Janiya Angoy ’27, Electrical and Computer Engineering

Janiya Angoy ’27

Major

Electrical and Computer Engineering

Project Title

Understanding the Impacts of Increasing Wildfire Smoke on U.S. Surface Air Quality and Public Health

Presentation Link

View Janiya's Presentation

Minor(s): Climate Science, Cognitive Science

My research project focused on evaluating our ability to address the trend of increasing wildfires in the United States. With this rise in wildfires, there is a growing concern about whether tightening air quality standards account for the rising levels of PM2.5 (tiny, yet harmful, atmospheric particles) pollution from wildfires. My research group is investigating how this trend may impact our ability to meet these new standards, especially since states can now exclude wildfire smoke when assessing compliance to these standards. I conducted extensive literature reviews and used R to create line plots and color coded maps from the Environmental Protection Agency’s pollutant monitoring data. I also identified relevant datasets for further analyses into fire PM2.5’s health impacts. Through this project, I learned that the importance of PM2.5 from wildfires is underestimated compared to sources relating to human activity, such as transportation or industrial processes. The complexity of pollution’s impacts and contributing factors particularly intrigued me. This internship enhanced my skills in data analysis and science communication and has inspired me to develop technology that prioritizes human health and wellbeing by considering how these factors interconnect.