Starting from a concern about the quality of the air  locally, citizen David Fryer and designers Ben Durack and Kevin Mulhern worked collaboratively to design and produce a small batch of air pollution monitors already present in Aberdeen. 

This workshop facilitated another eight participants to build their own monitors which was theirs to take home. 

The workshop was situated in a global network of citizens science projects as a response to increasing concerns about air pollution in cities. Through the creative commons license and open data platforms, citizens are able to participate in the issues that concern them and Aberdeen is no different.

See the monitors live by visiting Luftdaten

With thanks to Aberdeen Central library for use of their media centre and our participants who with their diverse backgrounds and interests made the workshop fantastic.

The workshop was supported by funding from Grays School of Art, The Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen.

Photo credit: Rory Barclay

David Fryer

David has a keen interest in environmental issues and is an activist, a community entrepreneur and a lead trustee for the Torry Development Trust. A charitable organisation focusing on the challenges of urban regeneration, the environmental protection of green spaces and recognition of the arts, history and culture of Torry.

Torry Development Trust

Ben Durack

With a background in commercial product development Ben moved to Aberdeen in 2016 to manage MAKE Aberdeen, an open access digital fabrication studio in the city centre*. He is passionate about empowering the public with the tools and knowledge to be able to experiment and innovate. He now works as a Lecturer in Digital Design & Manufacture at Gray’s School of Art, Aberdeen.
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*MAKE Aberdeen was run by the Robert Gordon University and was part of a global network of 'fablabs'. Bringing together a community of professionals and enthusiasts in technology, design, engineering and coding. It was closed in 2018. 

Kevin Mulhern

A Director of 57North Hacklab, a community based collaborative space where exploration and experimentation of science, technology and art is encouraged. Kevin previously worked as an electrical technician in the drilling industry, but has recently committed to pursuing a degree in economics at the University of Aberdeen.

57 North