AtmoSpheres: We Are Air Aware

PROJECT IN PROGRESS - begun May 2024

This project seeks to address the critical issue of carbon particulate air pollution, an imperceptible contributor to global warming and public health crisis of respiratory illness, organ damage and early death. It integrates low-cost particulate sensors into wearable devices, enabling real-time, geolocated air quality monitoring. The data collected is visualized through public art performances, where participants wearing eye-catching devices traverse urban spaces, and in an interactive online platform, We Are Air Aware.

These efforts aim to foster civic engagement and dialogue around urban air quality, particularly in marginalized communities disproportionately affected by air pollution. Supported by a New Frontiers Research Fund grant, this project exemplifies the integration of computational art, environmental science, and civic engagement.

Collaborators include scientists and designers from York University and OCAD University, as well as community partners. By translating complex data into compelling visual narratives, this project highlights the intersections of art, technology, and environmental justice while fostering pro-social, localized responses to a global problem.