The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the critical importance of understanding and managing indoor and outdoor air quality, demonstrating that polluted environments increase health risks and that efficient ventilation systems play an essential role in air exchange and the mitigation of pollutants.
Given this reality, Robiel decided to pursue research in this field and begin his thesis , “Quantification of air pollutants exhaled from urban residential and educational buildings: A three-case study in Pamplona, Navarra,” supervised by César Martín-Gómez, Full Professor the School of Architecture the University of Navarra, and Arturo Ariño Plana, Full Professor the School of Science the University and researcher BIOMA Institute.
1. How would you describe the research process research your thesis Have you always been interested in academia?
At first, I thought the process would be linear, with clear guidelines and a fairly well-defined path. But as I delved deeper into my research, I realized that academic life is much more complex; I came to see that it was actually a much more dynamic, ever-changing process, full of lessons. Every day brought a challenge , and that made the experience far more enriching than I had imagined.
2. How did the idea come about?
The initial idea emerged in 2018 with a proposal a research project research which César Martín-Gómez and Arturo Ariño Plana, my thesis advisors thesis served as principal investigators. The project goal indoor air pollution in residential buildings in urban areas.
In addition development this idea, development project goal indoor air quality in a professor building professor students understand the air quality in the spaces where they spent much of their academic lives.
3. To what extent does an effective ventilation strategy help create more sustainable and healthier environments?
We spend about 90% of our time indoors, so the air we breathe indoors directly affects our quality of life. A good ventilation strategy greatly contributes to creating more sustainable and healthier spaces, as it reduces energy consumption, limits pollutant emissions, and improves indoor air quality.
The primary benefit of a good ventilation system is to refresh the air and reduce indoor pollutants, helping to prevent health issues that can be associated with a space filled with pollutants, while also financial aid improve user comfort and experience.
4. Can poor ventilation affect daily life? And the pace of teaching?
Inadequate ventilation can significantly impact both our daily lives and the teaching development ; poor indoor air quality can cause students to feel unwell, reducing their concentration and performance. This can lead to headaches, drowsiness, and reduced student engagement, directly affecting the normal flow of the teaching.
