News – Making Sense https://making-sense.eu Advances and Experiments in Participatory Sensing Wed, 21 Feb 2018 14:03:25 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=5.3.26 Young makers mapping a piece of Amsterdam https://making-sense.eu/young-makers-mapping-piece-amsterdam/ Mon, 16 Oct 2017 08:58:12 +0000 https://making-sense.eu/?p=2035 Can you do science experiments with toddlers? That wasn’t exactly the question we asked ourselves at the start of the day, but we did find out the answer. Waag Society came with Amsterdam Smart City during the “Discovery Days” (Ontdekdagen) at the Marineterrein. The day’s programme was marked by the themes surrounding the Smart Kids […]

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Can you do science experiments with toddlers? That wasn’t exactly the question we asked ourselves at the start of the day, but we did find out the answer.

Waag Society came with Amsterdam Smart City during the “Discovery Days” (Ontdekdagen) at the Marineterrein. The day’s programme was marked by the themes surrounding the Smart Kids Lab (a pilot in the Making Sense project): collecting data from your environment with homemade meters. Facilitated by the beautiful mobile workshop environment of the Science Bus, we researched water, earth, light, and sound. There were, unfortunately, showers forecasted during the program, and the weather might have been the reason that our program wasn’t booming with participants. But after our flexible team adjusted the workshops to suit a much younger age range, we were able to get started with some enthusiastic young children and their parents.

Making a mud battery

There are two different types of mud batteries. In one of these, the microbes in the mud generate the current, and in the other, the mud serves as an electrolyte. The whole process is, of course, a complicated story to explain to a small child. But when you can attach a pair of wires to some pieces of metal, throw them into a jar full of mud, and then get a reading on a multi-meter? That’s pure magic. We measured the different electrical outputs of different types of soil, which can tell you something about the composition of that soil. The contest for “who can make the best mud battery” was fun, but some of our smart toddlers seemed much more interested in digging up the ground with their shovels. We had to keep them somewhat in check so they didn’t dig up the entire lawn.

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Making an acidity meter

There’s a substance in red cabbage (anthocyanin) that changes color depending on the acidity of the environment. That is, like the mud battery, a complicated story to explain to a toddler. And when your goal is to get the children to shred a few leaves of red cabbage and then puree those leaves in a blender to make a “magic potion,” you have to keep their attention. The resulting red cabbage juice was divided into plastic cups. We then mixed it with water from various sources like the Ij and the fountain, and also, of course, with apple juice and Coke. Our main conclusions? Coke and apple juice are bad for your teeth and the rainwater is less acidic than it was in the 80’s!

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Measuring fine particulate matter

The principle behind the particulates meter is very simple. You take a piece of white cardboard and smear it with Vaseline. Dust particles in the air will then stick to the surface. This is an easy and insightful experiment, but unfortunately is not one that gives you immediate results. Of course, you can still enjoy the beauty of the meter, and that’s just what our little researchers did.

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Building an EC meter

Later in the afternoon, we also worked with some older children (8+). This was good because making an EC meter is quite a fiddly, detailed job. But, fiddly work aside, it proved to be a beautiful activity for the whole family. The EC meter measures the degree of electrical conductivity in the water. We had prepared a number of pre-packaged devices that could be assembled without soldering. When the meters were finished, the temptation to go test water everywhere proved too great to resist. There were even daredevil missions to retrieve water from Oosterdok. Together, we came to the understanding that rainwater contains few minerals and that the water near the Marineterein is a little bit salty, likely because of the connection with the IJ, the North Sea Canal, and the North Sea.

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Noise levels and a sound safari

We topped off our programme at noon with measuring noise levels in different places. With a smartphone in hand, we went on a “sound safari” around the Marineterein. We found pleasant noise levels in the beer tent, annoying noises along the highway, and a nice, quiet spot by the water. The whole day came to a spectacular end when we measured the Science Bus’s horn, which was 100 decibels.

