A group of Kansas City youth got a science snack to go with the Super Bowl this year.

With help from our ARISE project and the EPA, the teens are learning about data science at the Saturday Academy, a long-running program by Kansas City Kansas Community College. 15 air particle monitors lent by the EPA enable the students to collect real-time data about air quality from different locations in the city.

Academy instructor Dr. Mary Patterson found a small but statistically significant spike in air particles around 9 pm on Super Bowl Sunday. It is not clear what caused the spike in the data, but it is possible that it was caused by increased traffic and celebratory fireworks throughout the metro for the Kansas City Chiefs victory over the Philadelphia Eagles.

Read recent blog about the Saturday Academy to learn more.

 

Chart plotting particles in the air with a spike at 9 pm on Super Bowl Sunday.