As part of CurieuCity #2, Secondary 5 students in Chemistry Techniques at the Athénée Royal Andrée Thomas took part in the Lichens GO pre-project, a participatory science programme aimed at assessing air quality by studying lichens .
Lichens, the slow-growing organisms that grow on trees, are genuine indicators of the level of pollution accumulated over several years. Studying them offers a complementary approach to modern sensors for measuring air quality.
The preliminary project was carried out in two phases:
Student training: The students were first trained to recognise and understand lichens, and to apply the Lichens GO protocol for a rigorous scientific study.
Field work: In the second phase, the students assessed the quality of the air near the Wiels Marsh by putting their knowledge into practice in the field.
The results of this study will be presented in the form of a photo exhibition at La Marelle, enabling visitors to discover the relationship between lichens and air pollution, while at the same time showcasing the students’ work.
To see the exhibition on the festival programme, follow this link: https://curieucity.brussels/en/lichensgo-exposition/
This preliminary project shows how participatory science can involve young people in concrete actions linked to their local environment.