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On the map

One of the goals was to map out our results from the Marineterein. After each experiment, children were allowed to share their results by sticking stickers on a large map. The end result will be displayed on a wall at Amsterdam Smart City.

So back to the question: can you do science experiments with toddlers? The answer is, yes! They may not always understand what they’re doing, but if they’re interested in experimenting and are having fun with it, a seed may have been planted in their heads. The experimental toddlers of today could be the scientists of tomorrow!

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Note: Each of these experiments tell us something about a certain aspect of the substance being measured, but determining whether or not a reading is “good” or “bad” is a subtle art. When you get a reading on your EC meter that the water you’re measuring has a strong current, it might be because the water is salty, but also could be because it’s acidic. You can answer questions like these by doing another type of experiment. Of course you can say, when you measure extreme values, that the water you’re testing is probably not good for drinking.

Smart Kids Lab is one of the tree Amsterdam based pilots from Making Sense, a European project that explores ways to stimulate community driven data collection and action on environmental issues.

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Measuring air and acoustic pollution with the community of Sant Antoni https://making-sense.eu/measuring-air-acoustic-pollution-community-sant-antoni/ Mon, 16 Oct 2017 08:57:58 +0000 https://making-sense.eu/?p=2057 We are helping to measure air and acoustic pollution in the neighborhood of Sant Antoni, Barcelona! Making Sense, Ideas for change, the Barcelona Global Health Institute (ISGlobal) and the neighbours of Sant Antoni, are collaborating in the development of a project on air pollution and noise. The objective of the initiative is to take measures […]

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We are helping to measure air and acoustic pollution in the neighborhood of Sant Antoni, Barcelona!

Making Sense, Ideas for change, the Barcelona Global Health Institute (ISGlobal) and the neighbours of Sant Antoni, are collaborating in the development of a project on air pollution and noise. The objective of the initiative is to take measures of air pollution and noise in some points of the crossing between Tamarit and Compte Borrell. For this reason, members of the Fab Lab Barcelona and ISGlobal technical teams have left the measuring devices on the balconies of the first floors to the following points:

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At the junction of Compte Borrell and Tamarit
For the Compte Borrell near the previous crossing
At Gran Via and Compte Borrell
Near Sant Antoni Market

In addition, they have put the air pollution and acoustic devices in the mobile unit of measurement of air pollution of the government of Catalonia located in the Tamarit-Borrell crossing.

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The objective of this project will be to compare the data of the air pollution and the noise of the days before the day without cars and with the same day without cars.

The devices were placed on september 14th and were taken on September 26th. They have used two types of measuring devices, one of them measures the particles (microaeth) and the other noise (Smartcitizenkit).

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From targeted measurements to campaignable data & more https://making-sense.eu/targeted-measurements-campaignable-data/ Thu, 27 Jul 2017 12:01:02 +0000 https://making-sense.eu/?p=1998 Hackathon: Visualizing Air Pollution! After two intensive months of systematic measurements, the Research and Monitoring Committee, led by activists of Peer Educators Network and Science for Change Kosovo Movement, have completed the measurements which took place in several locations: in Plemetina, a neighborhood located few kilometers outside Prishtina, just nearby the coal-powered Power Plants Kosovo […]

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Hackathon: Visualizing Air Pollution!

