A team of Harvey Mudd student researchers wrapped up a year-long project working in collaboration with Sustainable Claremont and the Claremont Unified School District to study whether air pollutants are present in higher concentrations near Claremont High School during peak car traffic and idling periods of the day. The goals of the collaboration are to support the school community in understanding how commuting behaviors can impact air quality and to explore ways to create a healthier environment for students. The project’s focus is to increase awareness among CHS students, parents, teachers, and administrators about the issue of air pollution and everyday activities that contribute to it. While the COVID-19 campus closures in mid-March forced the project to be suspended, the collaborators have laid a solid foundation for the work to continue as soon as it is safe to do so.
For a quick overview of the project, check out the short video created by the Harvey Mudd team.