WITH YOUR FEET ON THE EARTH AND YOUR LOOK IN THE SKY
The air quality of planet Earth is seriously affected by industrial activities and the open burning of biomass and fossil fuels.
WITH YOUR FEET ON THE EARTH AND YOUR LOOK IN THE SKY
WITH YOUR FEET ON THE EARTH AND YOUR LOOK IN THE SKY
Air pollution not only represents a threat to human health, but also to our environment, reducing crop yields, affecting precipitation and temperature patterns, and also decreasing the visibility of our sky, which makes it difficult to study our stars. .
In this project we link 2 areas that synergistically will manage to promote a single message to our society: Taking care of our air is taking care of ourselves. Thus, the Laboratory of Atmospheric Studies (LEA, INQUINOA-CONICET), together with the Breathe2Change (B2C) initiative and the Calchaquí, Astronomical and Technological Complex, two Civil Society organizations, undertake this project that connects our atmosphere, to us, with the Stars.
This objective will be achieved by establishing a link between “air quality and the condition of clean skies”, variables that are very useful for astronomical observation. This approach represents a useful working model for the generation and communication of new knowledge in our society, connecting the quality of the air we breathe with the attractiveness and simplicity of observing our stars.
The advancement of this project was possible thanks to the support of the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MINCyT) of the nation in 2023, through a call in order to grant subsidies to strengthen and promote citizen science projects, and the organization of the First National Citizen Science Meeting held on August 28 and 29, 2023.
And how will we do it?
We will establish a work network in the north of Argentina, connecting the astronomical observation centers in the region with the real-time air quality monitoring network driven by B2C in different provinces of our country (catam, salta, sgo, tucuman) . At each point an Outreach Workshop will be held, where citizens will be able to actively participate in astronomical observations and in collecting air quality data through recreational-scientific activities. These air quality data can be observed in real time on our interactive Map.
In these meetings, activities will be promoted through a “Do It Yourself” (DIY) approach where visitors will receive an “Interactive Dissemination Guide, with all the content of the activities to be carried out in each workshop called: –“With the feet on earth and look at the sky”, according to the motto of our House of Higher Studies, the National University of Tucumán.
Where will the workshops be held?
Astronomical observatories
If your class wants to participate in the project, a responsible teacher can register it by filling out this form.
Air pollution causes the following number of deaths per year
3.220.000
Pneumonia // COPD // Cancer
1.400.000
Stroke // Alzheimer's // Cognitive impairment
2.380.000
Various heart diseases
Contact
Mail: info@breathe2change.org