Citizen science with smart gas sensors: air quality assessment and environmental studies by students

Abstract

Harmful gases often are odorless as well as invisible and therefore only recognizable with gas sensors. This leads to limited awareness of possible hazards in the general population. In a novel project, we aim to introduce high school students to modern micro gas sensors allowing them to use smart sensor systems coupled with a smartphone app for air quality assessment and environmental studies. In three modules students learn how a metal oxide gas sensor works, how to calibrate a sensor and to evaluate data from environmental measurements with mobile devices. The ultimate aim is to increase the students environmental awareness for air pollution in general and especially concerning the effects of our own behavior, with this citizen science inspired approach.