Air Quality in East Africa Certificate Program

Recordings from event!

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Columbia University, in partnership with East African universities and a number of other institutions, is launching a short course focusing on the topic of air quality science and management. Course instructors include world-leading experts from the US, Europe, and East Africa. Upon attendance of the full schedule and completion of a final report, attendees will be issued a certificate of completion.

When and where

The course will be held virtually, on Zoom, from July 26 through July 30, 2021, from 2:30pm East Africa Time to 7:30pm East Africa time.

Registration

The course is free of charge and is only open to participants in Kenya, Uganda, and Rwanda. Registration is capped at 300 participants, so please sign up early! Registration will close July 5, 2021. Click below to register:

REGISTER HERE

Schedule

MondayIntroduction
Time (EDT)Time (EAT)Topic
7:45 AM2:45 PMLog in, welcome
8:00 AM3:00 PMIntroduction to air pollution
9:00 AM4:00 PMAtmospheric chemistry – gases
30 min break
10:30 AM5:30 PMAtmospheric chemistry – aerosols
11:30 AM6:30 PMAerosol Physics (size, optics, etc)
AsynchronousEmission factors of pollutants

TuesdayMeasurement and Modeling techniques
Time (EDT)Time (EAT)Topic
7:45 AM2:45 PMQuestions and discussion from Monday
8:00 AM3:00 PMGround based monitoring
9:00 AM4:00 PMLow cost sensor networks
30 min break
10:30 AM5:30 PMHands on demonstration of LCS calibration
11:30 AM6:30 PMHands on demonstration of LCS calibration
AsynchronousLaboratory techniques

WednesdayMeasurement and modeling techniques
Time (EDT)Time (EAT)Topic
7:45 AM2:45 PMQuestions and discussion from Tuesday
8:00 AM3:00 PMRemote Sensing / Satellites
9:00 AM4:00 PMHands-on Satellite Data training
30 min break
10:30 AM5:30 PMHands on Satellite Data training cont’d
11:30 AM6:30 PMIntro to air quality models
AsynchronousTBD

ThursdaySocietal impacts
Time (EDT)Time (EAT)Topic
7:45 AM2:45 PMQuestions and discussion from Wednesday
8:00 AM3:00 PMHealth impacts / environmental justice
9:00 AM4:00 PMBasic epidemiology and toxicology
30 min break
10:30 AM5:30 PMReduced complexity models
11:30 AM6:30 PMDecision support
AsynchronousExposure assessment and burden of disease

FridayPolicy and communication
Time (EDT)Time (EAT)Topic
7:45 AM2:45 PMQuestions and discussion from Thursday
8:00 AM3:00 PMAir quality management plans
9:00 AM4:00 PMCase studies
30 min break
10:30 AM5:30 PMCommunicating to public, open data, etc
12:00 PM7:00 PMFinal discussion, future plans
AsynchronousBenefit Cost Analysis

Learning objectives

  1. Identify key air pollutants, their sources, their chemical and physical properties, their health impacts, and climate impacts
  1. Be able to set up, configure, calibrate, and troubleshoot low cost sensor devices, and be able to analyze and interpret the data
  1. Have basic understanding of reference or research grade air quality measurements, including stationary, mobile, and laboratory techniques
  1. Understand how air quality models work and what they are used for, and how satellite retrievals can supplement both models and surface observations
  1. Identify the major societal impacts of air pollution, from health impacts such as premature mortality and morbidity, to economic impacts, visibility, and other quality of life impacts
  1. Understand the role of air quality regulations and learn the WHO, USEPA and East African emerging guidelines along with examples from Asia and Latin America 
  1. Learn how to propose effective policy interventions and communicate results with policymakers and the general public.

Code of conduct

Coming soon.

Contact

For questions, please email aqcertificate@gmail.com

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