Look up a lichen in the name of cleaner air

Look up a lichen in the name of cleaner air. Members of the public sought to help scientists with essential air quality research - Press release issued by Open Air Laboratories (OPAL) - For immediate use - Tuesday 29 September 2009 - Hear Imperial's Dr Nathan Callaghan talk about the OPAL Air Survey on the BBC Today Programme at 08.50 on Tuesday 29-9-09 - Open Air Laboratories (OPAL) launches its national Air Survey on 29 September 2009. The project aims to find out more about the impact of air quality all over England by inviting the public to investigate lichens growing on trees in their local area, and to count black 'tar spots' on the leaves of sycamore trees. The survey has been developed with experts from the British Lichen Society and is one of several projects being led by Imperial College London scientists as part of the wider OPAL initiative. OPAL has been awarded a grant of £11.7 million by the Big Lottery Fund to inspire a new generation of nature enthusiasts. Lichens are plant-like organisms that form when a fungus and algae develop together. They have been known as clean air indicators since the last century when acid rain caused lichens to disappear in our towns, cities and beyond.