The Collaborative Learning through Environmental and Aerosol Research (CLEAR) Program brings the concepts of environmental chemistry, aerosols, and air quality out of the abstract and into deep connection with the real-world through student driven research projects. The CLEAR Program, a core outreach program for the NSF Center for Aerosol Impacts on Chemistry of the Environment (CAICE), connects chemistry graduate students with high schools and community colleges interested in air quality research. Throughout the duration of the semester-long program, graduate student mentors work together with teachers and students, both in and out of class time, to complete an entire research project, from designing a research question to presenting a scientific poster at the CLEAR Symposium. Additionally, students are challenged to create artwork inspired by their science projects, opening yet another pathway for students to connect with the science in a personal and meaningful way. In 2021, 14 schools, totaling nearly 1000 students, enrolled into the program. While the main ‘hub’ of the CLEAR program is in San Diego, schools from across the country (Iowa, New York, Nevada, Washington, Ohio) have participated in the program. Over the past two years the CLEAR Program has utilized Purple Air sensors as the main scientific instrument, which allows students to see real-time and real-world applications of aerosols and air quality measurements as they ask research questions that are relevant to their local communities or interests. Participating students have presented posters about a huge range of topics including the impacts of airports, neighborhood, chicken coops, and population on air quality; in addition students have created poems, videos, paintings, drawings and infographics to convey their research projects through. Beyond the physical outcomes of the poster presentation and artwork, students gain experience in doing scientific research, increase their understanding of aerosols and air quality, work with a scientific mentor, and begin to build a connection between their world and the world of science. This poster describes the details, internal workings and outcomes of the CLEAR Program.

Bringing environmental chemistry & air quality out of the abstract and into a real-world context with the collaborative learning through environmental and aerosol research (CLEAR) program

ACS Spring 2022

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.