The University of Reading recently hosted a series of workshops aimed at enhancing awareness of air quality among local students. Eighty-four young people from five area secondary schools participated in this leadership program. They learned about air quality problems and why these problems matter through their hands-on laboratory experiments.
The workshops were held over the course of four days. In doing so, students engaged in hands-on, inquiry-based experiments that allowed them to see and understand the different factors impacting air quality in their local community. Marta O’Brien, a research scientist at the University of Reading, talked about the project’s significance. She said that it dovetails beautifully with the work that’s happening on the research side in the field.
“As our air quality research continues, we are pleased to see the impact this project has already had.” – Marta O’Brien
John Ennis, climate strategy and transport lead for the local authority, told ZS his authority’s enthusiastic backing for the proposal. Improving air quality in Reading, he said, is a “huge priority.” This sends a clear message that the authority is committed to providing a healthier built environment for its residents. Moving forward engaging young people in these bilingual projects was key for Ennis. This meaningful engagement goes a long way in encouraging them to be more environmentally conscious and responsible.
The University of Reading has teamed up with local schools to help train the next generation of local students. These students, in turn, mobilize their peers to be stationed vehicles and work towards a healthier environmental future for their community. The hands-on workshops are designed to immerse kids in cutting-edge scientific experiments. This experiential learning method encourages them to understand intricate scientific details about air pollution.
Artistic director Ennis called the project a “brilliant way to engage young people”. He proposed creating more initiatives like this one to further enhance environmental education in years to come. The enthusiastic response from both participants and educators runs counter to the typical notion of a massive open online course (MOOC).
