RadAR holds Exciting Event in Lisbon for Student Citizen Scientists.

The RadAR citizen science project in Portugal, involving approximately 60 students from three high schools in inland Portugal, recently held an event in Lisbon for the three participating schools. The project sought to answer the research question: “Can a local campaign designed and implemented by students improve monitoring rates and promote action to reduce indoor radon exposure?” Students were engaged as citizen scientists to monitor and promote actions to reduce indoor radon exposure by creating and implementing a local communication strategy to measure 300 dwellings and to take action to reduce indoor radon exposure in the cases where high concentrations levels are found.

As part of the event, the students, organised into several groups, first visited the laboratories where the radon devices were received and analysed and then participated in outdoor events focused on air quality, organised by the team at the Instituto Superior Técnico (IST). After the lab tours, the students gathered in the “Pavilhão do Conhecimento” (Knowledge Pavilion) where the event was held together with the project partner Ciência Viva. Following introductions and brief presentations by IST, the Portuguese Environment Agency (APA), and RadoNorm (Meritxell Martell, Subtask leader), the spotlight turned to the students. In an impressive showcase, each school presented their methods of radon communication, shared their results with statistics, and proposed remediation strategies for some cases. Their presentations were met with enthusiasm, and they skilfully answered questions from the audience, demonstrating their understanding and engagement with the project.

The event not only highlighted the students’ hard work and learning but also emphasised the importance of involving high school students in tackling societal issues.

For more information about the project, visit here.

For further information about the RadoNorm citizen science projects, see: https://www.radonorm.eu/activities/radonorm-citizen-science/.