Key Stage 3, 4 and 5 Air Quality Challenge launches
London Transport Museum has launched an Air Quality Challenge for Key Stage (KS) 3, 4 and 5 students, with the chance for pupils at London schools to pitch their solutions to the urban air quality crisis to a panel of leading transport industry professionals from companies including bus operator Abellio, transport technology company Cubic Transportation Systems and Transport for London.
As London works towards becoming carbon-neutral by 2030, transport planners, designers and engineers will need green skills to help create a more sustainable transport network for the future.
London Transport Museum’s Air Quality Challenge is an opportunity for KS 3, 4 and 5 students to learn more about the types of green skills you need for transport careers, meet professionals already working in the industry and share their views on London’s journey towards net-zero.
Students who take part will work together to come up with their own solutions to help improve the air-quality of their local transport network in London. This could include experimentation with decarbonisation technology and sustainable materials; campaigns to help encourage behaviour change and reduce climate anxiety, or ideas for more sustainable transport infrastructure which helps people to make greener travel choices.
A range of resources exploring the latest green transport technologies will be provided by London Transport Museum to help students craft their presentations and understand more about the green technology already available.
Pupils will have the opportunity to pitch their ideas at one of two panel events being hosted on Zoom. The first will take place on Car Free Day on Thursday 22 September and the second will take place on Thursday 6 October.
The expert panels will be made up of professionals from companies including Abellio, who operate London’s Future Bus on route number 63 and the new sustainable Electroliner bus fleet; Cubic Transportation Systems who provide the capital’s transport network with the latest ticketing technology; and Transport for London’s city planning team, who play a key part in shaping the future of London’s urban infrastructure.
The experts will be looking for evidence-based ideas and solutions. They will offer advice, feedback and guidance to the students, as well as answering questions about green skills and transport careers.
By offering students meaningful encounters with employers, and creating connections between curriculum learning and career opportunities, London Transport Museum’s Air Quality Challenge aims to help schools achieve the Gatsby Benchmarks and Transport for London’s STARS accreditation.
As part of the Air Quality Challenge, students will gain practical experience in problem solving, design thinking, teamwork and communication for their CVs.
Teachers can sign-up to take part in the Air Quality Challenge via London Transport Museum’s website. The deadline to sign up is Friday 16 September 2022.
The Air Quality Challenge is part of London Transport Museum’s industry-backed Climate Crossroads programme. Supported by Mastercard, Mott MacDonald, Cubic Transportation Systems and Sopra Steria, this programme of family and education events aims to inspire people to imagine what a green future could look like for the capital and explore the action needed to get there.