On 2 September 2026, the ArcSolution project officially launched its citizen science campaign on indoor air quality at Kongsbakken Upper Secondary School in Tromsø, Norway. The campaign was prepared by Aarhus University (AU) in collaboration with several ArcSolution partners.
The Science Day brought together students, teachers and researchers to explore indoor air quality, pollutant exposure, and the role of citizen science in environmental research.
At the Science Day, Katrin Vorkamp, Paula Guedes, and Louise Bøge Frederickson from AU, together with Lars-Otto Reiersen (Arctic Knowledge) and Mario Acquarone (AMAP Secretariat), introduced students to key indoor air quality parameters such as semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs), particulate matter (PM) and carbon dioxide (CO₂). They also presented the basic principles behind their measurement, including real-time monitoring with air quality sensors and laboratory analysis of SVOCs. Through a series of hands-on stations, students gained practical experience with dust sampling and air sampling for SVOCs, as well as PM and CO₂ measurements, which they will apply in their own project.
The citizen science campaign was then officially launched, and students received sampling kits containing all the materials needed to carry out their own indoor air quality monitoring. Over the coming school year, the students will collect dust and air samples and monitor PM and CO₂ in their own school environment. Once the sampling activities are completed, the kits and collected samples will be returned to AU for laboratory analysis.
To support the campaign, the AU team developed a comprehensive educational package, including presentations, videos and step-by-step sampling and measurement protocols. These materials provide both the scientific background and practical guidance needed to ensure reliable and consistent data collection by the students themselves.
Throughout the campaign, the AU team will continue to support students and teachers with any questions that arise during data collection and conduct the laboratory analysis of air and dust samples. The project team will return to Tromsø in June 2027 to conclude the campaign with a second Science Day, where the results will be presented and discussed with the students and teachers. This will also give students an opportunity to see how the data they collected contribute to scientific research and to reflect on the findings from their own school environment.
By combining classroom learning with real-world environmental monitoring, the campaign aims to strengthen scientific literacy, increase awareness of indoor environmental quality, and actively involve students in generating valuable scientific data about their own school environment.
We thank the students, teachers, and staff at Kongsbakken Upper Secondary School for their enthusiasm and participation and look forward to following the results of the monitoring campaign over the coming school year.
