Course

This online course was developed by the EU-funded project COMPAIR to help cities become healthier, safer, and more cohesive through citizen science (CS). Focusing on air quality as an important element of sustainable development, the course provides comprehensive guidance on how to run multi-dimensional urban CS campaigns that are scientifically sound, socially empowering, politically relevant, and technically innovative. The course draws upon COMPAIR experience in establishing CS Labs across Europe to offer a wealth of information for a wide range of audiences.

Who is this course for

The course was designed with the following groups in mind: 

• Research consortia planning to start a CS project or its next stage if the initiative is already running
• University students collecting information on good practices in community participation
• Civil servants looking for new ways to engage citizens in policy making
• Manufacturers of low-cost air quality and traffic sensors exploring new routes to market 
• Schools interested in improving STEM education and extracurricular activities
• Individuals concerned about climate change, air pollution, traffic safety, or noise

Even if you don’t fall into any of the above, chances are you will still find something interesting in the MOOC’s vast body of knowledge that incorporates elements of social sciences, environmental monitoring, data science, and behavioural psychology.

How is this course organised

The course is published all-at-once, meaning there will be no gradual releases over time. Students are encouraged to follow the course at their own pace, taking as much time as necessary to understand content. Those who complete all the required assignments will be awarded a 'Statement of Participation' at no cost.

The course has five modules, each made up of several lessons, a forum, and a quiz. Learners must view all pages and attempt all activities in order to achieve 100% completion, at which point the certificate will be sent to their email.

Please note that learners who enrol on the course will have their name and email address visible to those users who have the course manager and teacher roles.

About COMPAIR

COMPAIR stands for Community Observation Measurement and Participation in AIR Science. The project used citizen science to support cities in tackling air pollution and transitioning to a greener, more sustainable future. Measurement campaigns took place in Athens, Berlin, Flanders, Plovdiv and Sofia. Volunteers from different social backgrounds contributed to the project on multiple occasions, including by collecting data on air quality and traffic using low-cost sensing devices. The data was calibrated and shared via open dashboards and mobile apps to provide quality insight to end users. This group included policy makers who used hyperlocal data to evaluate policy performance.

COMPAIR received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme. Grant ID: 1010365