Sarah Kroening

Program Manager, Children's Health Alliance of Wisconsin

As the Program Manager for Love My Air Wisconsin, a school-based air quality monitoring program, I use NASA HAQAST tools in two key ways. First, they serve as an important complement to our statewide network of low-cost air quality sensors, helping us better understand community exposure to PM_2.5 and providing broader context for local monitoring data. By integrating satellite-derived information and other NASA resources, we can gain a more complete picture of air quality conditions across Wisconsin. Second, I share HAQAST tools and resources with K–12 schools across the state to support inquiry-based learning. These accessible, user-friendly tools allow students and educators to investigate real-world environmental questions using authentic scientific data. Whether exploring air quality, public health, environmental concerns, or Earth science, students can develop critical thinking and data analysis skills while learning how science informs decision-making. One of the greatest strengths of NASA’s tools is their ability to inspire future career pathways. By giving all youth access to professional-quality data and analytical resources, we help students see themselves as scientists, engineers, data analysts, public health professionals, and environmental leaders. I believe every student should have the opportunity to explore these tools and discover how science can be used to better understand and improve the world around them.