After two intensive months of systematic measurements, the Research and Monitoring Committee, led by activists of Peer Educators Network and Science for Change Kosovo Movement, have completed the measurements which took place in several locations: in Plemetina, a neighborhood located few kilometers outside Prishtina, just nearby the coal-powered Power Plants Kosovo A and B. Other locations such as Obilic, Krusevc and Fushe Kosova, which also are located nearby the power plants, have been regularly monitored. In addition to this, a small team of the Research and Monitoring Committee, led by our activist and ecology student – Adhurim Hoxha, is running a research study on bio-indicators (i.e. lichens) aiming to identify the impact of air pollution.
As part of our efforts to bring the data closer to citizens and in ‘campagnable’ formats, we launched a call for teams to join our first Hackathon: Visualizing Air Pollution. In just 1 week, we received close to 50 applications from tech community across Kosovo and beyond, where only five teams had the opportunity to join the Hackathon and develop a minimum viable product. Hackathon served as a space to bring together developers, designers, artists, activists and environmental students, and together develop variety of data visualizations models. It was for the first time that in Kosovo such an event takes place. The Hackathon has concluded this Sunday afternoon—an immense difficult work was prepared by the Judging Panel to select the winner of the Hackathon—with the GX Data team winning the prize, and rolling up the sleeves to deliver the full data visualization product in the upcoming weeks.
Full social media coverage of the Hackathon can be followed in the Facebook pages of Science for Change Kosovo Movement and Peer Educators Network.

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#ClimateDiplomacyWeek

Between 23-30 June 2017, European Union Office in Kosovo has organized Climate Diplomacy Week, bringing together the representatives of EU Member States, representatives of Kosovo institutions, civil society and general public in Kosovo to raise awareness on climate change topics through a series of events including: exhibitions, round-table discussions, movie screenings, drawing/video competition for students etc. Peer Educators Network and Science for Change Kosovo have presented “Making Sense EU” project by organizing street-happenings, where activists and citizens met face-to-face to speak about air pollution and ways they can contribute to reduce it.
Full coverage of the Climate Diplomacy Week can be found under the hashtag (see the title) and in Facebook page of European Union Office in Kosovo.

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Small victory, campaign street action, air pollution measurements and more… https://making-sense.eu/small-victory-campaign-street-action-air-pollution-measurements/ Thu, 29 Jun 2017 14:01:32 +0000 https://making-sense.eu/?p=1971 #VoteForCleanAir Last two months were immensely busy in Kosovo. In the beginning of May, Kosovo Government lost a no-confidence vote, setting the scene for an early national elections which were held on 11 June, thus leaving only 10 days campaign for political parties. To use this opportunity, and to advocate for putting air pollution and […]

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#VoteForCleanAir

Last two months were immensely busy in Kosovo. In the beginning of May, Kosovo Government lost a no-confidence vote, setting the scene for an early national elections which were held on 11 June, thus leaving only 10 days campaign for political parties. To use this opportunity, and to advocate for putting air pollution and environmental problems in the programmes of political parties, Peer Educators Network and Science for Change Kosovo Movement started immediately to gear up its campaigning committee. Under the slogan #VoteForCleanAir, written in white boards held by the mannequins and positioned in the main square of Prishtina, the campaign asked citizens to pressure at candidates of political parties for putting air pollution as priority in their campaign programmes. Along with the mannequins, activists were distributing voting ballots to citizens, asking them to #VoteForCleanAir. Moreover, activists were running real-time measurements in the square, demonstrating to citizens the methodology of data collection as well as the meaning of data. The action has received a nation-wide media coverage. Nonetheless, Peer Educators Network and Science for Change Kosovo Movement has tried also to organize a public debate with representatives of all political parties around the topic of air pollution. We have sent an invitation to political parties, but none of them have accepted the invitation to join the debate, although the debate would have been moderated by Jeta Xharra, one of the most known TV anchor in Kosovo. Perhaps it was too challenging as a topic?!

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Targeted measurements

The Research and Monitoring Committee, led by activists of Peer Educators Network and Science for Change Kosovo Movement, is running systematic measurements in several locations: in Plemetina, a neighborhood located few kilometers outside Prishtina, just nearby the coal-powered Power Plants Kosovo A and B. Other locations such as Obilic, Krusevc and Fushe Kosova, which also are located nearby the power plants, are regularly being monitored. The measurements in the above-mentioned locations are being done through digital Airbeam sensors in regular schedules twice a day – morning and afternoon. In addition to this, a small team of the Research and Monitoring Committee, led by our activist and ecology student – Adhurim Hoxha, is running a research study on bio-indicators (i.e. lichens) aiming to identify the impact of air pollution.

