What's in our schools' air?
West Northamptonshire schools are being offered a free SAMHE air quality monitor and education resources.
Why not sign up your school for the SAMHE project? Act now because registration closes at the end of May!
SAMHE (pronounced ‘Sammy’) stands for Schools’ Air Quality Monitoring for Health and Education. It is a citizen science project which brings together scientists, pupils and teachers across the UK. Poor air quality impacts pupils’ health and attention levels, so it is important it is monitored and understood.
SAMHE is completely free. Schools get a high-spec air quality monitor that measures carbon dioxide (CO2), total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs), particulate matter (PM), temperature and relative humidity. The monitor sends this data to the SAMHE Web App via Wi-Fi.
Teachers and pupils can use the Web App to view the data in a range of interactive chart and graph formats and see how air quality changes over the course of hours and days or weeks and months. The App also offers a range of curriculum-linked activities and experiments using the data, creating opportunities for pupils to be scientists and do hands-on experiments.
1000+ schools are already benefiting. Teachers testify that it’s “powerful to see the live feed”, has "provided our science group with a wealth of data to interrogate and analyse" and the “range of options allows us to use this system across the STEM subjects”.
SAMHE enables pupils to interact with real world data about their immediate environment, gives them agency to take informed action and offers an opportunity to collaborate with scientists and contribute to important research.
Benefits for your school
SAMHE is designed to achieve multiple benefits and be flexible to meet the needs of different schools and pupil groups. It can be used:
● to develop a range of skills, including scientific enquiry, data logging and data handling, understanding graphs and charts, reasoning with evidence and persuasive writing;
● for a range of learning aims, group types and session durations (subject lessons, extension activities, extracurricular clubs, extended projects, 5 minute tasks, etc.)
● to support the curriculum, with clear curriculum links provided for a range of subjects including, but not limited to, Science, Maths and PSHE, plus lesson plans, videos and other resources;
● to encourage citizenship through individual action and engagement with local MPs;
● to start career discussions, with information provided about the diverse members of the SAMHE project team, their career pathways and careers advice;
● with different age groups (spanning age 5-18).
SAMHE enables pupils to interact with real world data about their immediate environment, gives them agency to take informed action and offers an opportunity to collaborate with scientists and contribute to important research.
Find out more and register your school before 31 May on the SAMHE website.
Not a school – we have more news ...
If you are concerned about indoor or outdoor air quality but not involved at a school you may be interested to know that later this year CA-WN will be launching its own air quality monitoring initiative.
Two years ago we collected pollution information in Northampton, Bugbrooke and Towcester. For our new air quality monitoring programme we shall be looking for host sites across the entire West Northamptonshire area.
This time we unfortunately don’t have air quality monitors to give away - but we can offer help with the technicalities.
If you are interested in finding out what’s in the air you are breathing please email for further details. And if you know of any organisation willing to co-sponsor our initiative please do put them in touch with us.