Airborne pathogen surveillance with high school students

Macroevolutionary processes of airborne viral infections are understood by sampling interconnected transmission networks of asymptomatic carriers. One such network of significant public interest are schools, serving as transmission hotspots for epidemics of respiratory viruses. We propose to establish surveillance of air-borne human viruses together with high school students as citizen scientists. Students will help to design experiments, factor in specific school settings, air management and social dynamics potentially linked to transmission, and investigate diversity, abundance and genetic characteristics of detected viruses. Within the scope of the study, we will co-develop Vorwissenschaftliche Arbeit (VWA) topics together with participating students to foster integration of research into their high school curriculum. We will recruit teachers and students from Viennese high schools and adapt the study to the local environments. Students will operate fixed active air-sampling stations with concurrent surveying of their peers. Survey data will be followed up with semi-structured interviews. The in-depth sequencing analyses of airborne viruses is supported by expertise in evolutionary biology, social epidemiology, transdisciplinary methodology, and public engagement within our interdisciplinary collaboration network. Results will be disseminated through various means including scientific publications and further engagement of stakeholders as an important means of science communication. In summary, this transdisciplinary citizen science project will establish an innovative approach to pertinent questions of surveillance and prevention of air-borne pathogens in the school setting. Together with citizen scientists, this project is expected to extend our society`s capability of non-invasive pathogen surveillance and to generate much-needed evidence to safeguard gatherings in educational and other public indoor locations.