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A small victory, but meaningful one!

Kosovo Environmental Protection Agency (KEPA) is the responsible agency for monitoring air quality at national level in Kosovo and informing citizens about levels of air pollution. But KEPA, which function under Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning, has been silent since 2016, not publishing any data in their website for 2017. Concerned with their silence and lack of responsibility, Science for Change Kosovo Movement and Peer Educators Network, using Facebook, started to call KEPA’s attention and advocating for data transparency around air pollution. On 29 May, only four days after our call, they published all the data in their official website, for the period of January-April 2017. A small victory, but a meaningful one which pushes us one step further towards our aim – to democratise the air in Kosovo.

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Making Sense of Noise Pollution in Plaça del Sol https://making-sense.eu/making-sense-noise-pollution-placa-del-sol/ Tue, 21 Mar 2017 16:28:09 +0000 https://making-sense.eu/?p=1634 On Saturday 11th of March, around 75 people gathered at Kubik, in Gracia, to take part in the launch of Making Sense’s third pilot in Barcelona.   The aim of the event was to present the work done in previous pilots, to discuss the objectives of the Making Sense project, and to start to build […]

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On Saturday 11th of March, around 75 people gathered at Kubik, in Gracia, to take part in the launch of Making Sense’s third pilot in Barcelona.

 

The aim of the event was to present the work done in previous pilots, to discuss the objectives of the Making Sense project, and to start to build a community of citizens who want to participate in the third and final pilot.

The event was an authentic celebration of citizen sensing!

There was a photo exhibition illustrating the key activities performed during the previous pilots; a real-time installation built by one of our community champions – which captured and visualised noise levels in situ at Kubik; and a number of presentations about how citizen participation, open source technology and data can help us to tackle environmental issues.

 

 

During the event two collaborative activities allowed us to map noise pollution hot-spots in the Gracia neighbourhood as well as the efforts, skills and time that citizens are willing to contribute to the pilot.

 

 

From the collaborative mapping task we identified that the Plaça del Sol is perceived as seriously affected by noise pollution.

A group of residents of the Plaça explained how this affected their everyday lives, while other participants committed to supporting this cause even when they didn’t live in the area or were not directly affected by it.

 

After the event at Kubik we all walked towards the Plaça del Sol where we deployed the ‘Noisebox’, an interactive installation that was fabricated by the community champions who took part in the first pilot.

 

The device comprises a wooden box equipped with a Smart Citizen Kit to which was a 5 meter long LED strip has been attached. Participants can press a button on the box to trigger the noise sensor.

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The measured data is then represented through the LED strip. Around the installation, we created a conversational space, which included different stencils and gigantic pieces of chalk (also fabricated by the community champions) as incentives to people to write and share their views on the sounds and noises that they like and don’t like in the Plaça.

 

 

The deployment of the Noisebox attracted hundreds of people who were curious to find out more and experience the installation. Many provided data and comments that will help us to inform the pilot and moreover signed up to be involved.

We thank all the event attendees and residents of the Plaça del Sol for their invaluable enthusiasm.

 

We are looking forward to co-creating an impactful third pilot to make Barcelona a better place for all.

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Calling all activists in Barcelona! https://making-sense.eu/calling-all-activists-in-barcelona/ Mon, 06 Mar 2017 14:30:33 +0000 https://making-sense.eu/?p=1542 11 March 2017 5—7PM KUBIK Luis Antunez nº6, 08006 Barcelona, Spain   Interested in learning how to use technology to tackle environmental issues and generate positive change in your neighbourhood?   If that so, we would like to invite you to the launch of the third, and last Making Sense pilot in Gràcia this Saturday […]

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11 March 2017
5—7PM

KUBIK
Luis Antunez nº6,
08006 Barcelona, Spain


 

Interested in learning how to use technology to tackle environmental issues and generate positive change in your neighbourhood?

