Students from Melbourne’s west will be active participants in a study to reduce pollution and improve air quality

More than 300 students from Melbourne’s western suburbs will take up roles as citizen scientists in the fight to improve air quality.

Students in Melbourne’s west are leading the fight in improving air quality as part of a new pollution study.

More than 300 students and 12 teachers from six schools will be given backpacks built by Dyson this month kitted out with air purifiers and a GPS, which collect data on the volume and exposure to air pollution levels to and from school.

Schools in Hobsons Bay, Brimbank and Maribyrnong were chosen due to Melbourne’s inner west having high air pollution levels due to its industrial history and rates for childhood asthma.

The study — Breathe Melbourne — is being completed by Deakin University and modelled on a study done in London.

Lead researcher Dr Kate Lycett said the goal was to build awareness and convince policy makers to take action.

“We want to make that data available to public researchers and policy makers so they can try identify ways to reduce exposure,” she said.

“The ultimate goal is to lower people’s exposure to air pollution.

“From a public health perspective and from the static monitors we have there’ve been five or six new monitors added because of the West Gate Tunnel Project and some of the data analysed is worrying and well above the levels. We’re not sure what the data of the day to day routes that children take will be but I do expect to see some high levels.

“Your postcode should not determine the quality of air you breathe.”

Data from the backpacks will be sent to researchers after four days of use, who will work with students towards finding the routes to school with the best air quality.

Kingsville Primary School was the first to trial the backpacks late last year and will be involved again this time around.

Assistant principal Sam Eason said students were excited to play active roles as “citizen scientists”.

“There was behaviour change in ways the kids were going to school, like some were taking more side streets than main roads or asking their parents to drop them off and walk through the park,” he said.

“The kids are really excited because they have a real voice and agency here.

“For our kids to be actively involved and being part of change is really exciting. We like to say ‘think internationally, act locally’ and I think this really applies here.”

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