Engaging Students and the Community in Air Quality Monitoring Using Small PM Sensors:

Air quality monitoring has been revolutionized by the advent of small sensors, presenting exciting opportunities for their integration in educational settings and in empowering local communities and citizen scientists. This presentation aims to showcase recent activities centered around the use of small PM sensors in diverse educational and citizen science initiatives, emphasizing their vital role in local monitoring, environmental justice research projects, and evaluating sensor accuracy. The integration of microcontroller based small PM sensors into educational settings has opened up new avenues for engaging students in hands-on real world applications of environmental science. Engaging communities in data collection not only enhances their awareness of local air quality concerns but also strengthens their advocacy for cleaner and healthier living environments.