 

If that so, we would like to invite you to the launch of the third, and last Making Sense pilot in Gràcia this Saturday 11th March, at 17:00 in KUBIK.

Making Sense seeks to empower citizens with the use of open source methodologies and technologies, environmental sensors data capture and data literacy to address pressing environmental issues.

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At the heart of Making Sense is citizen participation.

 

The Making Sense journey begins with citizens, concerned or curious about the environment, coming together in groups of varied backgrounds and capabilities, to capture environmental data, learn how to question data (scientifically and emotionally) and look for lessons within the numbers.

 

 

Then, together, we fabricate public interventions to raise awareness of the findings. By becoming aware and understanding the data of the world around us, we have a better chance to improve our quality of life.

 

 

The pilot we will launch on Saturday 11 March will include the implementation of personal sensors, discussions around environmental problems such as noise pollutions and the creation of an urban intervention.

 

 

During the event we will be able to listen to the experiences of the participants from previous pilots and participate in an public intervention created by Barcelona citizens from a variety of backgrounds, the participants themselves.

 


 

GET INVOLVED!

Eventbrite

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lanzamiento-making-sense-gracia-tickets-32324937759

 


See you there!

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Pollution hotspots in Prishtina https://making-sense.eu/pollution-hotspots-prishtina/ Mon, 30 Jan 2017 14:32:25 +0000 https://making-sense.eu/?p=1191 A movement to measure pollution and make change. Approximately 9,500 citizens die every year in London because of long-term exposure to pollution. Premature deaths come as a result of two main pollutants: tiny particles known as PM2.5 that make up smog and are released by different pollutants, like power plants, burned coal, etc.; and toxic […]

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A movement to measure pollution and make change.

Approximately 9,500 citizens die every year in London because of long-term exposure to pollution. Premature deaths come as a result of two main pollutants: tiny particles known as PM2.5 that make up smog and are released by different pollutants, like power plants, burned coal, etc.; and toxic gas, known as nitrogen dioxide, NO2.

This data were published in a report in July 2015, by researchers at King’s College London. Additionally, in 2015, Italian metropolitan areas like Milan and Rome were forced to halt traffic completely so as to reduce toxic gases and smog to moderate levels; primary schools were temporarily closed and citizens, particularly those that suffered from respiratory illnesses and older people, were advised to stay at home or wear masks when outside.

In January 2013, the World Bank Office in Prishtina published a report titled “An Analysis of the Environment in Kosovo,” which gave alarming indications. Firstly, the report analyzed spending that Kosovo attributes to pollution. It highlighted that “the cost that the state of Kosovo pays for pollution in urban areas, especially for the influence of pollution on health, through tiny particles that increase cardio-pulmonary and respiratory diseases (chronic bronchitis etc.), as well as lung cancer from long-term exposure to pollution, reaches 38 to 163 million euros (or 0.90 to 3.88 percent of Kosovo’s GDP).”

Secondly, the World Bank report predicts alarming statistics related to the effect of air pollution on the health of Kosovar citizens, noting “air pollution is foreseen to cause 852 premature deaths, 318 new cases of chronic bronchitis, 605 cases of hospitalization and 11,900 emergency cases every year.”
Air pollution continues to be an alarming problem in Kosovo, but oddly enough, it is (un)intentionally neglected by policymakers that consider this issue a low priority. A few questions related to air pollution arise, especially in Prishtina: What are the immediate measures that must be taken by the relevant institutions and responsible authorities when pollution reaches alarming levels? Where should Kosovo citizens get necessary information — especially vulnerable groups like children, the elderly, and people that suffer from respiratory illnesses etc. — and how can citizens be sure that information and advice reaches them in a timely and accurate manner? Why is air pollution, this invisible killer, not treated as a priority issue by Kosovar citizens either? How can young people be involved and participate in a more authentic way in dealing with issues of air pollution?

