Community Observations Network for Air - Montana and Idaho

Kellogg, Idaho, 2019 Teacher's Air Quality Workshop On August 29, 11 Kellogg School District teachers and administrators attended the West Silver Valley Environmental Education Program Teacher's Workshop. Dan Smith from the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality told teachers about the United States Environmental Protection Agency's Targeted Air Shed Grant that supports the West Silver Valley Environmental Education Program. Dr. Tony Ward, University of Montana School of Public and Community Health Sciences department chair, provided a history and overview of the West Silver Valley Environmental Education Program. Brett Taylor, education coordinator for the University of Montana School of Public and Community Health Sciences , reviewed  air quality curriculum activities and demonstrated the use of available PM2.5 air quality monitors. Brett Taylor demonstrates PM2.5 monitors. The workshop concluded with a strategic planning session emphasizing increased studen...

Students in the Kellogg School District finished the school year by participating in the West Silver Valley Air Quality Coloring Contest and the Kellogg High School Air Quality Symposium. Results from the West Silver Valley Coloring Contest The coloring contest was opened to Kellogg students in grades K-3. Approximately 60 students submitted entries. Entries were evaluated on coloring skill, creativity, overall artistic ability, and quality of writing as demonstrated by the response to the prompt,  “How can I help keep the air clean in the West Silver Valley?”  The contest was sponsored by the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality and the University of Montana School of Public and Community Health Sciences. Special thanks to Sharon Waldo for creating the coloring contest art work and to the folks at Mountain Colors Yarn in Corvallis, MT who agreed to take on the difficult task of judging the entries. Winners from Canyon Elementary School: Left to ri...

The West Silver Valley Environmental Education Project hosted an informational display at the Kellogg Environmental Science and Health Fair. The fair was held at the Kellogg Community Center on April 11 and was coordinated by Val Wade from the Kellogg office of Panhandle Health. Attendees included area university, high school and middle school students as well as Kellogg community members. Brett Taylor, from the University of Montana School of Public and Community Health Sciences, and Bridgett Cote, a student at Kellogg High School, led students and instructors through demonstrations on the mechanics of breathing; measuring lung function; and collecting particulate air quality data using a variety of particulate matter, PM, monitors. Bridgett Cote is showing how pig  lungs inflate Weather Balloon Launch Students from Jennifer Ferreira's 4th/5th grade combined class at Canyon Elementary School will be participating in a weather balloon launch on May 9. The West Silver...

Dan Smith, from the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality, Bridgett Cote, a senior at Kellogg High School, and Tony Ward and Brett Taylor from the University of Montana School of Public and Community Health Sciences deployed 28 ODIN outdoor air quality monitors throughout the Kellogg, Idaho area. The ODINs were supplied by Ian Longley and Gus Olivares, air quality researchers with the New Zealand's National Institute of Water and Atmosphere - NIWA. The monitors were deployed at the end of January and will be recovered during the week of March 18. This time period represents winter temperature inversion season where many of the local homes rely on wood burning for heat. Data collected from the monitors will be used by students from the Kellogg School District as part of their air quality research projects. The deployment also provides NIWA researchers with data about ODIN performance and reliability in cold climates with short winter days. Kellogg has had a cold, snowy Febru...

Alexandra Primary School has a motto – ‘Indulge in Deep Learning – learning that sticks!’ Therefore, NIWA scientists joined forces with Alexandra Primary School teachers to engage kids aged 9 to 11 years in real world science this winter, make science less intimidating and more reachable.  We split our project in various branches including: Engage directly with scientists and break the ‘lab coat’ stereotypes! Learn the importance of data in science Learn to ask (and answer) why, what and how in daily life We posed questions based on local issues faced by the community in Alexandra. Our aim was to accelerate the uptake of science and increase their curiosity in science.  What is the air quality like in Alexandra, why is it that way and how could it be changed?  What is the air quality like in your homes, why is it that way and how could it be changed? How does air quality affect their health and perception? At the beginning of the project, a total o...