{"id":255551,"date":"2025-07-02T18:15:45","date_gmt":"2025-07-02T22:15:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/?post_type=bu-article&#038;p=255551"},"modified":"2025-07-22T15:58:32","modified_gmt":"2025-07-22T19:58:32","slug":"sweating-for-science-sph-measures-heat-where-bostonians-work-play-and-live","status":"publish","type":"bu-article","link":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/news\/articles\/2025\/sweating-for-science-sph-measures-heat-where-bostonians-work-play-and-live\/","title":{"rendered":"Sweating for Science: SPH Measures Heat Where Bostonians Work, Play, and Live"},"content":{"rendered":"\t<div class=\"wp-block-editorial-leadin sphnews-block-editorial-leadin is-style-text-over-image has-media has-box has-media-focus-left-middle has-text-position-x-right has-primary-theme\">\n\t\t<div class=\"container-lockup\">\n\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-leadin-media\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<img width=\"1500\" height=\"1000\" src=\"\/sph\/files\/2025\/06\/2025-06-18_B-COOL-28e.jpg\" class=\"\" alt=\"Jonathan Lee, a PhD student, and Yirong Yuan, a research data analyst, each check a temperature sensor. Lee&#039;s sensor is in full sun and Yuan&#039;s is in the shade of a canopy.\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/06\/2025-06-18_B-COOL-28e.jpg 1500w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/06\/2025-06-18_B-COOL-28e-636x424.jpg 636w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/06\/2025-06-18_B-COOL-28e-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/06\/2025-06-18_B-COOL-28e-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/06\/2025-06-18_B-COOL-28e-755x503.jpg 755w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/06\/2025-06-18_B-COOL-28e-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/06\/2025-06-18_B-COOL-28e-450x300.jpg 450w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/06\/2025-06-18_B-COOL-28e-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/06\/2025-06-18_B-COOL-28e-1200x800.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px\" \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"wp-block-editorial-leadin-caption wp-prepress-component-caption\">Jonathan Lee (left), a PhD student in the Department of Environmental Health, and Yirong Yuan (CAS&#8217;24), a research data analyst in the department, set up two temperature sensors, one in the shade and one in the sun, on a hot day at the Franklin Park Zoo. PHOTO: MEGAN JONES<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"container-words-outer\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"container-words-inner has-opacity-70\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"wp-prepress-tag\">heat health<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"head\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSweating for Science: SPH Measures Heat Where Bostonians Work, Play, and Live\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n<div class=\"wp-prepress-component-metabar sphnews-prepress-layout-metabar\">\n\t<div class=\"wp-prepress-component-metabar-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-prepress-component-metabar-date\">July 2, 2025<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-prepress-component-metabar-credits\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul data-credit-type=\"By\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/news\/authors\/megan-jones\/\">Megan Jones<\/a><\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"wp-prepress-component-metabar-share js-bu-prepress-share-tools\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"icon-twitter\"><span>Twitter<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"icon-facebook\"><span>Facebook<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"icon-action\"><\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\t\n\n\n<p>As the summer heat intensifies in Boston, teams of SPH researchers have deployed a variety of sensors across the city to assess heat exposure among vulnerable residents and evaluate cooling interventions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2>Heat in the Workplace<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>On a steamy June day in Chelsea, Massachusetts, three students\u2014<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/victoria-a-lopez\/\" target=\"_blank\">Victoria A. Lopez<\/a>, a Master of Public Health student, and PhD candidates <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/charlotterobbins\/\" target=\"_blank\">Charlotte Robbins<\/a> and <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/urban\/profile\/jonathan-y-lee\/\" target=\"_blank\">Jonathan Lee<\/a> from the <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/departments\/environmental-health\/\" target=\"_blank\">Department of Environmental Health<\/a>\u2014step into a bakery to recruit participants for a workplace heat study.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Lopez introduces the project, a collaboration between the School of Public Health, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenrootsej.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">GreenRoots<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/masscosh.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Massachusetts Coalition for Occupational Safety and Health<\/a> (MassCOSH), which aims to enroll up to ten people who work in hot environments to better understand their experience of heat and identify effective ways to stay cool on the job.