Carbon Tree
Transform schools into citizen science hubs and empower teachers to measure, understand, and take action
Oeiras Experimenta in numbers
100
professors taking part in workshops
1
accredited training
4
researchers
103
citizen scientists 1500
visitants in eventsScientific Goals
The Carbon Tree project aims to develop and implement low-cost, DIY stations to monitor and map air quality in schools and community spaces in the municipality of Oeiras. It enables:
- The collection of real-time data on CO2 and total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs);
- The mapping of air quality in school settings;
- The dissemination of information through the Municipality of Oeiras’ Digital platform;
- The support of environmental policy reports and recommendations.
By involving students and teachers in the process, the project encourages critical thinking and hands-on learning based on scientific data.
Air quality affects the health, concentration, and well-being of communities, but many pollutants, such as CO2 and volatile organic compounds, go unnoticed. The “Árvore de Carbono” citizen science project bridges science and the local community, placing environmental monitoring in the hands of the school community. The project transforms classrooms into living laboratories, where students and teachers actively participate in research, fostering a culture of citizen science and sustainability.
Labs Involved
Carbon Tree is carried out under the C+C Program through a strategic partnership between:
- ITQB NOVA;
- Instituto Superior Técnico – Oeiras Campus;
- InovLabs;
- Municipality of Oeiras.
At the same time, the official registration of the Carbon Tree | Árvore de Carbono trademark is underway, reinforcing the project’s identity and continuity.
Scientists Results and Impact
In 2025, the project participated in events with a wide public reach, such as ITQB NOVA’s Open House, the Oeiras Valley Science Festival, and the European Researchers’ Night.
An application for accreditation was also submitted to the CCPFC for the teacher training program “Carbon Tree – Citizen Science: Measuring and Monitoring Air Quality in Schools.” This initiative aims to train teachers to set up monitoring stations in the classroom and engage students as citizen scientists.
The accredited training program “Carbon Tree – Citizen Science: Measuring and Monitoring Air Quality in Schools,” part of the Science + Citizen Program, took place in the Municipality of Oeiras between February and May 2026, involving 19 teachers from various school districts in the municipality.
Organized by ITQB NOVA, Instituto Superior Técnico (Oeiras campus), INOVLabs, and the Municipality of Oeiras, the initiative aimed to equip teachers to implement citizen science projects dedicated to monitoring air quality in school settings.
The results of the initiative will be released shortly, and a second edition of the training is already planned for the next school year.
Citizen Scientists
The Carbon Tree project involves the school community in the creation, programming, and analysis of environmental monitoring stations. Launched in 2021 by the Science Club at Escola Secundária Sebastião e Silva, the students developed the first stations, and today three of those students continue to collaborate on the project, demonstrating the lasting impact of citizen science on education.
Miguel Liñan da Silva, Carbon Tree Citizen Scientist and University Student
Taking part in the Carbon Tree project has opened up new academic and professional opportunities. It helped me discover my passion for electronics, leading me to pursue studies in this field in college.
