Young Innovators Success Stories: Reducing Commuters' Exposure to Noise and Pollution

While studying at university, Tanya Beri discovered that regular use of the London Underground can expose people to up to seven times more air pollution than the WHO’s recommended safe limit.

According to one study conducted by King’s College London, some parts of the Victoria and Northern lines were found to have higher concentrations of air pollution than underground trains in Beijing and New York, among other international cities.

This research prompted Tanya to take action. She founded CAIR London in 2021, a mapping service that directs Londoners toward less polluted travel routes. Tanya received the Innovate UK Young Innovators Award in 2023 enabling her to officially launch CAIR London’s mobile app just over a year later.

Since then, her team has implemented new features that provide users with additional information, such as areas of high noise pollution, toilet locations and more.

Turning Ideas into Tangible Products

When Tanya applied for the Innovate UK Young Innovators Award, her vision for an air pollution mapping platform was still in conception. Thanks to the funding she received as part of her award, Tanya was able to bring on additional talent to help realise her ambitions.

“The financial support I received was vital. I would not have been able to build my app without it,” Tanya said.

“As a designer, I was able to create the visuals and enhance the user experience, but I couldn’t code everything. The Young Innovators Award enabled me to commission the right people with the right skills to bring the prototype to life.”

The mentorship Tanya received played a huge role in boosting her confidence and guiding her through the process of formalising her ideas into a tangible product.

Remarking on the challenges and fears she encountered around starting a business, Tanya highlighted how “having somebody to touch base with and bounce ideas off was incredibly beneficial”, crediting her regular check-ins with her innovation champion with keeping her accountable and providing valuable guidance.

This support encouraged Tanya to feel more self-assured about her talents. “I’m more confident in my abilities to build something out of nothing,” she said. “Many people have great ideas, but it’s a whole other journey to embark on actually building it.”

Planning Ahead and Long-Term Goals

CAIR London’s next step is to expand its audience and generate more downloads within the capital. Unlike many other business ventures, Tanya is focusing on one specific location of users rather than trying to attract everyone and anyone, at least for now.

A wider audience could allow CAIR London to eventually offer a more diverse array of services; Tanya has introduced new features, including data on sound pollution, local pubs, and toilet facilities, to enhance the app’s utility.

“We’ve been adding additional functionality since our initial launch,” she said. “We can offer information on sound pollution and even tell you where to get a cheap pint!”

Tanya’s advice to other aspiring innovators is to make the most of every opportunity. “Utilise all of the connections you make,” she said. “Shout about it from the rooftops because you could open a lot of doors further down the line.”