{"id":10029,"date":"2023-03-23T10:39:17","date_gmt":"2023-03-23T10:39:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.reading.ac.uk\/connected\/?p=10029"},"modified":"2023-03-23T10:39:18","modified_gmt":"2023-03-23T10:39:18","slug":"improving-readings-air-quality","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sites.reading.ac.uk\/connected\/2023\/03\/23\/improving-readings-air-quality\/","title":{"rendered":"Improving Reading’s Air Quality"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Scientists from the University of Reading are to work with Reading Borough Council to deliver an interactive education programme in local primary and secondary schools to raise awareness about air quality.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"PosterOver three million children across the UK are exposed to harmful levels of air pollution each school day, with those in the South East at particular risk. Air pollution can cause severe health problems, including asthma, slower development of lung function, wheezing and coughing, as well as mental health issues and obesity.<\/p>\n

The Citizen Science for Cleaner Air project was launched at the University thanks to a grant of \u00a35,000 over two years from the Community Fund<\/a> \u2013 a joint initiative between the John Sykes Foundation and the University of Reading, offering financial support to projects that benefit the people and the community of Reading. Researchers at the University worked with four Reading primary schools to tackle pollution at a local level, helping children play and learn in cleaner, safer spaces. The project made the invisible visible, mapping pollution hotspots on children\u2019s journeys to and from school.<\/p>\n

And now this scheme is being built upon with Reading Borough Council (RBC) being awarded \u00a3327,000 as part of a successful bid for a share of \u00a310.7 million funding for local authorities to improve air quality. The money, from the Government\u2019s annual Air Quality Grant, aims to help councils develop and implement measures to benefit schools, businesses and communities and to reduce the impact of air pollution on people\u2019s health.<\/p>\n

Professor Hong Yang, project partner from the University of Reading, said: \u201cWe’ve already utilised state-of-the-art sensors to assess air quality in and around four schools in Reading. This new DEFRA project presents a great opportunity to collaborate with RBC, schools, and other partners to work on air quality in more schools.<\/p>\n

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\u201cOur aim is to raise the public\u2019s awareness about the damaging effects of air pollution on the health of children, parents and teachers, and inspire communities to make more effective changes that will result in cleaner air and a reduced carbon footprint in schools and the surrounding areas.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

The next stage<\/strong><\/h4>\n

RBC now plans to work in partnership with the University to deliver the project, by engaging with children and parents from at least 33 schools across Reading. The programme will deliver focused activities to increase awareness and encourage behaviour change.<\/p>\n

The new initiative will build Key Stage (KS) lesson plans, assemblies and activity days and workshops; as part of term length programmes to be delivered to schools. This could include involving the children in data gathering using sensors to determine \u2018What is the air quality like around your school, on the way to school, around your home?\u2019<\/p>\n

The main aims of the project will be to:<\/p>\n