Levels of particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide can be a concern in urban areas. In 2014, a comprehensive one-year Air Quality Citizen Science monitoring project commissioned by The City of London Corporation and led by Mapping for Change, was undertaken by residents of the Barbican Estate. ‘Science in the City’ aimed to increase understanding amongst residents about air pollution, its causes, effects and how it varies over space and time. Residents were consulted on any actions they would like to see taken over subsequent years to improve local air quality.
Our Role
Now, six years later, after implementing several of the suggested initiatives around the Barbican, including a Low Emission Neighbourhood and the Mayor of London Ultra Low Emission Zone, The City of London Corporation and Mapping for Change are teaming up once again to repeat and broaden this research. Mapping for Change is working with residents of two housing estates in the centre of the capital to monitor nitrogen dioxide levels over the course of a year. This citizen science project has been co-designed with the residents to ensure the outputs are relevant and useful to them both in reducing their personal exposure to air pollution and in evaluating the impact of the changes implemented. The work aims to raise awareness of air pollution and demonstrate the impact that citizen science and resident participation can have on environmental issues. The project will run from March 2021- February 2022.
Documentary: Science in the City
Related Projects
CIVACT - Promoting civic engagement among youth through district development
CIVACT is a EU-funded, two-year project which aims to address the lack of civic engagement among hard-to-reach youths in urban areas. The goal is to understand how can we empower young people to become the driving force for change through observing and analysing their neighbourhood’s resources and challenges.
Putting Ourselves on the Map
Mapping for Change in collaboration with the Humanities Education Centre (HEC) and local specialist on learning and ‘place’ Maggie Hewitt, worked with three schools in Tower Hamlets (Columbia School Community Map, Arnhem Wharf School Community Map and John Scurr School Community Map) to pilot a brand new process in which Year 4 pupils develop personalised maps of their local area with their own likes, memories and views on change.