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Program Handbook

Building a global community of environmental health leaders.

Everything you need to know about the PollutionProfile Changemakers Program — our philosophy, how the network works, what participation looks like, and the standards and terms that keep our community trusted and inclusive.

Program Overview

The PollutionProfile Changemakers Program brings together an international network of emerging leaders, advocates, and innovators committed to making environmental health data accessible, understandable, and actionable for everyone.

We are founding members of a collaborative movement working at the intersection of community stewardship, public health, environmental science, and technology. Through participatory innovation and collaborative product design, Changemakers develop vital leadership skills while helping shape the future of environmental health technology.

Vision

A community-informed environmental health platform that empowers individuals everywhere to help shape how environmental data is understood, communicated, and applied for the public good.

Mission

Cultivate a global network of innovators, advocates, students, professionals, and community leaders who collaborate to improve environmental health through education, responsible technology, and shared knowledge.

Core values

IntegrityRepresenting our mission with honesty and professionalism.
InclusivityCreating space for diverse perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences.
CuriosityFostering a mindset of continuous learning and exploration.
Collaborative Problem-SolvingWorking across disciplines to drive meaningful change.
Community StewardshipEnsuring technology serves the communities it impacts.

Ethical Data Stewardship

Digital data is the foundational resource driving the age of artificial intelligence. But modern tech frameworks risk repeating historical, extractive patterns of data coloniality — where community data is mined solely to generate commercial profit for centralized platforms.

Just as the Fair Trade movement decentralized agricultural supply chains to protect local producers, PollutionProfile Changemakers are building a movement for Fair Tech. We believe in genuine data stewardship: shifting away from the illusion of digital participation and toward true collective co-design.

Our program is an international incubator for data trusts and cooperatives, where environmental health and personal exposure data are managed collectively on behalf of the communities who produce them — so that localized value creation and benefit-sharing always center on the people who underpin the technology.

Who Should Apply & Eligibility

We welcome individuals from every background passionate about improving the future of environmental health and responsible technology. There are no specific educational, technical, or professional prerequisites. We actively encourage applications from:

  • High school students (with guardian consent where required)
  • University and graduate students
  • Early-career professionals
  • Researchers and scientists
  • Public health & healthcare practitioners
  • Environmental advocates
  • Civic and nonprofit leaders
  • Designers, developers, and technologists
  • Entrepreneurs and innovators
  • Educators
  • Parents, caregivers, and community members

An interest in one or more of these areas

  • Environmental health & environmental justice
  • Public health & climate resilience
  • Community leadership & civic technology
  • Data literacy & digital innovation
  • Human-centered design & artificial intelligence

The program is fully remote and welcomes participants from around the world, eliminating geographic barriers and creating opportunities to collaborate across disciplines, cultures, and communities.

The Changemaker Network

Each Changemaker joins at least one primary specialization based on where they are most passionate about creating impact. Every specialization shares the same mission but offers unique opportunities for learning, leadership, and collaboration.

Start with Changemaking 101 — earn your certification

All participants begin with Changemaking 101, a self-paced foundational course drawing on environmental health, public health, responsible technology, community leadership, and systems thinking. Complete it to receive the PollutionProfile Changemaker Certification, plus a digital certificate and badge you can display on LinkedIn. This is an internal credential recognizing demonstrated learning — it is not an accredited academic or professional qualification. Afterward, you can pursue one or more specialized certification pathways at your own pace.

Go to Changemaking 101
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Community Changemakers

Connecting people. Building healthier communities.

Bring environmental health awareness into your neighborhoods, workplaces, and local organizations. Translate environmental information into meaningful conversations, educational initiatives, and community-driven solutions that reflect local needs and lived experiences.

Areas of exploration

  • Environmental health & science communication
  • Community engagement & public education
  • Civic leadership & environmental advocacy
  • Collaborative problem-solving
  • Community-based innovation

Participants may choose to

  • Organize educational conversations or workshops in your community
  • Share and create PollutionProfile educational resources
  • Develop educational materials or awareness campaigns
  • Identify local environmental concerns and opportunities
  • Share community perspectives that shape future innovation

Leadership opportunities

Community Learning FacilitatorRegional ChangemakerPeer Mentor
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Campus Changemakers

Empowering the next generation of environmental leaders.

Support students and young leaders advancing environmental health awareness through education, collaboration, and student leadership. Explore how universities and schools can become hubs for environmental innovation and public health education.

Areas of exploration

  • Student leadership & campus organizing
  • Academic collaboration & peer education
  • Public speaking & event planning
  • Environmental literacy

Participants may choose to

  • Facilitate educational programming or organize awareness events
  • Collaborate with faculty, researchers, or campus organizations
  • Build interdisciplinary networks across health, tech, sustainability, and policy

Leadership opportunities

Campus Chapter LeadStudent Collaboration FacilitatorRegional Campus Coordinator
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Innovation Changemakers

Shaping the future of environmental health technology.

