The OpenAQ Community Ambassador Program

Air pollution is a “silent killer” that accounts for more than 8 million premature deaths each year. 90% of deaths attributed to outdoor air pollution are in low- and middle-income countries.
OpenAQ's Community Ambassador Program empowers the next generation of changemakers to tackle this global epidemic locally in the planet's most polluted regions through the use of data.

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Fighting Air Pollution

The program enables an annual cohort of advocates to fight air pollution by utilizing air quality monitoring data in support of community action or scientific research.

A Leadership Training Program

The program includes a comprehensive curriculum on ambient air pollution, air quality monitoring, data transparency, data access, data analysis, participatory research, and community engagement.

A Vibrant Community

The program’s success is in its amazing ambassadors. Participants from low- and middle-income nations learn and grow together during their time in the program and as alumni.

The OpenAQ Community Ambassador Program:

meaningful impact in the world's most polluted regions.

A world map showing OpenAQ Ambassador countries of origin.

Over 30 low- and -middle income countries have been represented over the history of the program

34 successful regional air quality projects completed by OpenAQ Community Ambassadors

Catalyzing Community Air Quality Action

Inventory of air pollutants due to brick production using ATMOTUBE® monitor in a Rural Community from Guanajuato, Mexico

Study on the Air Pollution Impacts of Brick Production in Rural Mexico

In rural Mexico, brick production is considered to be a leading source of emissions. Rebeca Monroy-Torres completed the first air quality inventory in such a community using low cost sensors. Her work demonstrated dangerous levels of pollution near schools with children and women being the population at greatest risk.

Clean Air Matters: Mobilizing Students and Market Workers for Air Quality Awareness in Douala

Innovative Field Pollution Study in Douala, Cameroon

To raise awareness about the significant air quality issues in Douala, Cameroon, Melissa Kwenkeu Tondji drove an innovative field pollution study which included collecting data from marketplace spice grinders using wearable sensors. She has since further amplified her efforts by launching a podcast, Voice of The Air: Decoding the Invisible with Air Quality Stories.

Clean Air Mozambique: Community-Led Air Quality Monitoring and Advocacy

Increasing Community Air Pollution Awareness and Monitoring in Mozambique

Air pollution is a silent crisis in Mozambique disproportionately affecting the country’s most vulnerable populations. Moreover, progress is often slow due to low awareness and limited real time monitoring. António Banze is changing this trajectory with his effort which included hosting 13 community workshops and strengthening partnerships to expand air quality monitoring.

Impact of 7 years of Open Air Quality Community Data in Pakistan

The First Comprehensive Survey of Air Quality Data for Pakistan

Pakistan is among the one of the world’s worst countries for air pollution. To help bolster monitoring, Abid Omar built Pakistan’s first comprehensive air quality survey by analyzing seven years of low-cost sensor data. His findings reveal that Lahore experiences significantly worse air quality and also highlights the need for expanding monitoring into smaller towns.

Jumpstarting and Empowering Air Quality Leaders

The ambassador program provided me with tangible work experience and opened doors to seek partnerships and collaborations with other organizations.

— Antonio Banze '24 Cohort

The program provided invaluable knowledge, hands-on experience, and the opportunity to collaborate with a diverse group of professionals.

— Kostadin Kostadinov '24 Cohort

This program really exceeded my expectations. It pushed me to finally dive into a research project I'd always thought about but never had the chance to pursue

— Maiha Hameed '24 Cohort

I didn’t expect was how much this program would shape my perspective, not just as a researcher and entrepreneur, but as part of a global movement for cleaner air.

— Rafaela Chiminelli Borth '24 Cohort

Get Involved

You can empower the next generation of air quality changemakers by supporting the OpenAQ Community Ambassador Program.

Apply to be a 2026 Ambassador

The application period for the 2026 OpenAQ Ambassador Program will open November 2025.

Apply Now

Sponsor the Ambassadors

Sponsorships and donations support OpenAQ to deliver the leadership training and to provide stipends for the ambassadors to participate.

Help Fund

Collaborate

There are many other ways to support the OpenAQ Community Ambassador Program, such as, donating monitoring equipment, giving a guest lecture, or mentoring an ambassador. We would love to hear from you if you would like to collaborate.