PM2.5 ON AIR is a podcast on air pollution, using datasonification to inform and engage citizens of visible less polluted countries. The podcast puts its focus on travelling pollution, using music created from data to trigger an emotional response to pollution and enhance our cross-border responsibility. The Podcast and detailed information are displayed on pm25onair.com. A series of graphical flags, using statements and illustrations, is promoting the project.
PM2.5 ON AIR's graphics aim to be bold, striking, yet light, using blue backgrounds and red font and monochrome images to reflect the invasive character of air pollution. The semi-transparent flags represent the movement and intangibility of air, while bold illustrations and statements aim to animate deeper engagement in the topic.
Data sonification is the art and science of turning data into sound. Just as data can be visualised by transforming it into bars, lines and colours, it can also be sonified – transformed into pitches, sounds and audio effects. This creates a piece of music from numbers. Our brain is able to connect sounds to emotion. PM2.5 ON AIR aims to use these instinctive associations to convey an emotional reaction through sonification.