Help shape the future of PollutionProfile through collaborative design, thoughtful feedback, and responsible innovation. Meaningful innovation emerges through ongoing dialogue between communities and the people building the platform.

Areas of exploration

  • User experience & product strategy
  • Digital accessibility & human-centered design
  • Responsible AI & environmental data visualization
  • Innovation & systems thinking

Participants may choose to

  • Participate in beta testing and product evaluation
  • Join collaborative design workshops and feedback sessions
  • Explore ways to improve accessibility and usability
  • Suggest new tools or features informed by community needs
  • Identify innovation opportunities through lived experience

Leadership opportunities

Product Innovation FellowUX Collaboration LeadBeta Community Mentor

Program Experience & Participation

Program duration

Join an ongoing global network and stay active as long as you find educational, professional, or community value. Participation is voluntary — pause or conclude anytime without penalty.

Flexible participation

No required weekly hours, quotas, or mandatory participation. Many members engage roughly 1–3 hours per week, but it’s entirely self-directed.

Global & remote

Fully remote and open worldwide, so you can collaborate across disciplines, cultures, and communities without geographic barriers.

Cost

Participation is completely free, and active Changemakers receive complimentary educational access to PollutionProfile Premium.

Participants access mentorship, educational programming, peer collaboration, and guidance from PollutionProfile leadership, subject-matter experts, Fellows, and invited advisors. Community learning happens through a welcome orientation, optional community forums, educational workshops and speaker sessions, cross-specialization peer collaboration, and one-on-one mentorship and office hours.

Learning Experience & Participant Benefits

Professional development

Hands-on experience in leadership, science communication, collaborative innovation, and responsible technology — a portfolio of meaningful work for academic and professional settings.

Changemaker Certification

Complete Changemaking 101 to earn a digital certificate and badge you can display on LinkedIn. An internal PollutionProfile credential recognizing demonstrated learning.

PollutionProfile Premium access

Complimentary educational access to PollutionProfile Premium throughout your active participation to support independent learning and product evaluation.

Mentorship & networking

Connect with environmental health professionals, researchers, designers, technologists, and fellow Changemakers through a global interdisciplinary network.

Community recognition

Digital recognition on social platforms, certificates of participation, verified volunteer/community service hours where permitted, and opportunities to showcase your projects.

Future opportunities

As PollutionProfile grows, participants may apply for future paid internships, fellowships, research collaborations, or roles. Participation does not guarantee future employment.

Community Standards

These standards help create a respectful, transparent, and collaborative experience for every member of the Changemaker community.

Professional & ethical representation

Represent PollutionProfile’s mission with integrity and professionalism. Communicate accurately, responsibly, and in a way that supports evidence-based environmental health education and community trust.

Respect, inclusion & community

Engage respectfully with people of diverse backgrounds, cultures, and perspectives. Harassment, discrimination, intimidation, or conduct that compromises the safety or dignity of others is not consistent with our values.

Community-centered innovation

Approach discussions with curiosity, humility, and a commitment to responsible innovation that considers the needs of the communities environmental health technologies are meant to serve.

Independent participation

You are responsible for conducting activities in accordance with your school, employer, or community organization policies. Participation does not authorize you to represent yourself as an employee, spokesperson, or agent of PollutionProfile.

Confidentiality

You may receive access to beta software, unreleased features, or research concepts. You agree to keep non-public information confidential unless PollutionProfile authorizes its release, protecting ongoing research and product development.

Collaborative ideas & intellectual property

Ideas, feedback, and design concepts you voluntarily share may be reviewed, adapted, or incorporated into PollutionProfile’s products and materials without compensation. This does not transfer ownership of your independently created work, academic work, or pre-existing materials unless separately agreed in writing.

Social media & public communications

You are never required to promote PollutionProfile. If you choose to share your experience publicly, disclose your affiliation with the program in line with local and international advertising guidelines.

Recognition & media participation

We may invite you to be featured in newsletters, websites, or community spotlights. Participation is optional, and you may decline or withdraw permission for future use of your name, photo, or biography at any time.

Participation Terms

The PollutionProfile Changemakers Program is an unpaid, voluntary educational and leadership development program. By participating, you acknowledge and understand that:

  • Participation is entirely voluntary.
  • You may discontinue involvement at any time without penalty.
  • There are no required minimum hours, quotas, fundraising, sales, recruitment, or performance targets.
  • Participation does not create an employment, contractor, agency, or partnership relationship.
  • Participants are not entitled to wages, stipends, benefits, or commissions by virtue of participation.
  • Participation does not guarantee future internships, fellowships, or employment, though you may apply for future opportunities.
  • For participants under 18, a parent or legal guardian must review and co-sign these terms before onboarding.

As the program evolves, policies, programming, and guidelines may be updated to reflect organizational growth, legal requirements, and participant feedback. Material changes will be communicated to active Changemakers through program channels.

Welcome to the Changemakers community.

Every participant contributes unique perspectives that help shape a healthier, more informed, and more equitable future.

Apply to join

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