Heat waves and traffic pollution are two major challenges for the city of Bologna inItaly. To address these issues, the I-CHANGE Bologna Living Lab engages citizens in interdisciplinary activities that enhance understanding of climate and air quality while empowering them to advocate for strategies to improve urban life.
On June 6, 2024, as part of the I-CHANGE Day held across eight Living Labs, a group of Bologna citizens equipped with cloud-connected weather stations explored the city by bicycle. Participants experienced and monitored humidity, temperatures, and air pollution levels, gaining hands-on insights into how urban factors influence local environmental conditions. The event revealed significant microclimate variations across Bologna, highlighting the importance of green spaces in mitigating heat and pollution.
To capture the spirit of the day and its outcomes, the short documentary “The Bologna Living Lab: Sensing the Environment on I-CHANGE Day” was produced. The film showcases the citizen-led exploration and highlights how collaborative efforts between researchers and residents can foster meaningful environmental awareness and change.
“The unique Selling point of I-CHANGE is in the name: I change. So the potential of each individual to make different choices with respect to his or her life daily. […] Understanding the exposure to air pollution or […] temperature, […] is very important. How to convince [people] is a difficult question.” – Silvana di Sabatino, Scientific Project Coordinator of I-CHANGE.