. This unique UW program operates like a startup incubator but focuses on environmental health and social issues. It offers students hands-on opportunities to tackle global challenges and witness the tangible impact of their ideas.

“Students often come up with exciting proposals, and the organizations we partner with are enthusiastic about adopting these ideas,” Marshall says. “With the support of this professorship, I plan to create a pathway for GCIL participants to stay on and implement their projects if they choose to.”

This initiative will be supported by a new fellowship program funded by the Boeing professorship, aimed at expanding GCIL. The fellowship will allow students to collaborate with local organizations to implement their ideas, providing UW students and recent graduates with more opportunities to participate in impactful global environmental projects.

The Boeing International Professorship will also provide ongoing support for Marshall’s research and his efforts to increase global engagement at the UW.