About the project
Dusts Catcher is an open-source environmental sensing toolkit that makes airborne dust visible through simple, low-cost collection methods. Developed by Dusts Institute in 2021, it responds to the growing need for accessible tools that help people understand the invisible environmental conditions shaping their everyday lives. Combining architecture, citizen science, and participatory design, the toolkit enables citizens, educators, researchers, and cultural institutions to collaboratively collect, observe, and discuss local dust samples. Designed for workshops, public events, schools, and exhibitions, Dusts Catcher can be fabricated from widely available materials and adapted to diverse local contexts. Rather than relying on expensive monitoring technologies, it encourages collective knowledge production and environmental stewardship by transforming invisible atmospheric particles into tangible evidence that sparks curiosity, dialogue, and action.
About the project’s approach
Dusts Catcher is an open-source, low-cost environmental sensing tool that enables people to collect and visualize airborne dust in their everyday surroundings. Designed by Dusts Institute, the project transforms invisible particles into tangible evidence, encouraging communities to investigate local air quality through collective observation rather than complex technology. The modular kit can be easily fabricated using accessible materials and adapted to different contexts, making it suitable for workshops, schools, cultural institutions, and citizen science initiatives. By combining design, environmental research, and public participation, Dusts Catcher fosters environmental awareness while empowering people to generate and share knowledge about the atmospheric conditions that shape their lives.