NO2 — A TOXIC KILLER

Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) is measured in micrograms per cubic meter — ug/m3. The level of NO2 that is recommended by the European Union and the World Health Organization is on average 40 ug/m3. Any value that is higher than 40 ug/m3 indicates pollution.
The higher the value of toxic gas, the more pollution there is; the more pollution, the higher the risks against human health. And the longer people are exposed to this pollution, the higher the chances of being diagnosed with various respiratory diseases or lung cancer.

To attempt to answer these questions, in June 2014, a number of organizations — Transitions Online, UNICEF Innovations Lab Kosovo, Internet Artisans, Peer Educators Network (PEN) and the Prosperity Initiative in Kosovo; supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic and the UNICEF Office in Kosovo — joined forces to create an experimental environment movement called the Science for Change Movement. This movement aims to involve a number of young people from different cities in Kosovo to research about air pollution by utilizing digital and non-digital equipment, as well as other methods that have successfully been applied in a relatively new international approach called “citizen science.”

Seeing the trend of air pollution in Kosovo (especially in the city center) during 2014, the Science for Change Movement intensified field air quality measurements during December 2015 – February 2016, and discovered hotspots or locations where NO2 pollution is highest in the capital. The measurements found that in December 2015, Prishtina, and in particular the center of the capital, was exposed to a high level of pollution from the toxic gas.

News # 3

December 2015: Red spots show where NO2 pollution has surpassed an alarming level, over 65 ug/m3. The average value recommended by the European Union and the World Health Organisation is 40 ug/m3. Orange spots show where NO2 pollution fluctuates between 45 and 65 ug/m3. Green spots show where NO2 pollution is between 35 and 45 ug/m3.
In January-February 2016, NO2 pollution was partially reduced, albeit the center of Prishtina still remained exposed to a high level of pollution, with over 65 micrograms per cubic meter (ug/m3). The map below shows NO2 pollution in Prishtina’s city center during this period.

News # 3.1

January-February 2016: Red spots show where NO2 pollution has surpassed an alarming level, over 65 ug/m3. The average value recommended by the European Union and the World Health Organisation is 40 ug/m3. Orange spots show where NO2 pollution fluctuates between 45 and 65 ug/m3. Green spots show where NO2 pollution is between 35 and 45 ug/m3.
While during September 2016, the level of NO2 was partially reduced, as seen in the map below, figures still vary during that month, from a low of 45 ug/m3 to a high of 65 ug/m3 (at the main roundabout at the entrance to Prishtina).

News # 3.2

September 2016: Red spots show where NO2 pollution has surpassed an alarming level, over 65 ug/m3. The average value recommended by the European Union and the World Health Organisation is 40 ug/m3. Orange spots show where NO2 pollution fluctuates between 45 and 65 ug/m3. Green spots show where NO2 pollution is between 35 and 45 ug/m3.
Campaign and actions against air pollution

Since August, working within the “Making Sense EU” project, PEN and the Science for Change Movement have also been conducting measurements of PM2.5 microparticles. These particles are one of the main causes of different diseases, including lung cancer and other respiratory illnesses.
The first measurements were taken during this year’s DokuFest Festival in Prizren, where they were published together with a short analysis that highlighted the fact that the results in Prizren showed values of PM2.5 pollution that were four times higher than the World Health Organization (WHO) limit; WHO recommends an average level of PM2.5 particles no higher than 25 ug/m3 during a 24 hour period.

Besides interpreting the results of the PM2.5 pollution measurements taken during September-October 2016, PEN and the Science for Change Movement will soon start a campaign through which they will undertake direct actions to raise awareness for the issue of air pollution in public discourse, and seek more transparency for quick and proper information for citizens on air pollution by relevant institutions.

