NASA and Smithsonian Team Up to Give Teens Hands‑On TEMPO Air‑Quality Data

The NASA Science Activation Program’s Cosmic Storytelling with NASA Data (CosmicDS) project, directed by Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is expanding access to authentic NASA data for educators and learners. From July 27 through 29 2026, the CosmicDS team joined forces with the Smithsonian Institution’s BEST AQI (Breathing Easier: Supporting Teen Air Quality Investigations) project to deliver a multi‑day collaborative workshop that integrated space‑based observations with ground‑level air‑quality monitoring. The event brought together teachers, curriculum developers, and high‑school students from across the United States to explore how satellite measurements of atmospheric composition can enhance classroom investigations of local air‑pollution trends.

During the workshop, participants received hands‑on training in retrieving and visualizing NASA Earth‑science datasets, learned methods for aligning those data with the BEST AQI’s community‑based sensor networks, and co‑created lesson‑plan modules that align with national science standards. Representatives from both programs highlighted the initiative’s goal of fostering data‑driven inquiry and empowering students to address environmental health challenges in their own neighborhoods. The partnership is set to produce publicly available educational resources later this year, extending the reach of NASA’s scientific assets to classrooms nationwide.