Interview: S.Lodoisamba “Monitoring air pollution helps to find a solution”

A new project, using modern technology and academic study will find solutions to improving air quality in Ulaanbaatar. The Mongolian National University, with support from Oyu Tolgoi will use the study to inform the public of the study’s findings. We asked MNU’s Information Technology School professor and project coordinator, S.Lodoisamba about the project.

So this project sounds interesting. Can you give us more details?
In recent years, the government, in close cooperation with international organisations, has been implementing a number of projects aimed at reducing air pollution in Ulaanbaatar. This has cost a lot of money – estimates put it as US$ 47 million in the last three years alone. So far, we haven’t seen any tangible improvements and pollution does not seem to have reduced visibly. Public engagement with this issue is critical to its success. We cannot leave it to the Government and international organisations alone. We need to increase public knowledge about air pollution and ensure that measures are taken to educate people about how we can reduce pollution. Public support is vital. Using modern equipment and scientific study, we need to identify where in Ulaanbaatar the air is most polluted, what makes up the pollution and define the most effective measures to combat it. Therefore MNU has decided to implement, with support from Oyu Tolgoi, a project to measure air pollution using advanced equipment. We will also improve public knowledge and perception using social media tools like Twitter and Facebook.

So will all your findings be communicated to the public through the media?
Yes. The project will disseminate information on air pollution in Ulaanbaatar to the public on a regular basis and encourage our students to improve their knowledge and skills using modern equipment. and engagement in academic research. Funding of the project by Oyu Tolgoi will allow us to draw the public’s attention to this problem and engage people with air pollution reduction efforts. We will deliver regular information on Ulaanbaatar air pollution to people across Mongolia and worldwide. Regular monitoring of pollution will help identify when it increases and when decreases, and find solutions to this problem. Air pollution measurements will be taken at air quality control stations across the state and the city with all the findings informed to the public. This will hopefully prompt individuals and organisations to engage more actively in the efforts to combat air pollution.