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Challenge

Atmospheric Pollution and Odour Management in European Cities: Where Are We?

Atmospheric Pollution and Odour Management in European Cities: Where Are We?

Towards a global and uniform approach to support air quality management with and for citizens
Open for application
Our challengeOutcomesPotential progressInformationProviders

Our challenge

The European Council set up regulations, many countries follow atmospheric pollution by measuring defined gaseous pollutants and particles. The growing interest in air quality has led to the recognition of odours as atmospheric pollutants, considering their negative impact to the surrounding environment and population. However, there is no consensus considering odour pollution, no guidelines and no instrument to objectively give a value or a scale of odour nuisance. Consequently, the ways to manage odours are still very heterogeneous at the European level. Atmo Normandie, an air quality observatory in Normandy, is a forerunner in odour recognition and evaluation. Working with Atmo Normandie in Rouen, a metropolis at 1h15 by train from Paris, challenge participants will research the integration of this olfactory aspect into the more global issue of air pollution in their home regions in order to understand to what extent it is integrated by the population in their home territories.

Study format
Blended
Application period
7 October 2024 – 10 January 2025
Study period
17 February – 29 April 2025
Credits
5 ECTS
Pace
0%
Hosting university
INSA Group
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Learning outcomes

Foster dialogue in society

By the end of this challenge, you will be able communicate and collaborate creativity with multiple stakeholders from different intercultural backgrounds.

ESCO SKILLS

Listening and asking questions

Understand air polution management

By the end of this challenge, you will be able to explain the key tenets of air pollution management, in addition to the nefarious effects of air pollution on health and welfare.

ESCO SKILLS

Raise awareness on local community's priorities

Advocate for health

By the end of this challenge, you will be able to advocate for citizens' health and influence key policymakers and stakeholders.

ESCO SKILLS

Raise awareness on local community's priorities

Demonstrate an ability to work in a team

By the end of this challenge, you will be able to work in a team by demonstrating empathy and openness.

ESCO SKILLS

Work in teams

Potential progress

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Information

Detailed program

Online sessions (02/17/2025– 03/24/2025)

• 02/17/2025 (18:30 - 20:00): Kick-off meeting (description of the challenge, presentation of the teamchers, the challenge provider, introduction of the topic of atmospheric pollution and odour)

• 02/24/2025 (18:30 - 20:00): Guest speakers – Part 1: About air quality and atmospheric pollution (R. Duarte, University of Aveiro). Part 2: Citizen science and how to reach a community? (G. Santinha, University of Aveiro)

• 03/03/2025 (18:30 - 20:00): Challenge provider, Atmo – Approaches to evaluate odours, the language of odours.

• 03/10/2025 (18:30 - 20:00): Team Working + Guest speaker from the European council* – Why and how to put regulations around air quality? Feedback about the addition of odours in the definition of air pollution and in the regulations.

• 03/24/2025 (18:30 - 20:00): Team Working

*Please note that the content of the session is subjected to change

Suggested sub-topics to be studied:

  • Sub-topic 1: Context & regulations

  • Sub-topic 2: Odours

  • Sub-topic 3: Citizen engagement

Onsite sessions (04/07/2025 – 04/11/2025 at INSA Rouen, France, the capital of Impressionism and only 1 hour 15 minutes from Paris by train!

• 04/07/2025 (09:00 – 17:00): Reception, meeting and teamwork + virtual reality on air quality

• 04/08/2025 (09:00 – 17:00): Team working + Atmo animation on the theme of sense discovery, with an introduction to the methodology of the nose language

• 04/08/2025 (18:00-20:00): follow training with citizens in Rouen about the recognition of odours.

• 04/09/2025 (09:00 – 17:00): Team Working + meeting with industrial players in the metropolitan area.

• 04/10/2025 (09:00 – 17:00): Team working + Atmo station visit in Rouen city center

• 04/11/2024 (09:00 – 17:00): Team working + presentation of the results via a poster with a jury composed of teamchers and experts - Deliverable 1

All materials, meals and visits are offered to the students participating in this challenge.

Online sessions (04/15/2025 – 04/29/2025)

• 04/15/2025 (18:30 - 20:00): Team Working on poster updates – Deliverable 2

• 04/22/2025 (18:30 - 20:00): Team working on the study

• 04/29/2025 (18:30 - 20:00): Presentation of the study to be used by the student on a panel of 30-50 persons at their home university- Deliverable 3- Evaluation and assessment - Concluding remarks on the Challenge.

Hosting university

INSA Group

INSA Group

Challenge provider

Atmo