International Society of Indoor Air Quality and Climate News
Community Testimonials: Indoor Air 2026
ALIMA’S JOURNEY AT INDOOR AIR 2026
My Experience and Highlights at the 2026 Indoor Air Conference
Alima Bint Hashir P.K.
Going to the 2026 Indoor Air Conference was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. As an 11-year-old school student, I never imagined that I would have the chance to attend an international conference, meet famous scientists, present my own research, and feel like a real scientist.
At the beginning, I felt very nervous and excited. There were so many professors, scientists, engineers, and students from different countries. Everyone was kind, friendly, and polite, which made me feel welcome. During the conference, I met many new people and learned that indoor air quality is important for everyone—at home, in schools, offices, hospitals, and many other places.
One of the most special moments for me was presenting my paper. Before I started, I was scared to speak in front of a large audience. But once I began talking about my project, my nervousness slowly disappeared. I became more confident and enjoyed explaining my research. After a few minutes, I felt proud, happy, and excited. Presenting my paper at an international conference was one of the most spectacular moments of my life.
I was also happy to present my poster and answer questions about my work. It made me feel that all my hard work had paid off. Receiving a special recognition certificate as the youngest presenter at the conference was another unforgettable moment. I felt very honoured and full of joy.
The summer school was also a wonderful learning experience. I listened to different professors and scientists sharing their ideas about indoor air quality. I learned many new things, asked questions, and enjoyed hearing different views from people who care about clean and healthy air. Even though I took a small nap during one of the classes, I still enjoyed every part of the summer school!
I was very excited to meet Professor Pawel Wargocki, Professor Tham, Professor Kerry Kinney, Gabriel Bekö, Sara, Simon Jones, and many other scientists and professors. I also met William “Bill” McQuade, the President of ASHRAE. Meeting them was inspiring because I could see that science is not only about books and experiments. It is also about sharing ideas, working together, and helping people live healthier lives.
I am especially thankful to Dr. Asit Kumar Mishra, who guided and mentored me throughout my journey. I was sad that I could not meet him at Indoor Air 2026 because he was unable to attend, but I am very grateful for all his support and encouragement.
I would also like to thank the Corsi-Rosenthal Foundation for recognizing my project in 2025 and later providing a scholarship for me to attend Indoor Air 2026. I was very proud to read the encouraging posts by Professor Richard Corsi and Mr. Jim Rosenthal. I sincerely thank ISIAQ for the travel grant and the Indoor Air 2026 organizers for waiving my conference registration and summer-school fees.
My journey was supported by many people. I am grateful to my parents, teachers, and everyone in my community who encouraged me. I especially thank Mr. Ameer Uncle, who generously provided the car AC filters for my project at a subsidized price. My younger sister, Nafisa, also helped me record the noise-level tests and ts. Above all, I thank my mother, Muhazina Abdul Azeez, for always supporting me throughout my journey and in my life.
On the last day of the conference, I felt sad because it was ending, but I also felt proud and thankful. Indoor Air 2026 helped me become more confident, curious, and brave. It showed me that children can ask questions, learn about science, share their ideas, and make a difference.
I will always remember this experience, the people I met, the things I learned, and the confidence I found in myself.
Simple Science, Practical Solutions, Powerful Impact
Pawel Wargocki
Alima's journey to the Indoor Air Conference in Singapore began at Healthy Buildings 2025 Asia, held in Hyderabad, India. She did not plan the trip then, nor did her father. Her father had joined the summer school organized prior to the conference.
I was one of the teachers. Rather than offering a series of long lectures, we proposed something different. With financial support from the Corsi-Rosenthal (CR) Foundation, students worked in teams to build do-it-yourself (DIY) air cleaners and evaluate their effectiveness. It turned out to be a very successful exercise, and the students enjoyed it tremendously.
Alima's father returned home full of excitement and ideas and told his daughter about air cleaners and what he had learned. Inspired by the experience, Alima conducted her own experiment, wrote a report describing the results, and submitted it to Indoor Air. The paper was accepted.
But then a new challenge emerged: funding.
Alima comes from a region where opportunities and financial resources for participation in international scientific events can be limited. She was not a university student, and she was very young. ISIAQ does not have dedicated resources to support individuals in such circumstances.
Fortunately, with the support of the CR Foundation and the generosity of the conference organizers, a solution was found. Only a few weeks before the conference began, her conference fees were waived. As a result, Alima arrived in Singapore as the youngest person ever to present a paper at an Indoor Air or Healthy Buildings conference, and perhaps the youngest presenter ever to contribute a scientific paper at an international conference of this kind.
She immediately became one of the stars of the conference, not only because of her age but also because of her message. Her story resonated with participants and inspired many beyond the conference itself, including her friends, classmates, and peers. Through a simple experiment, she demonstrated that curiosity, scientific thinking, and affordable solutions can help solve important environmental challenges. In her case, the challenge was the removal of plastic particles from the air.
Alima's story carries a broader lesson. Complex scientific problems do not always require complex communication. When science is explained clearly and practical, affordable solutions are shared directly with citizens, the impact can be enormous. This is one of the true low-hanging fruits in our efforts to improve public health and environmental quality. Alima demonstrated that it is possible. By communicating science in an accessible way and empowering people with simple tools and knowledge, we can create meaningful change, often much faster and on a much larger scale than we imagine.
A Perspective on Alima’s Journey
Asit Kumar Mishra
Alima’s journey is about much more than a young person participating in an academic conference.
It is about what becomes possible when children are invited into conversations that directly affect their lives. Indoor air quality is often discussed through technical language, measurements, models, and standards. But behind every reading is a person breathing that air — often a child in a classroom, at home, or in another indoor space.
