WASHINGTON, D.C. – National Geographic Society–funded geography education strategy led by Dr. Rodolfo Hernández and Dr. Aara’L Yarber trains high schoolers to investigate air quality disparities in their own neighborhoods using cutting-edge digital and analog mapping methods.
NCAS-M at Howard University, with funding from the National Geographic Society, is proud to announce the launch of MAPCRAFT — a first-of-its-kind hybrid educational workshop strategy that empowers Washington, D.C. high school students to investigate air quality and environmental health disparities in their own communities.
Designed for high school classrooms across the District, MAPCRAFT blends the MapMaker open-source tool with hands-on neighborhood fieldwork — transforming students from passive learners into lead researchers and community advocates for environmental justice.
About the Workshop
Spanning two intensive days (five to seven hours each), MAPCRAFT guides students through three integrated phases using the National Geographic MapMaker platform alongside open-source air quality datasets from D.C. Open Data and IQAir.
Students explore real-time particulate matter, land cover, and AQI data layered over their own neighborhoods to develop research hypotheses.
Students take to the streets to “ground-truth” digital data, documenting pollution sources through sensory observation, photography, and community storytelling.
Students merge field notes and photos back into MapMaker, crafting “Spatial Stories” that present evidence-based solutions for environmental justice.
By comparing Wards across the District — for instance, examining the dense grey infrastructure in Wards 7 and 8 against the green space of Ward 3 — students confront real environmental inequities and learn to argue, with data, for the changes their communities deserve.
Why MAPCRAFT Matters
Environmental data consistently shows that Washington, D.C. neighborhoods with higher proportions of Black and low-income residents experience greater exposure to grey infrastructure, traffic pollution, and poor air quality. MAPCRAFT places students at the center of this inquiry, treating their lived experiences and neighborhood knowledge as legitimate scientific data.
“Mapping is more than plotting points on a screen — it is a way for students to truly read their own neighborhoods,” said Dr. Rodolfo Hernández, Assistant Research Scientist and Principal Investigator on the project. “By combining open-source air quality data with the sensory and intergenerational knowledge that only community members hold, MAPCRAFT gives young people the tools to argue for the environmental justice their communities deserve.”
Grounded in Culturally Responsive Teaching and Geography-Centered STEM Education, MAPCRAFT builds students’ spatial literacy, data interpretation skills, and STEM communication abilities — while directly connecting academic learning to careers in atmospheric science, environmental health, and urban planning.
Community Partnerships
MAPCRAFT is strengthened by partnerships with local community organizations including Erica Green Inc., a leader in environmental education and community wellness focused on Black communities in Ward 8, and the Chesapeake Bay Trust, which supports urban forestry and environmental advocacy. These partners join students in the field and in the classroom, ensuring that community voices shape the research from the very start.
The research team also partnered with Bard High School Early College DC and the River Terrace Education Campus to co-design the workshop instruments for future implementation, with potential support from the National Geographic Society. The workshop will encourage students to engage with local neighbors, family members, grassroots environmental justice advocates, and school alumni — ensuring the maps they produce reflect the full richness of lived community knowledge.
Workshop Materials
MAPCRAFT includes a comprehensive suite of materials developed by the NCAS-M team:
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Student Research Journal — a guided workbook that takes students from foundational map skills through field observation to final advocacy presentations, incorporating photo and sketch logs alongside digital journaling prompts. Download ↓
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Teacher’s Guide — a detailed, step-by-step instructional resource covering pedagogical foundations, activity facilitation, safety guidelines, and community partnership tips for educators at every level. Download ↓
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Workshop Design Document — a full curriculum blueprint including learning objectives, activity timelines, data tools, key vocabulary, and guiding research questions for administrators and curriculum coordinators. Download ↓
