GCARE Showcase at Spelthorne Big Green Week on 8th June 2026

Spelthorne Big Green Week, Air Quality, held on 8 June 2026 at The Elmsleigh Centre, Staines upon Thames. The event focused on engaging local residents, families and visitors with practical discussions around air quality, climate awareness, greening and healthier urban environments. As part of the event, we demonstrated real time pollution monitoring and display, using live air quality information to explain how pollutants such as PM2.5 vary and why local monitoring is important for public health. We also used a thermal camera to support Heat Cool awareness, helping visitors visualise surface temperature differences and understand the role of shade, greening and urban design in reducing heat exposure. The activity linked well with ongoing GCARE and GLL initiatives, including the Heat Cool learning platform, GP4Streets, and wider community focused air quality and climate engagement work.

Dr Anubhav Dwivedi from GCARE said, “Spelthorne Big Green Week was a valuable opportunity to connect our research with the everyday experiences of local residents. By combining real time air quality monitoring, thermal camera demonstrations and conversations around greening, we were able to make complex issues such as pollution exposure and urban heat more visible and accessible to the public.” 

Professor Prashant Kumar, Founding Director of GCARE and the Guildford Living Lab, said “Community engagement is a vital part of translating air quality and climate research into practical understanding and local action. Events like Spelthorne Big Green Week provide an excellent opportunity to connect directly with residents through real-time monitoring, visual tools, and evidence-based discussions. These interactions help communities better understand key issues such as pollution exposure, urban heat, and the role of greening in creating healthier, more resilient environments. They also allow us to showcase the impactful work we are undertaking through projects like GP4Streets and GREENIN Micro Network Plus, offering a unique chance to explore findings and solutions in real-world conditions.”