Playing a small role in Alima’s journey has been a very meaningful experience in my academic and research career. Her curiosity, confidence, and willingness to engage remind us that research should not remain confined to universities and laboratories. It should be understandable, accessible, and open to the people whose health and wellbeing it is intended to protect.
Alima’s presence at an academic conference may appear innovative because of her age. For those of us working in healthy buildings, however, it represents something more fundamental: a necessary step towards making indoor air a public conversation.
I hope her journey inspires many more young clean-air enthusiasts to ask questions, collect evidence, and help shape the future of Indoor Air and Healthy Buildings research.
Because every child deserves not only to learn about healthy environments, but to have a voice in creating them.
From Dining-Table Curiosity to the Global Stage: A Proud Father’s Reflection
P.K Hashir
Indoor Air 2026 was a truly meaningful and unforgettable experience for my daughter, Alima, and me. It brought us into a global community of scientists, engineers, health professionals, educators, industry experts, advocates, and students, all united by a shared aim: to make the indoor environments where people live, learn, work, and recover healthier and safer.
For me, the conference was an important opportunity to exchange ideas on indoor air quality, ventilation, aerosol transport, exposure, filtration, health, and the role of buildings in protecting wellbeing. As a researcher and practitioner working in indoor environmental quality, CFD, HVAC, ventilation, and airborne microplastics, I was inspired by the depth of scientific work and practical commitment visible throughout the event. Indoor air is not merely a technical subject; it connects directly to public health, education, equity, productivity, climate resilience, and the everyday quality of life of families worldwide.
For Alima, Indoor Air 2026 was deeply personal. It allowed her to see science as a living, collaborative activity—not simply something found in schoolbooks. She saw people from around the world come together to discuss problems that matter to children, families, schools, and communities. The experience helped her understand that clean air is everyone’s concern and that young people, too, can have a voice in conversations about a healthier future.
It began with simple dinner-table conversations after I returned from Healthy Buildings Asia 2025, organized by ISIAQ in Hyderabad, India. I often share my research activities and new learning experiences with my family, including Professor Pawel Wargocki’s DIY Corsi-Rosenthal Box-building activity during the conference summer school and my own research on the dynamics of microplastics. Alima transformed those conversations into action. With the support of her mother, Muhazina, and the guidance of Dr Asit Kumar Mishra, she designed a mini air cleaner for her school exhibition using a car AC filter, a small DC fan, and a simple snack box.
As a Grade 5 student at MES Indian School, Qatar, Alima’s project being featured by the Corsi-Rosenthal Foundation has been a proud reminder that accessible “fan-and-filter” solutions can inspire curiosity, creativity, and innovation in the next generation—whether in Qatar, India, or anywhere in the world.
One of the most moving parts of Alima’s journey was the wide range of people who supported her before she reached the global stage. Her experience was not made possible by one person or institution alone. Rather, it was shaped by a chain of generosity linking everyday community support with internationally recognized indoor-air scientists and organizations.
A particularly meaningful contribution came from a local car AC mechanic. When he learned that the filters were being used for Alima’s educational activity, he supported the project in a practical and generous way. He supplied the AC filters at cost price and provided several additional filters free of charge. This simple act of encouragement reflected an important message: people do not need to be scientists or conference organizers to help a child learn, explore, and contribute. Practical support from members of the community can be just as important in nurturing curiosity and confidence.
This contribution also reminded us that air quality is closely connected to everyday life. The knowledge and work of technicians, mechanics, maintenance professionals, and service workers play an essential role in keeping air-conditioning, ventilation, and cooling systems functioning properly. Their practical experience complements the research, standards, technologies, and policy discussions that take place at international conferences.
We are sincerely grateful to Professor Pawel Wargocki, Dr Asit Kumar Mishra and Dr. Veerasingam for their encouragement, guidance, and support. Their contribution reflects the generosity of the indoor-air scientific community and its willingness to welcome, mentor, and inspire younger generations. Their support helped Alima feel that she belonged in a space where science, engineering, and public health come together to solve real-world challenges.
We also extend our heartfelt appreciation to ISIAQ, the Indoor Air 2026 organizers, and the Corsi-Rosenthal Foundation. The Foundation’s support was particularly meaningful. The Corsi-Rosenthal Box represents a simple but powerful idea: practical, accessible, community-driven solutions can help improve the air people breathe. Its wider significance lies not only in filtration, but also in empowering people to understand indoor air and take action in homes, classrooms, workplaces, and communities.
Alima’s path, from the generosity of a local car AC mechanic who recognized the educational purpose of her work, to the encouragement of distinguished researchers, and ultimately to the support of ISIAQ, Indoor Air 2026, and the Corsi-Rosenthal Foundation, shows what can happen when a community comes together. It includes family, teachers, technicians, researchers, mentors, professional societies, conference organizers, and foundations. Every contribution, whether practical, educational, scientific, logistical, or financial, can create a pathway for young people to see that they belong in science.
Indoor Air 2026 renewed my commitment to advancing healthier indoor environments through research, modelling, training, and practical engineering solutions. More importantly, it gave Alima an early view of a caring global community committed to improving lives through better air. We hope her experience will encourage other children to ask questions, explore science, value the work of people around them, and believe that their ideas can one day make a difference.
Thank you to every person and organization that helped Alima reach this moment. Your support has made an impact far beyond one conference stage—it has helped build confidence, curiosity, and hope for the next generation of indoor-air advocates, scientists, engineers, and problem-solvers.
