From the Streets of Kalerwe to the Global Stage in New Orleans!

Let’s be clear, High-level science doesn't just happen in lab coats and sterile rooms. It happens on a walk with a 40 year old market mama and the back of a boda-boda in the middle of Kalerwe Market.

Our work on air quality in Kampala moved from the dusty streets of our city to the global spotlight in New Orleans. Our colleague, Dorothy Lsoto , presented our findings at the AGU25 Fall Meeting, the world’s premier Earth and Space science conference.

Our presentation, "Advancing Public Understanding of Air Quality Through Citizen Science and Digital Tools in Kampala," wasn't just some academic summary. It was a visceral testament to the power of community-led action.

This is why our work at Public Square matters:

1. Validation of "Street-Level" Science: We’ve spent months in the trenches, still are, literally in informal settlements documenting PM2.5 levels that are hitting 10x the WHO limits. Taking this data to AGU25 proves that data collected by citizens isn't just "extra" information; it is high-integrity, high-level science that the world needs to pay attention to.

2. Scaling a Brutal Narrative: Through our hashtag#KampalaBreathes series, we exposed a sickening reality: a vendor in Kalerwe breathes the equivalent of 7 cigarettes a day just by showing up to work. We shared how we scaled this story to reach 1.3 million people in just two months of the campaign which will make its first birthday as the year ends . This proves that local, raw data can and must drive global conversations on environmental justice.

3. Turning Data into a Life-Saving Weapon: We are bridging the massive gap between complex policies like the Kampala Clean Air Action Plan and the actual humans who are most affected by toxic air. This isn't just a research poster; it’s a roadmap for survival.

Dorothy Lsoto (UW-Madison) and the entire team at Public Square plus NYU Abu Dhabi through Melina Platas didn’t just present a study; we represented the struggle and the resilience of our city on the international stage.

The fight for hashtag#CleanAirKampala is far from over. We are just getting started.

Sign up for a monitor, measure your Air and start 2026 as part of our Inaugural Citizen Scientists Cohort: https://lnkd.in/d6pSzEWS