By Noel Candelaria, History Major, Mentor Sofia Martinez.
My project takes the form of a public-facing zine designed to make air quality knowledge in New Mexico accessible, engaging, and personally relevant to a general audience. Drawing on regional air quality data and environmental justice research, the zine translates complex scientific and public health information into visually engaging and easy-to-understand content for residents of Albuquerque and surrounding areas. Alongside a sticker design to use as a visual aid and a representation of air quality importance in New Mexico.
The zine is organized into several thematic sections that guide readers through the issue of air pollution from multiple perspectives. It begins with “Air We Share,” which introduces the major sources of pollution in New Mexico, including oil and gas production and vehicle emissions. Visual data highlights the geographic distribution of pollutants and cancer rates across the state. “Every Breath Counts” then connects air quality to public health, emphasizing how pollution disproportionately affects low-income and historically marginalized communities living near highways and industrial zones. To encourage reader interaction and accessibility, the zine also includes a word search activity that reinforces key vocabulary related to air pollution. The final section, “Environmental Justice and You,” shifts toward action by offering concrete ways individuals can get involved, from supporting local organizations to advocating for policy change and learning about cumulative impacts.
My sticker uses a papel picado style alongside a hot air balloon design is meaningful for this project because it visually connects environmental issues to the cultural identity of New Mexico. Papel picado, a traditional Mexican art form, reflects the deep Hispanic and Indigenous roots of the region and acknowledges the communities most affected by environmental injustice. The hot air balloon symbolizes Albuquerque’s identity as the host of the International Balloon Fiesta and represents the air itself—making it a visual metaphor for a project centered on air quality. Together, these elements ground the science in local culture, while highlighting how environmental issues are inseparable from the people and place they impact.