GCARE Showcase Guildford Living Lab and ongoing UKRI project activities at Swindon Festival of Tomorrow 2026
Bringing interactive climate change air quality science to new communities
The Global Centre for Clean Air Research (GCARE), led by Professor Prashant Kumar at the University of Surrey, participated in the Swindon Festival of Tomorrow on 20–21 February 2026. The Festival of Tomorrow, held in partnership with UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), is a large-scale public celebration of science, innovation and the arts, bringing together researchers, businesses and charities to share discoveries that help shape choices in a changing world. Representing GCARE, Dr Akash Biswal and Lucy Green showcased the Guildford Living Lab (GLL) and several ongoing UKRI-funded projects, including RECLAIM, GP4Streets, and related clean air and climate resilience activities.
The festival provided an exciting platform to demonstrate how research funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) translates into real-world solutions for healthier, more sustainable cities. Visitors to the GCARE stand explored live air pollution dashboards displaying real-time particulate matter (PM2.5) data, interactive exposure tools, and sensor-based technologies developed at GCARE.
A major highlight of the two-day event was the hands-on engagement with families and young visitors. Children and parents enthusiastically interacted with the thermal imaging camera, capturing colourful heat signatures and learning about urban heat and environmental exposure in a fun and accessible way. The air quality quiz proved particularly popular, sparking conversations about pollution sources, daily exposure, and practical actions individuals can take. Informative booklets and project materials were also shared, helping visitors better understand ongoing UKRI-supported initiatives such as RECLAIM’s focus on rethinking urban spaces and GP4Streets’ work on green infrastructure and street-level climate adaptation.
Dr Akash Biswal said: “The Swindon Festival of Tomorrow provided an excellent platform to showcase how UKRI-funded research at GCARE is delivering tangible solutions to address pressing environmental challenges. It is a unique space where research, business and charities come together to highlight innovation and collaborative action. Engaging directly with families and young people allows us to translate complex air quality science into meaningful, everyday understanding.”
Lucy added: “I feel privileged to have been part of such a wonderful event and to be able to inspire and encourage the scientists of tomorrow. It was great to see the collaboration between academia, industry, government, and communities.”
Professor Prashant Kumar, Director of GCARE, remarked: “Outreach events like the Swindon Festival of Tomorrow are invaluable opportunities to connect with diverse audiences and highlight the real-world impact of our research. By engaging with families, young people, and local communities, we can inspire collective action and co-create solutions for cleaner air, climate resilience, and sustainable urban living. It is through such collaboration that we can truly make a difference in addressing today’s environmental challenges.”
Participation in national outreach events such as the Swindon Festival of Tomorrow reinforces GCARE’s commitment to bridging research and society. Through the Guildford Living Lab and UKRI-funded projects including RECLAIM and GP4Streets, GCARE continues to co-create solutions with communities, local authorities and partners, advancing cleaner air, climate resilience and sustainable urban living across the UK.
Related sustainable development goals