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Robbins explains that participants will wear sensors over an approximately nine-week period starting in July to monitor core body temperature, heart rate variability, and ambient temperature. They will also complete daily reflections and take part in interviews about the effects of heat on their health and comfort. Lee, the project leader, hands the bakery employees a flyer with the study details and the team\u2019s contact information, and the group continues down the street to share the study with other local businesses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-editorial-photoessay sphnews-block-editorial-photoessay wp-block-photoessay js-block-editorial-photoessay\"><div class=\"photo-row-full-f\">\n<div class=\"photo-f\"><div class=\"wp-block-photoessay-media\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"731\" src=\"\/sph\/files\/2025\/07\/2025-06-18_C-HEAT-occ-health-6e-1024x731.jpg\" alt=\"Victoria A. Lopez (right), an MPH student, explains how the wearable temperature sensor on her left arm works to a potential study participant at a restaurant in Chelsea.\" class=\"wp-image-255585\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/07\/2025-06-18_C-HEAT-occ-health-6e-1024x731.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/07\/2025-06-18_C-HEAT-occ-health-6e-636x454.jpg 636w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/07\/2025-06-18_C-HEAT-occ-health-6e-768x548.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/07\/2025-06-18_C-HEAT-occ-health-6e-755x539.jpg 755w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/07\/2025-06-18_C-HEAT-occ-health-6e-1401x1000.jpg 1401w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/07\/2025-06-18_C-HEAT-occ-health-6e-900x643.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/07\/2025-06-18_C-HEAT-occ-health-6e-1200x857.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/07\/2025-06-18_C-HEAT-occ-health-6e.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption><p class=\"wp-block-photoessay-media-caption wp-prepress-component-caption\">Victoria A. Lopez (right), an MPH student, discusses participation in the occupational heat exposure study with an employee of a restaurant in Chelsea. There is a SlateSafety Band V2 sensor strapped around Lopez&#8217;s upper left arm. PHOTO: MEGAN JONES<\/p><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The students\u2019 canvassing efforts are part of a new pilot project launching this summer under the umbrella of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.c-heatproject.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Chelsea &amp; East Boston Heat (C-HEAT)<\/a> study, a research partnership between SPH and GreenRoots launched in 2020 to investigate and address the health effects of extreme heat in the two communities. Using non-invasive, wearable sensors\u2014the <a href=\"https:\/\/slatesafety.com\/products\/band-v2\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Band V2 from SlateSafety<\/a>\u2014this summer\u2019s pilot aims to monitor heat stress among vulnerable workers and identify effective cooling strategies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>According to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/profile\/madeleine-scammell\/\">Madeleine Scammell<\/a>, a professor in the EH department and a co-principal investigator on the C-HEAT study, the objective of the pilot is to test this methodology for the submission of a future grant proposal to scale this study to include a larger number of urban workers across Massachusetts over a longer timeline. \u201cDuring the summer of 2021, twelve residents of the Chelsea and East Boston participated in a <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.c-heatproject.org\/photo-voice\" target=\"_blank\">Photovoice<\/a> project that identified small business workers as being at elevated risk of dangerous heat exposure,&#8221; says Scammell. &#8220;We hope that the data we collect this summer will advance advocacy efforts and protective measures to improve heat-related working conditions.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-editorial-photoessay sphnews-block-editorial-photoessay wp-block-photoessay js-block-editorial-photoessay\"><div class=\"photo-row-full-f\">\n<div class=\"photo-f\"><div class=\"wp-block-photoessay-media\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"\/sph\/files\/2025\/06\/2025-06-18_C-HEAT-occ-health-3-1024x683.jpeg\" alt=\"Victoria Lopez (left), an MPH student, and Jonathan Lee (right), a PhD student, post a sign in the window of a barber shop in Chelsea to recruit participants to a new pilot study of occupational heat exposure.\" class=\"wp-image-255529\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/06\/2025-06-18_C-HEAT-occ-health-3-1024x683.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/06\/2025-06-18_C-HEAT-occ-health-3-636x424.jpeg 636w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/06\/2025-06-18_C-HEAT-occ-health-3-768x512.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/06\/2025-06-18_C-HEAT-occ-health-3-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/06\/2025-06-18_C-HEAT-occ-health-3-2048x1365.jpeg 2048w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/06\/2025-06-18_C-HEAT-occ-health-3-755x503.jpeg 755w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/06\/2025-06-18_C-HEAT-occ-health-3-1500x1000.jpeg 1500w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/06\/2025-06-18_C-HEAT-occ-health-3-900x600.jpeg 900w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/06\/2025-06-18_C-HEAT-occ-health-3-450x300.jpeg 450w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/06\/2025-06-18_C-HEAT-occ-health-3-600x400.jpeg 600w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/06\/2025-06-18_C-HEAT-occ-health-3-1920x1280.jpeg 1920w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/06\/2025-06-18_C-HEAT-occ-health-3-1200x800.jpeg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption><p class=\"wp-block-photoessay-media-caption wp-prepress-component-caption\">Lopez (left) and Lee (right) post a sign in the window of a barber shop in Chelsea to recruit participants to a new pilot study of occupational heat exposure. PHOTO: MEGAN JONES<\/p><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/ioc\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">BU Initiative on Cities<\/a> awarded Lee, Scammell, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/profile\/patricia-fabian\/\">Patricia Fabian<\/a>, an associate professor in the EH department and co-principal investigator on the C-HEAT study, a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/ioc\/2025\/05\/28\/announcing-our-2025-early-stage-urban-research-award-recipients\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">2025 Early Stage Urban Research Award<\/a> to purchase the sensors for the project, which is formally titled \u201cOccupational Heat &amp; Cooling Strategies: A Pilot Study.\u201d The research, like many other C-HEAT projects, is also funded by Boston\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.barrfoundation.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Barr Foundation<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2>Heat on the Playground<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Meanwhile, across the Chelsea Creek, <a href=\"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/urban\/profile\/beverly-ge\/\">Beverly Ge<\/a>, another EH PhD student, climbs a ladder to secure a small white box to a tree branch. The box contains another type of heat sensor\u2014 the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.onsetcomp.com\/products\/data-loggers\/mx1101\">HOBO Temperature\/Relative Humidity Data Logger from Onset<\/a>. The tree is in the playground of an family child care participating in another study of heat exposure and cooling strategies, only in this case, for young children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-editorial-photoessay sphnews-block-editorial-photoessay alignfull wp-block-photoessay js-block-editorial-photoessay\"><div class=\"photo-row-tall-1-1\">\n<div class=\"photo-1\"><div class=\"wp-block-photoessay-media\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"731\" height=\"1024\" src=\"\/sph\/files\/2025\/07\/2025-06-26_childcareheat-1e-731x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Beverly Ge, a PhD student, stands on a ladder beside a tree containing a temperature sensor in the playground of a childcare center.\" class=\"wp-image-255556\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/07\/2025-06-26_childcareheat-1e-731x1024.jpg 731w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/07\/2025-06-26_childcareheat-1e-454x636.jpg 454w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/07\/2025-06-26_childcareheat-1e-768x1075.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/07\/2025-06-26_childcareheat-1e-1097x1536.jpg 1097w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/07\/2025-06-26_childcareheat-1e-1463x2048.jpg 1463w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/07\/2025-06-26_childcareheat-1e-755x1057.jpg 755w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/07\/2025-06-26_childcareheat-1e-714x1000.jpg 714w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/07\/2025-06-26_childcareheat-1e-643x900.jpg 643w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/07\/2025-06-26_childcareheat-1e-1200x1680.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/07\/2025-06-26_childcareheat-1e.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 731px) 100vw, 731px\" \/><figcaption><p class=\"wp-block-photoessay-media-caption wp-prepress-component-caption\">Beverly Ge, a PhD student, stands on a ladder beside a tree containing a temperature sensor in the playground of a childcare center. PHOTO: NOELLE HENDERSON<\/p><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"photo-1\"><div class=\"wp-block-photoessay-media\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"731\" height=\"1024\" src=\"\/sph\/files\/2025\/06\/2025-06-26_childcareheat-6e-731x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Volunteers install a temperature sensor at a childcare center.\" class=\"wp-image-255526\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/06\/2025-06-26_childcareheat-6e-731x1024.jpg 731w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/06\/2025-06-26_childcareheat-6e-454x636.jpg 454w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/06\/2025-06-26_childcareheat-6e-768x1075.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/06\/2025-06-26_childcareheat-6e-1097x1536.jpg 1097w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/06\/2025-06-26_childcareheat-6e-1463x2048.jpg 1463w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/06\/2025-06-26_childcareheat-6e-755x1057.jpg 755w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/06\/2025-06-26_childcareheat-6e-714x1000.jpg 714w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/06\/2025-06-26_childcareheat-6e-643x900.jpg 643w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/06\/2025-06-26_childcareheat-6e-1920x2688.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/06\/2025-06-26_childcareheat-6e-1200x1680.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 731px) 100vw, 731px\" \/><figcaption><p class=\"wp-block-photoessay-media-caption wp-prepress-component-caption\">Volunteers install a temperature sensor in the yard of a childcare center. PHOTO: BEVERLY GE<\/p><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Fabian asked Ge to lead the project, which aims to follow the lead of the City of Boston\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.boston.gov\/departments\/early-childhood\">Office of Early Childhood<\/a> (EOC) as they launch an extreme heat action plan for childcare providers and pilot their own temperature sensor program this summer. The City has supplied 26 family childcare providers with low-cost <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Govee-Thermometer-H5103-Temperature-Notification\/dp\/B0B5KF2J34\/ref=asc_df_B0B5KF2J34?mcid=a839c41d949b3d28b6a70acb6ea8d185&amp;tag=hyprod-20&amp;linkCode=df0&amp;hvadid=693712983097&amp;hvpos=&amp;hvnetw=g&amp;hvrand=17050747004596321340&amp;hvpone=&amp;hvptwo=&amp;hvqmt=&amp;hvdev=c&amp;hvdvcmdl=&amp;hvlocint=&amp;hvlocphy=9001992&amp;hvtargid=pla-1950892106768&amp;hvocijid=17050747004596321340-B0B5KF2J34-&amp;hvexpln=0&amp;th=1\">Govee thermometers<\/a> programmed to issue alerts when indoor temperature exceed certain thresholds. The SPH researchers will use the scientific-grade HOBO sensors to help the City to more accurately measure baseline heat exposure in family child cares and assess whether the more affordable Govee sensors are reliable enough for large-scale use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery alignwide columns-3 is-cropped\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1500\" height=\"1500\" src=\"\/sph\/files\/2025\/07\/Govee-thermometer.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"255657\" data-full-url=\"\/sph\/files\/2025\/07\/Govee-thermometer.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/?attachment_id=255657\" class=\"wp-image-255657\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/07\/Govee-thermometer.jpg 1500w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/07\/Govee-thermometer-636x636.jpg 636w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/07\/Govee-thermometer-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/07\/Govee-thermometer-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/07\/Govee-thermometer-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/07\/Govee-thermometer-755x755.jpg 755w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/07\/Govee-thermometer-1000x1000.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/07\/Govee-thermometer-500x500.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/07\/Govee-thermometer-1200x1200.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/07\/Govee-thermometer-900x900.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/07\/Govee-thermometer-550x550.jpg 550w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/07\/Govee-thermometer-710x710.jpg 710w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/07\/Govee-thermometer-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/07\/Govee-thermometer-600x600.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/07\/Govee-thermometer-100x100.jpg 100w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px\" \/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"400\" height=\"400\" src=\"\/sph\/files\/2025\/07\/HOBO-temperature-RH-Bluetooth-data-logger-MX1101-celsius.png\" alt=\"Onset HOBO temperature\/relative humidity data logger\" data-id=\"255591\" data-full-url=\"\/sph\/files\/2025\/07\/HOBO-temperature-RH-Bluetooth-data-logger-MX1101-celsius.png\" data-link=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/?attachment_id=255591\" class=\"wp-image-255591\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/07\/HOBO-temperature-RH-Bluetooth-data-logger-MX1101-celsius.png 400w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/07\/HOBO-temperature-RH-Bluetooth-data-logger-MX1101-celsius-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/07\/HOBO-temperature-RH-Bluetooth-data-logger-MX1101-celsius-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/07\/HOBO-temperature-RH-Bluetooth-data-logger-MX1101-celsius-100x100.png 100w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"3648\" height=\"3648\" src=\"\/sph\/files\/2025\/07\/06122024-MJones-05e.jpg\" alt=\"A heat sensor with a solar shield installed in a tree.\" data-id=\"255590\" data-full-url=\"\/sph\/files\/2025\/07\/06122024-MJones-05e.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/?attachment_id=255590\" class=\"wp-image-255590\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/07\/06122024-MJones-05e.jpg 3648w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/07\/06122024-MJones-05e-636x636.jpg 636w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/07\/06122024-MJones-05e-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/07\/06122024-MJones-05e-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/07\/06122024-MJones-05e-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/07\/06122024-MJones-05e-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/07\/06122024-MJones-05e-2048x2048.