Naturehub Collective Community Organisation

We request equipment to establish a comprehensive comparative ecosystem research program with potential for multi-year continuation. 

This initial year focuses on equipping 150 students (with 400 additional benefiting indirectly) to actively take environmental data across marine ecosystems and atmospheric conditions, complementing our existing terrestrial research capacity established through previous YLACES grants. 

Students will conduct marine ecosystem research at Mtwapa Creek, Watamu Marine Park, and Kilifi Creek working in rotating teams of 6-8 students. Each team will spend dedicated time at each location, actively taking water quality measurements using marine test kits, measuring turbidity with digital meters, collecting biodiversity samples with nets, observing underwater ecosystems with viewing tools, and extracting sediment samples for analysis. 

Simultaneously, students will deploy air quality monitors across rural Laikipia, urban Nairobi, and coastal Mombasa. Students will personally take daily atmospheric measurements at designated monitoring stations, recording PM2.5, PM10, and CO2 levels along with temperature and humidity. They will rotate monitor placement to document atmospheric variations across different locations within each environment type, learning how measurement location affects data quality. 

Peer mentors from previous YLACES projects will accompany new students during initial data collection sessions, demonstrating proper equipment usage and emphasizing the importance of careful, accurate measurements.