The Symposium on Urban Air Quality in the Age of Climate Change – AQ ATL23  was successfully hosted at Georgia Tech on May 11-12^th. The symposium was organized by this year’s cohort of IHE-LeaD fellows. Designed to be interdisciplinary and engaging, AQ ATL23 brought together students and faculty from multiple universities who were joined by allied professionals both in state and out of state for two days of both scientific and community talks. Participants discussed recent research, outreach activities and advocacy initiatives on advancing air quality and equal access to healthy living in urban environments. Topics varied from atmospheric chemistry to environmental policy and law to the economics of air quality science. Leaders from Georgia WAND and the Clean Air Council in Philadelphia presented and led conversations around air quality advocacy and minority equity with power plant location. We also congratulate to Eric Mei for winning best contributed talk.

Besides talks, participants also had the opportunity to learn about science communication, asset-based community development, and technology storytelling with workshops offered on day 1. The symposium concluded with the opportunity to ask questions to a multidisciplinary panel at the end of day 2. The panel discussion touched on the direction of air quality research in the face of climate change moving forward as well as engaging the community in air quality research and knowledge sharing. In summary, AQ ATL23 provided a platform for unique networking opportunities across disciplines and professions who are all connected by their passion to advance urban air quality to improve healthy living and healthy environments for our future.