Join Science London for our first event of 2022 as we explore the ways the creation, communication and often manipulation of science and evidence influence how specific environmental injustices are addressed. The event is open to all but may be of particular interest to science communicators, scientists, environmentalists and those working in health and social care.

During the event, Clean Air for Southall and Hayes (CASH) will share the story of the environmental injustice of air pollution in Southall and Hayes, and their community’s campaign to address it. Currently, CASH are calling for Ealing Council to serve an abatement notice on the development of Green Quarter (formerly Southall Gasworks). The site is a highly contaminated former gasworks and there is concern that excavation and soil movements on the site are resulting in volatile organic compounds (VOCs) becoming airborne. These VOCs are having significant impacts on residents’ health, who report asthma, cancer and pneumonia. CASH have worked together with Centric Lab to provide further evidence of the pollution in the borough, and the effects that it is having on residents. Despite this, the development is currently still ongoing.

The 90 minute session will include talks from Angela Fonso (a resident and CASH 's co-ordinator) and Araceli Camargo (Lab Director and Co-founder of Centric Lab), followed by an opportunity for attendees to ask questions, as together we consider how we as scientists and communicators can support community led campaigns against social injustice with our own work.

** A recording of the event will be made available shortly afterwards if you are unable to attend on the day**

More about CASH and Angela Fonso

Clean Air for Southall and Hayes (CASH) was established in 2018. They are a community led group who are campaigning for Ealing Council to serve an abatement notice on Berkeley Group for statutory odour nuisance. As a result of publicity generated by the documentary 'Is My Neighbourhood Poisoning Me?' CASH became a founding member of Gasworks Communities United (GCU), an alliance of campaign groups and individuals concerned about the redevelopment of gasworks.

Angela Fonso is CASH's co-ordinator and leads on organising protests, campaign meetings and social media posts. This is a role which Angela combines with her part time teaching assistant job in an alternative provision for 11 to 18 year olds.

You can donate to CASH directly here: https://gofund.me/b433bbd1

More about Centric Lab and Araceli Camargo

Centric Lab conducts research by using neuroscience and geospatial data to understand how the places we live impact our health. They work with communities, practitioners, policy makers and academics in order to improve public health. Centric Lab is run by a team of scientists from underrepresented communities - this positionality plays a key role in how the research lab frames science, choses and carries out their work. They have recently been commissioned by the Greater London Authority to map community-led projects and insights that engage with environmental issues and concerns in London. The first stage of this project focuses on Hackney, Newham, Tower Hamlets and Walthamstow.

Araceli Camargo is lead scientist at Centric Lab and a cognitive neuroscientist focused on how people interact with urban environments. Araceli is of Indigenous American descent and holds an MSc in Cognitive Neuroscience from King’s College London.

More about Science London

Science London is committed to training and enabling scientists and science communicators to employ equitable practice within their work. Our work can be divided into two key aims:

1. Produce practical sessions and resources that contribute to the development of equitable events and outreach aimed specifically at those who are minoritised non-scientists (e.g. people of colour, women, LGBTQIA+, disabled people and those with intersecting identities)
2. Support our members in their ambitions to become better, more equitable, scientists and communicators

Pre event resources for attendees:

• Is my neighbourhood poisoning me? Living in the shadow of a gasworks redevelopment – video: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/video/2020/aug/27/is-my-neighbourhood-poisoning-me-living-in-the-shadow-of-a-gasworks-redevelopment
• Centric Lab 'Healing Futures' programme for 2022: https://www.urbanhealthcouncil.com/2022
• Centric Lab report on the air pollution in Southall/Hayes (3-month study): https://www.thecentriclab.com/air-pollution-health-in-southall-london
• 2-month review of the Right To Know project: https://www.thecentriclab.com/news-and-blog-roll/2021/11/29/right-to-know

Ticket sales and Donations

Tickets for this event are pay what you can - any money raised will subsidise speaker fees and further support the work of Science London. You can also purchase a free ticket if you'd prefer not to donate this time. During the event we will be sharing details to donate directly to CASH and their cause.

Event Ground Rules:

The following ground rules have been created by the Science London team as a reflection of our values as a committee. Our hope is that if we all agree to follow these ground rules, the event will be a space that is open, nurturing and empowering.

Science London has a 0-tolerance policy for discriminatory behaviour or language. If incidents occur, the person(s) in question will be given a warning, asked to mute your microphone or muted by the hosts. If the behaviour continues you will be asked to leave

Be aware of the space you occupy internally at the event e.g., ensuring you leave space for others to speak and don’t interrupt. But also, externally, your positionality within society and how this might impact those around you with relatively less power/social capital

Critique with care - all comments and critiques are welcome but ensure they are coming from a desire to build each other up rather than tear down

If a conversation makes you uncomfortable and you don't feel able to raise this publicly, please direct message the moderators who can support moving the conversation on

We ask that attendees rename themselves to include their pronouns, unless you are unable or do not feel comfortable doing so. Please respect the gender pronouns of other attendees and do not take it personally if you are corrected

We ask that all attendees treat each other's names respectfully. If you are unsure how to pronounce someone's name, please ask. Names, whether they are given or chosen, have meaning and are deserving of care

Please feel free to take breaks throughout the session outside of the one provided to take care of your needs. We understand that home working comes with interruptions and many people are living with dependents.

If you are experiencing any technical issues please contact a member of Science London via the chat function and we will try our best to support you.

Finally, we wanted to share that this event will also be a learning experience for the Science London team. We do not have all the answers but hope that by having these conversations with members of our wider community we may be able to find ways forward together.

We look forward to seeing you all.

With best wishes,

The Science London team