CONCLUSIONS:
  1. NO2 air pollution in Prishtina is a continuous problem that often exceeds EU and WHO values;
    During the winter period, the situation becomes even more alarming, registering values up to three times higher than those recommended by the EU and WHO;
  2. The lowest levels of NO2 air pollution are during the summer and early autumn periods;
  3. Data shows that the approximate area with the highest and most alarming NO2 pollution levels is the triangle between the bus station, the Grand Hotel and the Sunny Hill neighborhood;
  4. Those people — especially vulnerable groups like children, the elderly and people that suffer from respiratory diseases — who spend time in the zone mentioned in bullet point 4 are exposed to high pollution levels and therefore to health risks;
  5. Often toxic NO2 gas accumulates even inside buildings, which is why a more comprehensive study is required;
  6. The measurements recorded are non-digital measurements, but have been done with diffusion tubes which give an average value, the results of which are certified in London;
  7. The source of NO2 pollution is a combination of dense traffic and emissions by the Kosova A and B power plants;
  8. The data shows that high levels of toxic NO2 gas are likely to be having a large effect on the health of citizens, and immediate measures must be taken to improve the situation.
  9. Ultimately, what must be highlighted is that air pollution measurements conducted by PEN and the Science for Change Movement are local and mobile measurements, unlike measurements conducted by state institutions that are general and static. Measurements conducted by PEN and the Science for Change Movement have an advantage compared to those by state institutions, because pollution can change street by street, neighborhood by neighborhood, and as a result is neglected by static measurements, whereas it is more easily revealed by mobile measurements on a local basis.

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Protests against air pollution in Prishtina https://making-sense.eu/protests-air-pollution-prishtina/ Mon, 30 Jan 2017 14:12:47 +0000 https://making-sense.eu/?p=1164 Peer Educators Network and Science for Change Movement in Kosovo continue to measure air pollution. This morning, activists of the Peer Education Network (PEN) and the Science for Change Movement organized their first action, as part of the campaign ‘Protect Your Children From the Invisible Killer.’ Held in front of the Ministry of Environment and […]

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Peer Educators Network and Science for Change Movement in Kosovo continue to measure air pollution.

This morning, activists of the Peer Education Network (PEN) and the Science for Change Movement organized their first action, as part of the campaign ‘Protect Your Children From the Invisible Killer.’ Held in front of the Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning, his activity attempts to break the silence of this institution regarding air pollution problem in Prishtina and to ask for more transparency and accountability of the institutions. Also, throughout the day, the activists are on Mother Teresa Boulevard measuring the air pollution in real time and informing citizens about this matter.

Politicians in Kosovo often use the saying “children and youth are the future of this country,” a saying which has now lost all meaning. For it is precisely children and youth (of course, together with other groups) that are being poisoned by the air in Prishtina; they are bearing the consequences of institutional negligence.

Taking into account that the air is a common good and seeing that the citizens have been left with a total absence of information regarding the quality of air that they breathe, the activists will also spend the entire day in Mother Teresa Square measuring the quality of air and providing citizens with an opportunity to get informed about the level of pollution.

The campaign ‘Protect Your Children From the Invisible Killer’ aims to raise awareness among parents, teachers, grandparents and other groups of citizens regarding the risk of air pollution to which children are exposed. The main focus of this activity are children as a result of systematic work conducted by PEN and the Science for Change Movement on air pollution in Faik Konica primary school in Prishtina. (These measurements, which have been taking place since 2014, showed a trend of increased pollution in the very area of this school).

News # 2.1

Due to the lack of institutional transparency, we are trying to “democratize air” through air pollution measurements and mobilization activities. We believe that the air in Kosovo is “corrupt,” because Kosovars have no idea what they breathe, they are not informed at all about the health hazards and how to protect themselves from pollution; and because there is no proper institutional support.

