Eli Dueker, director of the Bard Center for the Environmental Sciences and Humanities and associate professor of Biology and Environmental Studies, discusses the Hudson Valley Community Air Network at a recent information session at Mount Saint Mary College.
Mount Saint Mary College is proud to announce a collaboration with both Bard College’s Community Sciences Lab and JustAir, an environmental tech company, becoming a key partner in the expansive Hudson Valley Community Air Network (HVCAN).
HVCAN provides communities with access to real-time, validated air quality data, allowing citizens to make more informed choices about the air they breathe.
An air quality monitor for the project was recently installed on the roof of Aquinas Hall on the Mount’s campus, marking a significant step in expanding the network’s reach and data collection capabilities.
“Mount Saint Mary College is very excited to be a part of the Hudson Valley Community Air Network,” stated Evan Merkhofer, Vice President for Academic Affairs at the Mount. “By supplying air quality data from sensors located on the college campus, the Mount is contributing to this crowdsourcing model of data collection in the Hudson Valley. The Mount continues to work closely with our community partners to help provide critical health information and to decrease local emissions.”
HVCAN air quality data can be viewed on the JustAir web app. Users can sign up for the free service at www.justair.app
An information session at the Mount on Wednesday, June 25 demonstrated how local residents can access and use the JustAir platform, and underscored the importance of environmental health equity. Attendees heard from Eli Dueker, director of the Bard Center for the Environmental Sciences and Humanities and associate professor of Biology and Environmental Studies; Desiree Lyle, Bard Community Sciences Lab Manager and Building Scientist; and Darren Riley, the co-founder and CEO of JustAir.
Directed by Dueker, HVCAN was established to address environmental problems like climate change through interdisciplinary efforts and community engagement. The network has grown significantly since its inception in January 2020.
The network now includes:
- Four regional air quality stations: Located at Bard College’s Stevenson Library (Red Hook), Andy Murphy Neighborhood Center (Kingston), Adriance Memorial Library (Poughkeepsie), and the Mount (Newburgh). These rooftop sensors offer a broad understanding of larger air plumes moving across the Hudson Valley.
- 18 street-level library air quality sensors: These smaller Purple Air monitors are hosted by Hudson Valley Libraries, an idea initiated by a Bard student.
- 12 neighborhood street-level air quality sensors: Hosted by individuals and other institutions.
- Eight multi-parameter sensors: In collaboration with SUNY Albany, these sensors provide data on the chemical composition of particulate matter, helping to identify sources of pollution.
- And three weather stations.
The network focuses on particulate matter, microscopic particles that can have significant short-term effects (like worsening existing cases of asthma) and long-term effects, including reduced life expectancy and increased risk of strokes, lung cancer, and cardiovascular disease.
Plans to expand HVCAN are already underway, with project leaders aiming to incorporate more street-level and neighborhood sensors onto the JustAir network as funding becomes available.
For more information, visit cesh.bard.edu