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Teen Tackles Invisible Pollution Crisis
22 Sep
Summary
- Nathan Tan founded Shared Skies to address environmental injustice.
- A machine-learning model predicts air quality in data-scarce areas.
- Tan's initiative provides educational guides, air filters, and masks.
Nathan Tan, a 17-year-old from Plano, Texas, is at the forefront of combating invisible pollution and environmental injustice. His nonprofit, Shared Skies Initiative, focuses on providing crucial air quality information to underserved communities, particularly in Dallas.
Tan's efforts were inspired by his experiences tutoring students in West Dallas and observing the disproportionate environmental burden on its residents. He developed an innovative machine-learning model to predict particulate matter concentrations in areas lacking traditional monitoring stations, creating a real-time air quality map used by many Texans.
Beyond technology, Shared Skies has distributed over 60,000 environmental justice guides in English and Spanish to low-income schools. The organization has also provided students with air filters, KN95 masks, and educational materials, fostering a youth ambassador program that trains hundreds of young people to understand and share air quality data.
Tan's advocacy extends to local policy discussions, including efforts to address pollution from a shingle manufacturing plant in West Dallas. For his impactful work, he has been recognized as a recipient of the 2026 Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes, awarded to young leaders making significant environmental contributions.
