Sacred Breaths
Where Art Meets Environmental Science
In Partnership with Bea Lamar
Exploring Air Quality
Welcome to Sacred Breaths, a research initiative that merges art and science to investigate air quality across different environments. Discover how our study uses immersive installations to gather real-time data and foster a deeper understanding of the air we breathe.
Visit the Sacred Breaths installation from 9.14.2024 through 4.30.2025 at the Science Gallery's Resilient Earth Exhibition.
This exhibit was made possible with the generous support of Site One, which provided the plant and organic materials, and Airveda, which provided two air quality sensors. These sensors provide the data that are instrumental for this exhibit.
About the Sacred Breaths Air Quality Study
Bridging Art and Science to Explore Air Quality
Research Methodology: How We Study Air Quality
Combining Technology and Art for Environmental Research
Sacred Breaths embarks on a comprehensive study designed to investigate the air quality in diverse environments. Our research aims to understand air quality between inside and outside the greenhouse space in the exhibition. Trees consume carbon dioxide (COâ‚‚) to produce oxygen (Oâ‚‚) but at the same time some emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs). We are measuring gases and particles both in and outside of the greenhouse.
Sensor Placement
Study Goals
Understanding and Improving Air Quality
The Sacred Breaths study is driven by several key goals:
Comparison of Environments
Analyze how air quality differs inside and outside the greenhouse.
public awareness
Use the immersive installation to raise awareness about the invisible aspects of the air we breathe.
data-driven insights
Provide data that can inform environmental policies and encourage actions to improve air quality in urban areas.
interdisciplinary collaboration
Demonstrate how art can be a powerful tool in scientific research, fostering a deeper connection between people and their environment.
Data Collection
Our data collection process is continuous, capturing real-time air quality metrics from each sensor location. This data is then analyzed to identify trends, compare environments, and uncover the subtle ways in which different factors influence the air we breathe. The data gathered from this study is contributing to air quality research performed by the Saikawa Lab at Emory University.
​
While the study is ongoing, it is open source for you to explore in real time.
Explore the Data
Dive into the data behind Sacred Breaths – use our interactive dashboard to explore real-time data collected from our sensors and compare air quality across different environments.
Inside the greenhouse (CO2)
Outside the greenhouse (CO2)
Collaboration and Support
Join us in Our Effort to Improve Air Quality
The Sacred Breaths study is supported by a dedicated team of environmental scientists, artists, and community partners. Together, we aim to advance our understanding of air quality and inspire meaningful change. If you're interested in collaborating or supporting our research, please get in touch with us.
Contact the Sacred Breaths Team–We'd Love to Hear From You!
Whether you have questions, feedback, or would like to collaborate, we welcome your input. Reach out to us here or connect with us via social media.