The project goal is to empower local communities by showing them how open source software and hardware, digital maker practices and open design can be effectively used to appropriate their own technological sensing tools, make sense of their environments – identify and address pressing environmental problems in air, water, soil and sound pollution. The project aims to raise awareness on issues of air pollution and enable citizen to measure air quality, and take direct action towards improving it.

Making Sense has focused on working with young citizens, activists, ecologists, and environmentalists, in cooperation with local stakeholders in environmental issues. The project activities are based on the following three pillars:

1.       Measurements – are done periodically during different seasons with innovative sensing tools.
2.       Campaigns – are created jointly with citizen towards increasing citizens’ and policy makers’ awareness.
3.       Direct action – multiple events are held to train citizens in environmental issues, appropriation and usage of innovative technology, and impact assessment, in advocating to stakeholders (public institutions, companies etc) to undertake the necessary measures.  These events include but are not limited to: Thematic barcamps, Digital bootcamps, Impact calibration, Data interpretation & visualization, Journaling and educational workshops.

Making Sense has transformed citizens into scientists (citizen scientists), by enabling them to sense their own environment, understand innovative technology, and actively improve their livelihoods. With 30 actively engaged project committee members, these citizen scientists have been the first citizens in Kosovo to showcase the air quality in their country and raise awareness on environmental conditions, challenges, and environmental friendly lifestyles. Over 200 Data sessions on PM 2.5 have been recorded all over Kosovo, 100 diffusive tubes were used to measure SO2 and NO2 in Prishtina, 5 large scale campaigns were held (media, and direct action), 2 bootcamps were held, 4 trainings, 51 appearances were made in national news, with 581 beneficiaries spawning over 20 municipalities of Kosovo.

The project has had achievements such as: Large scale citizen reaction during and after project campaigns against air pollutions and significant increase of awareness on environmental issues, competent state institutions have started publishing Air Quality Data for the first time in a long period, multiple conditions related to climate and environment have been added to Kosovo, as part of the Stabilization and Association Agreement. The project is funded by the European Commission.

This project contributes to the following Sustainable Development Goals: