Extreme heat is deadly, and as we learn in this episode, “all heat deaths are preventable.” If that’s the case, how do we prevent them? In this episode, we’ll learn about the problem-solvers in Phoenix and Sydney trying to make life better by managing the increasingly high temperatures. These are two cities across the globe from each other, both reaching extreme, life-threatening temperatures. This episode takes us “from the frying pan to the fire”!
The “Heat Czar” of Phoenix David Hondula and his wife Dr. Jennifer Vanos at Arizona State University are what Miles calls a “hot power couple”, researching ways to protect the most vulnerable from the dangerous heat of Phoenix summers.
Elise asks Miles all about the equipment used in the television episode to measure heat: MaRTy in Phoenix and the EMU in Sydney. We learn about the surprising role the Australian Open played in developing heat research, and, of course, the production challenges of procuring broadcast rights. Ever a hands-on learner, Miles shares his experiences of sitting in a heat chamber that simulated the 1995 Chicago heat wave, a tragedy that heat researchers are still studying today.
From shade to cooling pavement, the innovators are building an arsenal of solutions that work together to solve this problem, shifting the focus from just the numbers and data to how climate affects humans and impacts our day to day lives. To close, Miles encourages us all to look after each other and check in on our neighbors who may be elderly and alone.
