Employing a Bioindicator Garden as an Effective Strategy for Engaging the Public about the Impacts of Air Quality on Health and Food Security

The effects of air quality on human health and the food crops that sustain us are not often easily conveyed to the public. Yet, science communication about air quality is critical to provide decision-makers and the lay public with an understanding about the impacts of poor air quality, the results of current research in human health and food security, and how investments in satellite and in situ measurements can improve quality of life and save lives. The NASA Health and Air Quality Applied Sciences Team (HAQAST) interacts with decision-makers, researchers, and public stakeholders to link satellite data of air pollutants to practical applications and public health problems. In an effort to engage the public about the uses of satellite data in air quality research, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center implemented a bioindicator garden as a communication strategy that models the best practices for environmental communication. Environmental psychology studies suggest that an effective communication strategy must be visual, relevant, interactive, localized, and action-oriented. The bioindicator garden demonstrates observable impacts of ozone on plants and acts as a visual tool representative of ozone which cannot be seen by the naked eye. Exposure to high concentrations of ozone also impacts our lungs, which we can't see, making visible injury on plants relevant to our health. Visitors become engaged and interact with the garden to learn how to identify ozone injury which fosters a curiosity to look for ozone injury in their local area. Once engaged, visitors are encouraged to take actionable steps to minimize their exposure to air pollution and reduce the creation of ozone, such as pumping gas in the morning or night. A successful environmental communication tool, such as an ozone bioindicator garden, can emphasize the relevance of health impacts and connect regional or global satellite data to local communities. It can also improve accessibility and awareness of air quality issues and mitigation strategies through direct observations and personal dialogue.