FAMU Partners with Aura Air to Establish Center of Excellence for Indoor Air Quality

Dean Victor Ibeanusi talks to School of the Environment students. The research hub will serve as a center for studies, testing, and analysis of air quality in Florida

TALLAHASSEE, Fla., November 15, 2022 – Florida A&M University (FAMU) is excited to announce the establishment of a new Indoor Air Quality (“IAQ”) Center of Excellence (COE) in partnership with Aura Air, a leading global provider of smart air technology. 

Led by Victor Ibeanusi, Ph.D., dean of FAMU’s School of the Environment, the COE will serve as the authoritative center for studying, testing, and analyzing indoor air quality in the State of Florida. 

“Natural disasters are impacting the air we breathe, and the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the role poorly ventilated spaces play in virus transmission,” Ibeanusi said. “We are proud to leverage our world-renowned research facilities, faculty, and student body and join Aura Air in leading the way in IAQ research and education to improve the health of Florida residents.” 

The partnership combines FAMU’s prestigious science and environment faculty and programs with the technical know-how and innovation from the world’s leading smart air technology company, Aura Air. Through the COE, FAMU, and Aura Air will address the growing risks of polluted and poorly ventilated indoor spaces and climate-related changes to IAQ on Floridians.  

“We are thrilled to have a Memorandum of Understanding between FAMU and Aura Air Americas establishing the new Center of Excellence (COE),” said Allyson Watson, Ph.D., FAMU interim provost and vice president Academic Affairs. 

Professor Gang Chen, Ph.D., of the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, discusses indoor air quality and the Aura Air device. (Credit: Glenn. Beil/FAMU Office of Communications)

As the only Historically Black College or University (HBCU) with a comprehensive engineering college, FAMU is well-positioned to collaborate with Aura Air on IAQ research and development, as well as to address real-world consequences.  

“We share a similar vision and commitment to education to drive change and to create the next generation of air quality professionals. Together, we can serve as a model for other research institutions and communities to develop their own COEs to increase awareness of the importance of air monitoring and purification,” said Roei Friedberg, CEO of Aura Air Americas. 

The COE for IAQ will recommend methods and technology to effectively improve indoor air quality with active air monitoring, filtering, and ventilation. The Center will house IAQ-related studies and serve as an education hub to support a statewide IAQ program. Research is already underway at the COE with several Aura Air devices in place on FAMU campus. On November 30, 2022, FAMU will hold a ribbon-cutting celebration to officially open the new COE. 

The COE will facilitate workshops and training to educate the public on the importance of air quality monitoring and develop a Statewide IAQ Management Plan that includes:

• Training the next generation of air quality professionals, 
• Improving energy efficiency in buildings,
• Supporting a state-wide air monitoring program, and
• Providing air filtration, purification, and monitoring solutions to government buildings, educational institutions, hospitals, and public transportation.