Netherton Air Quality Research
Would you like to join us to explore air quality through data research and creative sessions?
We are inviting local residents in Netherton to join us on a series of walks and creative sessions that will test and explore Netherton’s air quality; how it impacts our senses, health and non-human life forms.
Over a series of walks back in November 2023, we gathered data about air quality in the local area and discussed what it all means with scientists. Together we discussed who has access to information on air quality, who understands it and it’s accessibility.
This February, we’ve invited artists Dongni Liang and Aous Hamoud to run collaborative workshops for local people to explore the issue of air quality in a collaborative and fun way. Aous and Dongni will work with local people to gather materials which they will use to create artworks with, going towards a campaign about clean air in Sefton.
We are also looking specifically for volunteers interested in taking a more active role in gathering data as part of the project over winter, using portable air quality monitors.
Creative workshops include:
Things Forum | Friday 2 February, Netherton Library, 12:30pm – 2:30pm
Artist Dongni Liang will invite Netherton residents to a round table discussion, and imagine what non-human organisms, plants, and objects might say about the issue of air quality if they could speak. The purpose of this activity is to break down the separation we have created between ourselves, nature and other objects, and see that nature and culture are connected.
Collective… Sound! – part one | Friday 9 February, Netherton Library, 11:00am – 1:00pm
Aous Hamoud invites residents to take the role of an amateur scientist, collecting and experimenting with sound to help us think about how our bodies interact with particles in the air. During the first session, Aous will invite local people to gather collective sounds out and about in Netherton using sound recorders, creating a “library of sounds” of sound locally in different spaces.
Collective… Sound! – part two | Friday 23 February, Netherton Library, 11:00am – 1:00pm
During the second sound session, we will use our breath as an interactive way of recording the sound of air movement, exploring the close relationship between our bodies and the air we breathe. Along the way, we will talk about different particles (both invisible and visible), how they move and what they sound like. Adding to our bank of recordings, Aous will use our “library of sounds” to create a soundwork, which will be part of an online campaign about who has access to information on air quality and how we make that more accessible.
Creative Campaign & poster design | Friday 1 March, Netherton Library, 12:30pm – 2:30pm – more information tbc.
You can come to all, or just one of our creative sessions! Workshops are free and open to people of all ages and abilities, with no experience needed. If you have any access requirements you would like us to be aware of, please contact us: hello@atthelibrary.co.uk
We also have opportunities to volunteer in collecting data about air quality in Netherton using air quality monitors if you would like to take part in the research side of the project.
This develops on from our previous Rule of Threes project: ‘Winnowing Phase’ which worked with Greg, Ivan and local residents to test the air quality in Bootle.