Community Air Research Experience
A Project Funded by the National Science Foundation’s GEOPAths Program
Air quality in Chicago monitored by sensors installed by CARE [Link]
The Community Air Research Experience (CARE) is a geoscience learning community that engages underrepresented undergraduates in research on air pollution in Chicago neighborhoods that differ in socioeconomic demographics and proximity to industrial facilities.
CARE has three aims:
provide an applied, socially-relevant research experience for URM students,
increase understanding about the spatial distribution and temporal variation of particle pollution in Chicago, and
provide air quality data for community discussions about how to reduce air pollution and better protect public health.
Students talk about their CARE experiences
The video was made in fall 2023 by Michael W. Chopra (mchopra@luc.edu), a Loyola undergrad in Film & Digital Media.
WHY AIR
Air pollution is one of the major threats to public health and welfare. In the CARE project, students will study air pollution in Chicago, because over 5 million people in Chicago are at risk from high levels of ozone and particle pollution1. In addition, residents of low-income or high minority neighborhoods of Chicago share a greater burden of air pollution than more affluent areas2,3, which makes air pollution in Chicago an environmental justice issue as well.
WHAT WE DO
Spring 2023
Orientation and Training
CARE students participate in 10 seminars and field trips to learn about research design and methods, geoscience career opportunities, and professional skills, plus consult with community organizations to prepare for the upcoming research.
Summer 2023
(May 15 to June 9)
Internship
During a 4-week research experience in Chicago, CARE students install air monitoring instruments, learn and practice computer programming, and collect and analyze data to answer research questions of interest to local communities.
Note: Picture above is an example of real-time air quality monitoring using a PurpleAir sensor which will be installed by CARE students in summer.
Fall 2023
Dissemination
CARE students finalize their research results, learn and practice scientific communication skills, and present their results in communities and conferences.