The useful question is what changes for users, developers or buyers, and whether the announcement stays industry context or becomes something people can actually use.

In July 2026, the CosmicDS project, led by Harvard University, partnered with the Smithsonian Institution’s BEST AQI project to host a Leadership Institute at the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian. Thirteen educators participated, learning to use TEMPO-Lab, a free tool funded by NASA that provides near-real-time air quality measurements from the TEMPO mission, which monitors pollution across North America hourly during daylight hours.

During the three-day institute, educators collaborated to develop curriculum and resources for the BEST AQI project, which guides teens in investigating local air quality issues. They used TEMPO-Lab to create case studies on real-world scenarios such as wildfire smoke, rush-hour traffic, power plant emissions, and agricultural activities, equipping teens with data-driven tools to assess air quality in their communities.

A highlight of the workshop occurred when TEMPO scientist Heesung Chong announced the availability of new beta ground-level ozone data. TEMPO-Lab’s adaptable design allowed software developer John Lewis to integrate this data overnight, enabling participants to explore the latest ozone measurements the following morning, demonstrating the tool’s responsiveness to active NASA science.

The institute emphasized the importance of equipping educators with NASA air quality data tools to foster data literacy among teens. The 13 educators plan to share the BEST AQI toolkit and TEMPO-Lab with approximately 100 additional educators across partner sites in South Dakota, Maryland, and New York, potentially reaching thousands of teen researchers and supporting community-driven air quality investigations.