David Carel
@davidcarel.bsky.social
Most recently Managing Director @ Blueprint Bio
Former co-founder of Panorama Education and Funda Wande
Former co-founder of Panorama Education and Funda Wande
We can't afford to overlook interventions that fall outside conventional "education" interventions. This might be one of our most powerful -- and most neglected -- tools we have.
October 10, 2025 at 3:50 PM
We can't afford to overlook interventions that fall outside conventional "education" interventions. This might be one of our most powerful -- and most neglected -- tools we have.
Filtering classroom air might be one of the most cost-effective interventions for kids (on top everything we already know about how important it is for their health!)
October 10, 2025 at 3:50 PM
Filtering classroom air might be one of the most cost-effective interventions for kids (on top everything we already know about how important it is for their health!)
Having worked in K-12 research and advocacy for a decade, and for the last few years in indoor air quality, it’s shocking to me how few people understand the link between air quality and student outcomes. Thanks for creating this super clear, informative, and practical video. Exactly what we need!
October 6, 2025 at 2:44 PM
Having worked in K-12 research and advocacy for a decade, and for the last few years in indoor air quality, it’s shocking to me how few people understand the link between air quality and student outcomes. Thanks for creating this super clear, informative, and practical video. Exactly what we need!
September 11, 2025 at 8:03 PM
The pandemic taught us that indoor air quality matters. Now we need to act on that knowledge - both as individual consumers and as institutions.
September 11, 2025 at 8:02 PM
The pandemic taught us that indoor air quality matters. Now we need to act on that knowledge - both as individual consumers and as institutions.
Every classroom in America should have high-quality air purification. Better air quality = fewer sick days, better cognitive performance, reduced disease transmission. The ROI is obvious, but procurement decisions are often based on the same flawed metrics.
September 11, 2025 at 8:02 PM
Every classroom in America should have high-quality air purification. Better air quality = fewer sick days, better cognitive performance, reduced disease transmission. The ROI is obvious, but procurement decisions are often based on the same flawed metrics.
Personally, I'm most curious right now about ensuring every school has access to high-quality air purification. This isn't just about better products; it's about building collective understanding so policymakers and institutional decision-makers can make informed choices.
September 11, 2025 at 8:02 PM
Personally, I'm most curious right now about ensuring every school has access to high-quality air purification. This isn't just about better products; it's about building collective understanding so policymakers and institutional decision-makers can make informed choices.
But here's what really matters: this isn't just about consumer choice. It's about institutional decision-making. If we can't get air purifiers right for motivated buyers with disposable income, how do we get it right for places like school districts?
September 11, 2025 at 8:02 PM
But here's what really matters: this isn't just about consumer choice. It's about institutional decision-making. If we can't get air purifiers right for motivated buyers with disposable income, how do we get it right for places like school districts?
Annual costs? Luggable: $55. Airmega: $124.
The Luggable uses standard furnace filters. The Airmega locks you into proprietary filters - classic razor/blade model.
The Luggable uses standard furnace filters. The Airmega locks you into proprietary filters - classic razor/blade model.
September 11, 2025 at 8:02 PM
Annual costs? Luggable: $55. Airmega: $124.
The Luggable uses standard furnace filters. The Airmega locks you into proprietary filters - classic razor/blade model.
The Luggable uses standard furnace filters. The Airmega locks you into proprietary filters - classic razor/blade model.
Like many of you, I bought the Coway Airmega 1512 early in the pandemic. Then I discovered the Cleanairkits Luggable (no affiliation):
Luggable XL: 323 CFM @ 37.3 dBA
Airmega: 233 CFM @ 60.1 dBA
30% less clean air, sounds like a vacuum cleaner on the top setting that gives you 233 cubic feet/min
Luggable XL: 323 CFM @ 37.3 dBA
Airmega: 233 CFM @ 60.1 dBA
30% less clean air, sounds like a vacuum cleaner on the top setting that gives you 233 cubic feet/min
September 11, 2025 at 8:02 PM
Like many of you, I bought the Coway Airmega 1512 early in the pandemic. Then I discovered the Cleanairkits Luggable (no affiliation):
Luggable XL: 323 CFM @ 37.3 dBA
Airmega: 233 CFM @ 60.1 dBA
30% less clean air, sounds like a vacuum cleaner on the top setting that gives you 233 cubic feet/min
Luggable XL: 323 CFM @ 37.3 dBA
Airmega: 233 CFM @ 60.1 dBA
30% less clean air, sounds like a vacuum cleaner on the top setting that gives you 233 cubic feet/min
Problem #3: They ignore simple innovations like PC fans that are WAY quieter than conventional fans. The engineering exists, but almost no companies use it.
September 11, 2025 at 8:02 PM
Problem #3: They ignore simple innovations like PC fans that are WAY quieter than conventional fans. The engineering exists, but almost no companies use it.
Problem #2: Many include "bipolar ionizers" - debunked tech that can actually increase indoor air pollution. But it sounds fancy and increases cost.
September 11, 2025 at 8:02 PM
Problem #2: Many include "bipolar ionizers" - debunked tech that can actually increase indoor air pollution. But it sounds fancy and increases cost.
Problem #1: They report CADR (clean air delivery rate) at the loudest setting no one actually uses regularly. It's technically accurate but completely misleading for real-world use.
September 11, 2025 at 8:02 PM
Problem #1: They report CADR (clean air delivery rate) at the loudest setting no one actually uses regularly. It's technically accurate but completely misleading for real-world use.
