There are many ways to measure air quality. Explore with Urgenda the possibilities of natural sensors: bark of plane trees.

Plane trees can tell a lot about the air quality in their environment. They store particulates from their surroundings in their bark. Each year, the plane tree loses part of their bark. Using laboratory research, researchers can use the bark to see how much particulates have been emitted in the surrounding of the tree.

Together with Urgenda, we will collect the bark from plane trees. Urgenda will explain how plane bark provides insight into the amount of particulate matter in the Netherlands. In addition, Imme Ruarus, head of Waag's Smart Citizens Lab, will open the evening with an introduction on citizen sensing: how residents map their living environment with technological measurements, natural measurements and observations.

This Waag Open marks the kick-off of Urgenda's national action: de Plataan-check. So after this Waag Open, you can also start collecting plane bark yourself!