Imagine trying to solve a chemistry problem while your classroom feels stuffy and your head is heavy. For thousands of students across Croatia, this was a daily reality before schools started measuring their indoor air quality.
When we first installed air quality sensors in Croatian schools, the numbers surprised even us. CO₂ levels in many classrooms were two to three times higher than recommended. The invisible suddenly became visible – and impossible to ignore.
That visibility has now earned global recognition: our project “Empowering Schools in Croatia to Connect with Their Environment”, contributed by CARNET, has won the Community Engagement in Air Quality Monitoring Award at the Environmental Monitoring Awards 2025 in Birmingham.
The competition was fierce, with projects from around the world competing for recognition. We are incredibly proud that our project stood out and was honored with the award, a true testament to the hard work and dedication of everyone involved.
Turning Data into Awareness
With over 2,800 classrooms across Croatia equipped with our Sensees indoor air quality sensors, for the first time schools gained a clear, real-time view of the air their students breathe every day. All this data flows into AERO, a centralized platform developed to collect, analyse, and visualize results. Teachers and students can now see what was once invisible and make informed decisions to improve their learning environments.
One of the most significant outcomes so far has been a measurable improvement in students’ cognitive abilities and classroom concentration, directly linked to cleaner air. Better air isn’t just about health – it’s about sharper minds and more effective learning.
Winning this award is a testament to how data and awareness go hand in hand. The project was recognized not only for technology, but for how it actively engaged entire communities in understanding air quality.
From Math to Life
The award also highlights how data can lead to real, measurable change. In one Zagreb high school, for example, AERO data revealed that classroom temperatures were consistently above comfortable levels. But armed with hard numbers, the school was finally able to overturn previous rejections based on cost and heritage restrictions and secure approval for air conditioning – directly improving conditions for students and teachers.
It is precisely this kind of data-informed action that convinced the jury our project deserved international recognition.
Engaging a Whole Community
The award celebrates more than sensors and models: it celebrates the way schools, teachers, and students embraced the project. By bringing children into the process of monitoring and understanding air quality, we turned learning into action. Students shared discoveries with families, teachers used data to spark discussion, and communities started to rethink everyday habits.
This collective engagement is what transformed a technology project into an award-winning story of community impact.
What’s Next
Receiving the Community Engagement in Air Quality Monitoring Award 2025 is a milestone, but not the finish line. The project continues: with more than 2,800 classrooms across Croatia already equipped with Sensees sensors – including the most recent 1,000 installations – Smart Sense is working to expand coverage even further. This ensures that more schools and students will benefit from healthier, smarter learning environments.
This award is not just recognition of technology, but of collaboration between private sector, institutions, schools, teachers, students, and their families. Together, we’ve shown that measuring air quality can win awards, but more importantly, it can change lives.
We went back to the classroom, did our homework, and ended up top of the class. Award included!
We’re especially proud that the award came in the community category, as collaboration and engagement are truly at the heart of everything we do.
Because it just makes (smart) sense.
