1. 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 Boulder Katya Hafich, AirWaterGas Education & Outreach Coordinator, CU Boulder

2. 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

3. 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?

4. 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.

5. AirWaterGas has 9 participating institutions.

6. AirWaterGas Research Teams Natural Gas Infrastructure Water Quantity Water Quality Air Quality Water Treatment Health Effects Practices & Policies Social-Economic Systems Data Management New Technologies Education & Outreach

7. 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

8. 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 monitors 2. 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)

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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)

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. Science Fair poster (Paonia High School) Students made biodiesel fuel, compared emissions of 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

17. 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…

18. 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 CO2

19. 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

20. 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

21. 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…

22. 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?