Surprisingly enough, the air – this common good – which is often used as a symbol of freedom (which is another common good we all enjoy), has turned into a symbol of deadly poison. Freedom cannot be complete without democracy, and democracy today is facing crisis – which is reflected in political, social and economic crisis – but also in the existing environment in Kosovo. Thereby, “air democratization” is no less important than the democratization of politics, the economy and so on.

News # 2.2

We will continue to look into air pollution in Prishtina. If the situation does not improve and if the institutions continue to be silent towards this alarming situation by not taking concrete and immediate measures, the activists will organize other protests in the upcoming weeks.

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Making Community Champions https://making-sense.eu/making-community-champions/ Wed, 09 Nov 2016 19:44:44 +0000 https://making-sense.eu/?p=867 How do we give citizens the tools and methodologies to address their environmental concerns? The first Making Sense campaign in Barcelona kicked off on Saturday 5th November with a full house. A few short presentations from project organisers Gui Seiz, Guillem Camprodon and Mara Balestrini took the attendants through the ambition of the Making Sense […]

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How do we give citizens the tools and methodologies to address their environmental concerns?

The first Making Sense campaign in Barcelona kicked off on Saturday 5th November with a full house. A few short presentations from project organisers Gui Seiz, Guillem Camprodon and Mara Balestrini took the attendants through the ambition of the Making Sense project, the technology we’ll be appropriating for the first sensor – Smart Citizen – and a call to arms to get in involved in the first pilot.

But first we have to make sense of the issues that surround us and the community and resources we have at our disposal.

 

Issue mapping

We all gathered together to map pressing issues in different Barcelona neighbourhoods for the Making Sense team and the first pilot participants to start scoping.

 

Resource mapping

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The next thing we mapped was the community resources to identify opportunities and contributions from within the attendees and prospective community. Participants pinned a post it with their name, email and skills to a target that indicated the type of contribution and time available to dedicate to the project.


 

It is easy to forget just how diverse and multitalented a community of activists can be it was fantastic to see that we had local residents designers, teachers, developers, economists and activists in attendance (and some were all of the above!)
 

What’s next

For the initial pilot we have a limited set of sensors, so the next step is selecting 25 participants to help us test the technology and methodologies – ready for the beginning of sensing next week!

 

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The Making Sense team in Barcelona wants to thank everyone for their contribution, and we look forward to seeing what we can sense, make sense and make better in our neighbourhoods

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Pilot Launch Barcelona https://making-sense.eu/pilot-launch-barcelona/ Wed, 26 Oct 2016 13:18:11 +0000 https://making-sense.eu/?p=837 Are you interested in learning and using technology for positive change, by capturing and making sense of environmental factors?   If so, we’d love to invite you to the launch of the Making Sense project, Saturday 5th November in the FabLab Barcelona at the IaaC. We will be presenting, among other things, the fablab, the […]

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Are you interested in learning and using technology for positive change, by capturing and making sense of environmental factors?

 
If so, we’d love to invite you to the launch of the Making Sense project, Saturday 5th November in the FabLab Barcelona at the IaaC.

We will be presenting, among other things, the fablab, the first project with sensors, the new Smart Citizen kits and developing a loose discussion on the themes of open source technologies, open data, urban environmental issues and citizen participation.

We will be collecting a list of participants for the first project which begins a week later, and will include deploying personal sensors, data visualisation discussions, as well as 3D printing, , electronics and laser cutting workshops, for beginners and intermediates alike.

So if these are things you’ve always wanted to learn. Get involved on the 5th
 

About Making Sense EU

Making Sense a EU funded project that looks to empower citizens through personal digital manufacturing, co-designing and deploying of environmental sensors.

We will to explore how open source software, open source hardware, digital maker practices and open design can be effectively used by local communities to fabricate their own sensing tools, make sense of their environments and address pressing environmental problems in air, water, soil and sound pollution.

 

For more information visit us on

www.making-sense.eu
facebook.com/MakingSenseEU
twitter.com/MakingSenseEU
#MakingSenseEU

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