What happens when 20,000 Belgians turn into air pollution scientists? (5 minutes)

Curious noses (“Curieuze Neuzen” in Flemish) is a Belgian citizen science project that has been the biggest European citizen project tackling the problem of air pollution. "Curious noses" is an expression that also means "person who is interested" in Flemish, and this was clearly supported by the high number of adherents that the project had. Using low-cost and uncomplicated instruments, a tube and a cardboard sign, they gathered very valuable data that showed that living in big cities you are exposed to harmful particles. What makes this story a good one? The value of breathing clean air is shared by a large number of people, if not by everyone. Therefore, having a common value and concern, heightened the relevance of and interest in this project. Curious noses is now measuring the impact of dry seasons, especially drought, in their local environment and how this might affect inhabitants in the short term.
 

 Screenshot of the home webpage of the Curious Noses.

Learn more about this story here: 

• 3-minute video about Curious Noses: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQwzB91llBI
• Curious noses in local media: https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/2021/01/21/curieuzeneuzen-in-de-tuin-nieuw-onderzoek-naar-droogte-in-tuine/ (or here as a pdf)
  
• Curious noses in specialised magazines:

https://meta.eeb.org/2018/10/04/five-things-we-learnt-when-20000-belgians-became-air-pollution-scientists/ (or here as a pdf)

https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-018-07106-5 (or here as a pdf)

https://panoramatest.tbodev.de/en/solution/citizens-are-encouraged-be-nosy-about-air-quality (or here as a pdf)