How ‘The Air We Share’ Is Helping Families Tackle Air Quality Concerns

Tasha Wright, the force behind the new national initiative, is giving families the tools to take action when it comes to air quality and respiratory health.

Healthcare company Sanofi, in partnership with the Association of Science and Technology Centers (ASTC), has launched The Air We Share, a national education program designed to help families better understand how environmental factors such as air pollution, wildfire smoke, and extreme heat affect respiratory health. According to Tasha Wright, the director of U.S. Volunteer Programs & Community Relations at Sanofi, who spearheaded the initiative, it will give families access to exhibits, programming, and resources focused on air quality and respiratory wellness.

“The Air We Share is now launching across 14 science centers and museums nationwide, bringing air quality education directly into communities through trusted, hands-on learning environments,” she wrote in a recent op-ed announcing the program.

“By working with science centers and museums across the United States, the program brings trusted, science-based information directly to communities, providing them with practical ways families can protect their health and make informed everyday decisions,” reads a statement on Sanofi’s website.

On LinkedIn, Wright said the idea for “The Air We Share” developed a few years ago after she had a conversation with her colleagues about STEM and corporate social responsibility.

“What started as a conversation became a vision. That vision became a program. And now, it’s something that will live in communities across the country through incredible museum and science center partnerships focused on respiratory health, environment, curiosity, and access.”

According to research conducted by ASTC and Sanofi, nearly nine in 10 parents are worried about how air quality affects their family’s health, while significantly fewer feel prepared to take meaningful action.

“This work is about closing that gap, turning awareness into understanding, and understanding into action,” wrote Wright.

The initiative officially launched at Boston’s Museum of Science, where students, educators, and community leaders gathered to discuss the relationship between environmental conditions and health. The event featured science educator and TV personality Bill Nye the Science Guy, online science creator and educator Sean the Science Kid, and Boys & Girls Club member Andrew Rodgers, who moderated a discussion on air quality and public health.

Wright said Rodgers’ participation reflected the program’s broader mission of empowering young people to engage with issues that directly affect their communities.

“By putting students at the center of the conversation, we’re not just teaching science; we’re helping shape the next generation of informed advocates,” she wrote.

The program also focuses on expanding access to environmental health education in underserved communities that have historically had fewer resources and opportunities in STEM-related fields.

A year later, after settling into my role and building out our volunteer strategy, I reached back into that pocket and started building what would eventually become The Air We Share.

Following the Boston launch, organizers plan to launch a national student competition in 2027 that will encourage young people and communities to develop innovative solutions to air-quality challenges.