As the end of the school year approaches — and with it, the completion of our school monitoring period — a very pleasant surprise awaited the SynAir-G team at a primary school in Athens.
Beyond the objective of monitoring indoor air quality (IAQ), the SynAir-G project also aims to actively engage school communities in understanding and improving the air they breathe. In this particular school, students have embraced the project in an inspiring way that exceeded our expectations, demonstrating the broader educational value of the initiative.
Students Take the Lead.
Using portable IAQ sensors installed in their classrooms, the students in this school in Athens have taken responsibility for tracking the air quality in their learning space on a daily basis. Each day, a student assumes the role of the “Air Quality Guardian” and records the sensor air quality readings on an hourly basis.
Alongside this, the sensor provides visual feedback through emoji indicators, making it easier for students to quickly interpret air quality conditions:
- 😊 Smiling face means good air quality and no action is needed
- 😐 / ☹️ Neutral or sad face means elevated CO₂ levels are detected
When high CO₂ levels are detected, the students immediately take action: they open more windows — and sometimes even the classroom door — to improve ventilation and restore healthy air quality. This simple yet meaningful routine helps children understand how indoor environments influence their concentration, comfort, and wellbeing, while also teaching them how small behavioral changes can contribute to better indoor air quality.
A Meaningful Impact Beyond Monitoring
This spontaneous initiative brought great satisfaction to the SynAir-G team and highlighted the real-world impact of the project. What began as a scientific monitoring exercise has evolved into a valuable educational experience, empowering students to take ownership of their indoor environment.
Seeing children actively engaged, aware, and motivated reinforces the idea that our work extends beyond data collection. It supports lasting behavioural change and helps raise environmental awareness from an early age.
As this school year’s monitoring campaign draws to a close, moments like this remind us why SynAir-G matters: improving indoor air quality today helps create healthier and more supportive learning environments for the future.
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