Cleaning classroom air won't be a silver bullet -- and we'll hopefully have much more data soon from Mark Hernandez's large Colorado Schools study and others globally -- but at a time when student and teacher absenteeism is at crisis levels, are we giving this enough attention?
September 9, 2025 at 5:49 PM
Cleaning classroom air won't be a silver bullet -- and we'll hopefully have much more data soon from Mark Hernandez's large Colorado Schools study and others globally -- but at a time when student and teacher absenteeism is at crisis levels, are we giving this enough attention?
Yes, many turned them off even during the pandemic because the ones they bought were way too noisy. But new options on the market use PC fans instead of standard fans which cuts noise to barely perceptible levels.
September 9, 2025 at 5:49 PM
Yes, many turned them off even during the pandemic because the ones they bought were way too noisy. But new options on the market use PC fans instead of standard fans which cuts noise to barely perceptible levels.
Tons of schools bought air purifiers during Covid-19 but anecdotally, a huge number (if not the vast majority) unplugged them and threw them out or stuck them in storage, thinking of them as a relic pandemic emergency measure, not seeing them as an education intervention.
September 9, 2025 at 5:49 PM
Tons of schools bought air purifiers during Covid-19 but anecdotally, a huge number (if not the vast majority) unplugged them and threw them out or stuck them in storage, thinking of them as a relic pandemic emergency measure, not seeing them as an education intervention.
Compare that to ~$7000 per STUDENT in today's dollar for the famous Tennessee Star study that reduced class sizes by 1/3 for similar effect sizes.
September 9, 2025 at 5:49 PM
Compare that to ~$7000 per STUDENT in today's dollar for the famous Tennessee Star study that reduced class sizes by 1/3 for similar effect sizes.
The real kicker is the cost. The simplest, most effective air filters mass produced at scale might cost as little as $300 once off and $~50/year replacement filters + electricity after that. Ballpark estimate: $1000 per classroom over 10 years, or <$5 per student per year!
September 9, 2025 at 5:49 PM
The real kicker is the cost. The simplest, most effective air filters mass produced at scale might cost as little as $300 once off and $~50/year replacement filters + electricity after that. Ballpark estimate: $1000 per classroom over 10 years, or <$5 per student per year!
pubs.aeaweb.org/doi/pdfplus/10.1257/app.20150213
Israeli students performed worse on high-stakes exams when air pollution spiked on test day. Similar results were seen in China.
depts.washington.edu/airqual/Mars...
Israeli students performed worse on high-stakes exams when air pollution spiked on test day. Similar results were seen in China.
depts.washington.edu/airqual/Mars...
pubs.aeaweb.org
September 9, 2025 at 5:49 PM
pubs.aeaweb.org/doi/pdfplus/10.1257/app.20150213
Israeli students performed worse on high-stakes exams when air pollution spiked on test day. Similar results were seen in China.
depts.washington.edu/airqual/Mars...
Israeli students performed worse on high-stakes exams when air pollution spiked on test day. Similar results were seen in China.
depts.washington.edu/airqual/Mars...
gwern.net/doc/co2/2015-stafford.pdf#:~:text=I%20examine%20the%20effect%20of,Results%20indicate%20that
Fixing ventilation, removing mold, and upgrading filters in schools led to test score gains of 0.10 to 0.15 standard deviations.
Fixing ventilation, removing mold, and upgrading filters in schools led to test score gains of 0.10 to 0.15 standard deviations.
gwern.net
September 9, 2025 at 5:49 PM
gwern.net/doc/co2/2015-stafford.pdf#:~:text=I%20examine%20the%20effect%20of,Results%20indicate%20that
Fixing ventilation, removing mold, and upgrading filters in schools led to test score gains of 0.10 to 0.15 standard deviations.
Fixing ventilation, removing mold, and upgrading filters in schools led to test score gains of 0.10 to 0.15 standard deviations.
dagliano.unimi.it/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/WP502.pdf
A recent RCT in Italy found that air purifiers cut student absenteeism by 12.5%, with even larger effects for students with higher starting rates of absenteeism.
A recent RCT in Italy found that air purifiers cut student absenteeism by 12.5%, with even larger effects for students with higher starting rates of absenteeism.
dagliano.unimi.it
September 9, 2025 at 5:49 PM
dagliano.unimi.it/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/WP502.pdf
A recent RCT in Italy found that air purifiers cut student absenteeism by 12.5%, with even larger effects for students with higher starting rates of absenteeism.
A recent RCT in Italy found that air purifiers cut student absenteeism by 12.5%, with even larger effects for students with higher starting rates of absenteeism.
edworkingpapers.com/sites/default/files/Gilraine_AirFilters_1.pdf
This study found that introducing air filters led math scores to increase by 0.20 standard deviations and English scores by 0.18 SD.
The gains persisted and even grew over time.
This study found that introducing air filters led math scores to increase by 0.20 standard deviations and English scores by 0.18 SD.
The gains persisted and even grew over time.
edworkingpapers.com
September 9, 2025 at 5:49 PM
edworkingpapers.com/sites/default/files/Gilraine_AirFilters_1.pdf
This study found that introducing air filters led math scores to increase by 0.20 standard deviations and English scores by 0.18 SD.
The gains persisted and even grew over time.
This study found that introducing air filters led math scores to increase by 0.20 standard deviations and English scores by 0.18 SD.
The gains persisted and even grew over time.