Seminar Series: Dr. Egide Kalisa
What’s in the Air You Breathe? Citizen Science, Transport, and Interventions for a Healthier Future
Egide Kalisa
Assistant Professor
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics
Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry
Western University
Short Biography:
Egide Kalisa is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics. Before that, Dr Kalisa was a Research Scientist in the Air Quality Division, Environment Canada and Climate Change and a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of Toronto. He obtained a Ph.D. in Health and Environmental Science from the Auckland University of Technology in New Zealand and an MSc in Air Pollution Management and Control from the University of Birmingham in the United Kingdom. Dr. Egide Kalisa is an environmental scientist specializing in air quality research and the intersection of transport emissions, climate change, and public health. Dr. Egide Kalisa has conducted research globally across various countries, including Canada, Japan, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and several African countries.
Dr Kalisa is the founder of HumekaNeza (Breathe Easy), a program empowering schoolchildren to reduce air pollution and address air quality in schools in Africa. Dr. Kalisa received several awards, including the 2024 Voice for Science Communication by the American Geophysical Union, the 2023 Most Accomplished Researcher Award" by the National Council for Science and Technology and the 2021 Emerging Global Leader Award by the NIH, USA, acknowledging his exceptional research contribution to addressing critical societal challenges in Africa.
Abstract:
Breathing clean air is a fundamental human right—but do you know what’s really in the air you breathe? Air pollution is the largest environmental cause of premature human mortality worldwide and contains a complex mixture of toxic chemical and biological components. These toxic components do not require a visa or permit to stop at a country’s border; they can travel long distances from one region to the other. To date, there has been relatively little research to address the composition of air pollution in the global atmosphere and how those mixtures affect vulnerable populations such as children. Effective air pollution management requires robust monitoring, yet Africa remains one of the most under-observed regions. With the highest population growth rates and urbanization, Africa faces significant risks of rising emissions and worsening air quality.
In my talk I will explore the "DNA" of air—its chemical and biological composition—through research spanning the Global North and South. I will explore how air pollution impacts children and communities, focusing on urban environments, transport, and classrooms. I will discuss how a Do-It-Yourself (DIY) air monitors and citizen science empower schoolchildren to track pollution and implement practical solutions. I will also highlight the recipes for healthier cities and how schools can adopt low-cost interventions to improve air quality and public health.
Date: Friday, November 22
Time: 1:30 pm - 2:30 pm
Location: PHFM 3015 (Western Centre for Public Health and Family Medicine)
