The North Fork Valley Air Monitoring Project: Citizen Science meets Project-Based Learning

Using Next-Generation Air Quality Monitors in Colorado

Colorado Science Conference, 11.21.14

Ashley Collier, Graduate Research Assistant, CU BoulderKatya Hafich, AirWaterGas Education & Outreach Coordinator, CU

Boulder

Presentation Roadmap What is AirWaterGas? The history of the North Fork Air Quality Monitoring Project

What are next-generation air quality monitors? Air Quality Pod Activity Conclusion

What is AirWaterGas?The AirWaterGas Sustainability Research Network is a team of

scientists, engineers, public health experts, economists, lawyers, policy experts, and educators working on the same problem:

How do we maximize the benefits of natural gas and oil resources and minimize damages to water

and air resources and risks to human health?

AirWaterGas is a Sustainability Research Network

Funded by the National Science Foundation.

The goal of the Sustainability Research Network program is

to build networks of multidisciplinary teams to

address fundamental challenges in sustainability.

AirWaterGas research covers the Intermountain West.

AirWaterGas has 9 participating institutions.

AirWaterGas Research Teams

Natural Gas Infrastructure

Water QuantityWater Quality

Air Quality

Water Treatment

Health Effects

Practices & Policies

Social-Economic Systems

Data Management

New Technologies

Education & Outreach

AirWaterGas Education & Outreach

Teacher Professional Development Program Community-Lead Project Grants The North Fork Valley Air Quality Monitoring Project

Education and Outreach Assessment Team Frackingsense Glossary

•Collaboration with the Western Slope Conservation Center (Paonia, CO)

•A rural community lacking historic air quality data, and educational resources

•Project Overview (2 parts)1. Network of stationary monitors2. Mobile monitors for education/outreach

Result → development of project-based learning (PBL) curriculum to support AQ citizen science

The NFV Air Quality Monitoring Project

(North Fork Valley, Western Slope of Colorado)

(Colorado)

•Year 1 (Aug. 2013 – May 2014) • 3 classes, Delta County School District• Opportunity to explore how technology could be used

in educational applications

•Year 2 (Aug. 2014 – May 2015)• Again, 3 classes in Delta County School District• Added 2 classes in St. Vrain Valley School District• Opportunity to formalize curriculum for continued use

The NFV Air Quality Monitoring Project – Educational Work

Project-based Learning Curriculum Structure • Module 1 – Air Quality Research and Measurements Introduction

• Module 2 – Data Collection

• Module 3 – Data Analysis

• Module 4 – Study Design and Planning

• [Student Projects]

• Module 5 – Interpreting and Presenting your Results

Varied activities ensure students have the skills necessary to

conduct their own research

U-Pods•Versatile, continuous monitors

•Total cost < $1000 per device

•Open-source design

•Measures:•Gas-phase species•Temperature and humidity•Wind speed and direction

A look at the interior

Stationary, outdoor monitor

Why we are able to make these low-cost monitors…• Low-cost sensors, continuously sampling

• Circuit board is designed and programmed to record ~4-10 data points per minute

• Metal oxide semi-conductor sensors (MOX)

• Non-dispersive infrared sensors (NDIR)

constant voltage supplied

Oxidation and reduction reactions caused by gases

change the resistance across the sensor

variable voltage output

convert to useable data

(MOX)

(NDIR)

Other places the technology is being used…•Heating and Indoor Air Quality in the Navajo Nation

•FRAPPE/DISCOVER-AQ (summer 2014)

•Cookstove research in Ghana

What we have learned…• Concrete results…

• Students presented projects at a poster session• Long-term, local data sets for community

• Our research group has learned more about…• How people use our tools• What support is necessary (both technical & educational)

• Students have benefited from…• More experience with the scientific process and ‘real-world’ research • Exposure to higher ed. and connecting with academic researchers

• Teachers have benefited from…• Professional development opportunities and assistance implementing

hands-on learning

Example student project(Paonia High School)

• Students collected data near and far from train traffic, then compared two locations

• Other student projects:• Comparing different

engines/vehicles• Indoor air quality• Impact of ditch burning

Science Fair poster

(Paonia High School)

• Students made biodieselfuel, compared emissionsof biodiesel to diesel fuel

• Invited to State Finals at CSU (Ft Collins)

• Opportunity to • visit CSU• sit in on lectures

• Awarded scholarships to Adams State University

• Module 1 – Introduction to Air Quality Research and Measurements

• Includes• Overview (with learning objectives and educational standards addressed)• Background Information (for teachers)• Presentation (example slides shown)*• Activity (with worksheet)

• Concepts Addressed• The atmosphere• What is air quality• Key pollutants• How we measure air quality • Why studying air quality matters

A closer look at the curriculum…

Background Info for Demo•Carbon Dioxide (CO2)

•Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2)

•Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)

Carbon Fuel + O2 → H2O + CO2

(complete combustion)

N2 + O2 → NO & NO2(high temperatures can break up N2 in the air)

Incomplete or inefficient combustion

→ uncombusted VOCs

VOCs

O2 CO

2

The Future of the Project• Our Vision

• Set of monitors available to be “rented” from CU• Publically available curriculum• Collaborations between graduate students and schools

• Curriculum is ideal for AP Environmental Science Courses,but other applications are possible (and encouraged), for example…• Open-source design is available to tech classes for building and

programming• Activities that support gas-phase chemistry labs• Activities that collect data on biological processes (e.g., respiration) • Simplified activities for elementary and middle school science classes

Other Similar Projects/Resources• Collecting Air Quality data

• GO3 Program – schools purchase ozone monitors and join a larger network collecting data

• Studying Air Quality Data• EPA and CDPHE (Colorado Department of Public Health and the

Environment)• These two resources provide real-time air quality data and interactive

maps for viewing data

• Learning more about air quality, our atmosphere, and climate change• SPARK – educational resource by UCAR• Learn More About Climate (LMAC) – educational resource by CU Outreach

• To connect with academic researchers and learn about higher ed.

• To work with new technologies

• To conduct their own scientific research project

• To gain skills applicable to all scientific work

• E.g., study design, data collection and analysis, presenting your research

This project offers the opportunity for students…

Acknowledgments

• Hannigan Research Group (CU, Boulder)(Michael Hannigan, Joanna Gordon, Nicholas Masson, Ricardo Piedrahita, Michael Russell, and Evan Coffey)

• CU Office of Outreach and Engagement (Linda Molner Kelley, Wynn Martens, Jeanne McDonald)

• Delta School District 50

• St. Vrain Valley School District

• Western Slope Conservation Center

• Delta County Public Health Department

Any Questions?