About the Community Sensor Lab 

The Community Sensor Lab, based at the CUNY Advanced Science Research Center, has worked with students and community members for over 5 years to develop a low-cost Arduino-based air quality monitoring system. Through partnerships with local Community-Based Organizations, we have co-developed programs that work with community members to build and install the sensors in local neighborhoods such as Red Hook, Brooklyn, and Harlem, NY. The initiative strives to support hyper-local environmental monitoring while expanding community access to technology and data that can be leveraged for environmental awareness and advocacy.  

About the Workshop 

Participants will build a low-cost, Arduino-based environmental sensing system that measures temperature, humidity, pressure, particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds, and carbon dioxide. The workshop covers sensor assembly, coding, wireless data logging, and real-time data analysis using Google Sheets. No prior experience is required; participants leave with a fully functioning device, documentation, and the skills to replicate the project at their school or community site. Enrollment is limited to 12 participants. 

What You’ll Do 

• Build a wireless environmental sensing device using Arduino 

• Measure air quality and environmental conditions (PM, NOx, VOCs, CO₂, temperature, humidity, pressure) 

• Stream and analyze live data in Google Sheets 

Skills You’ll Gain 

• Electronics and electricity fundamentals 

• Embedded microcontrollers and low-power systems 

• Coding, debugging, data analysis, and graphing 

What You’ll Leave With 

• A fully assembled sensor system for home or school use 

• All materials, tools, and build documentation 

• The know-how to replicate the workshop, with follow-up support 

Who Should Apply 

• No prior experience required 

• Ideal for educators and community members interested in environmental science and technology 

Capacity: Limited to 12 participants 

The details of the workshop activities are in our Community-Sensor-Lab GitHub page:  

Question and more info contact: [email protected]