07.02.2023 Air Quality Research

The Greening Network was joined by Kayla Schlute, a researcher who is working on an exciting new project which aims to generate a clearer, fuller picture of local air quality conditions across Barking and Dagenham. The project involves building a website where individuals living or working in Barking and Dagenham can ‘pin’ their experiences, perceptions, and questions about air pollution to a digital map. This is to capture the lived experience of air quality in Barking and Dagenham, and build a more representative view of local air quality. Kayla spoke about how air quality is governed at a national and local level, how air quality is monitored in Barking and Dagenham and how people can get involved in the project. If you are interested in getting involved, you can see the opportunities below:

1. Become a Project Ambassador

This will involve meeting 4 - 5 times over the course of the year to give feedback on how the project is progressing. Ambassadors will also be asked to help spread the word about a series of in-person events and workshops, where individuals can contribute to the map in real time. You can apply to be a project ambassador here.

2. Attend a co-design workshop

This workshop will involve co-designing the project’s website. The website will include a map where individuals living or working in Barking and Dagenham can ‘pin’ their experiences, perceptions, and questions about air pollution. You can sign up to this workshop here.

3. Stay in touch

There will also be other, one-off opportunities to take part in the project and contribute your insight on air quality in Barking and Dagenham. If you would like to receive updates about them, you can register your email here. You can stay up to date by following the CAN page for this project here.

Finally, we had a discussion about our experiences of air quality in Barking and Dagenham and provided feedback on Kayla's project.