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Poster Short Abstract

AirSense is an Erasmus+ project that aims to empower students through citizen science and active civic engagement to collect data about air quality and address local air pollution. We present here the vision of the project.

Poster Abstract

AirSense is an Erasmus+ project that aims to empower students from Portugal, Greece, Ireland and Germany through citizen science and active civic engagement to collect data about air quality and address local air pollution.

According to the UN, air pollution is the biggest environmental health risk of our time. Air pollution around schools is linked to poorer student health and academic performance, pointing to the need to raise awareness and adopt measures to reduce children’s exposure to dangerous pollutants in the atmosphere.

Addressing this, and aiming to strengthen STEAM education and civic participation, the project will co-create a low-cost DIY (do it yourself) air quality station with school students and their teachers. Data will be shared with an IoT platform and will be openly accessible. Students will be encouraged to follow an evidence-based approach to raise awareness and foster action to improve air quality at the local level.

The project proposes a new pedagogical approach, merging tinkering/maker education with citizen science. It will thus advance emerging technologies in the monitoring of air quality while promoting civic engagement, local decision-making and political participation for a healthier and greener society.

In this poster we present the vision of the project alongside an example of how students can build a DIY air quality station and lead a citizen science initiative with a positive impact in their community.