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/07\/06122024-MJones-05e-755x755.jpg 755w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/07\/06122024-MJones-05e-1000x1000.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/07\/06122024-MJones-05e-500x500.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/07\/06122024-MJones-05e-1200x1200.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/07\/06122024-MJones-05e-900x900.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/07\/06122024-MJones-05e-1920x1920.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/07\/06122024-MJones-05e-550x550.jpg 550w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/07\/06122024-MJones-05e-710x710.jpg 710w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/07\/06122024-MJones-05e-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/07\/06122024-MJones-05e-600x600.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/07\/06122024-MJones-05e-100x100.jpg 100w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 3648px) 100vw, 3648px\" \/><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-caption\">Left: The programmable Govee thermometer provided by the City of Boston.<br>Center: The HOBO temperature\/relative humidity data logger used by SPH researchers.<br>Right: A B-COOL project heat sensor (HOBO sensor with a solar shield) installed in a tree.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cA lot of homes in the city don&#8217;t come equipped with central AC, so a lot of these folks are just making do with fans and window AC units,&#8221; says Ge, who has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/news\/articles\/2025\/fresher-air-smarter-schools-sph-researchers-share-novel-method-for-monitoring-indoor-air-quality\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">previously collaborated<\/a> with Fabian on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/news\/articles\/2024\/professor-partners-with-boston-public-schools-to-study-classroom-air-quality\/\">public health research using sensors in Boston Public Schools<\/a>. \u201cEven though this is a small-scale pilot study, I&#8217;m hopeful that our initial results will trigger more action and more investment. [Our] first priority is making sure that people who are generously letting us into their homes and facilities feel like this information can empower them in some way.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-editorial-photoessay sphnews-block-editorial-photoessay alignfull wp-block-photoessay js-block-editorial-photoessay\"><div class=\"photo-row-thirds-2-1\">\n<div class=\"photo-2\"><div class=\"wp-block-photoessay-media\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"731\" src=\"\/sph\/files\/2025\/07\/2025-06-26_childcareheat-3e-1024x731.jpg\" alt=\"Volunteers install a temperature sensor in a tree in the yard of a childcare center.\" class=\"wp-image-255711\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/07\/2025-06-26_childcareheat-3e-1024x731.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/07\/2025-06-26_childcareheat-3e-636x454.jpg 636w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/07\/2025-06-26_childcareheat-3e-768x549.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/07\/2025-06-26_childcareheat-3e-755x539.jpg 755w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/07\/2025-06-26_childcareheat-3e-900x643.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/07\/2025-06-26_childcareheat-3e.jpg 1085w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption><p class=\"wp-block-photoessay-media-caption wp-prepress-component-caption\">Grace Betts (left), a PhD student, takes notes on a clipboard while volunteers install a sensor in the yard of another childcare center. PHOTO: PATRICIA FABIAN<\/p><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"photo-1\"><div class=\"wp-block-photoessay-media\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"731\" height=\"1024\" src=\"\/sph\/files\/2025\/07\/2025-06-26_childcareheat-4e-731x1024.jpg\" alt=\"An indoor temperature sensor installed at a childcare center.\" class=\"wp-image-255555\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/07\/2025-06-26_childcareheat-4e-731x1024.jpg 731w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/07\/2025-06-26_childcareheat-4e-454x636.jpg 454w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/07\/2025-06-26_childcareheat-4e-768x1075.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/07\/2025-06-26_childcareheat-4e-1097x1536.jpg 1097w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/07\/2025-06-26_childcareheat-4e-1463x2048.jpg 1463w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/07\/2025-06-26_childcareheat-4e-755x1057.jpg 755w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/07\/2025-06-26_childcareheat-4e-714x1000.jpg 714w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/07\/2025-06-26_childcareheat-4e-643x900.jpg 643w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/07\/2025-06-26_childcareheat-4e-1920x2688.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/07\/2025-06-26_childcareheat-4e-1200x1680.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/07\/2025-06-26_childcareheat-4e.jpg 2019w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 731px) 100vw, 731px\" \/><figcaption><p class=\"wp-block-photoessay-media-caption wp-prepress-component-caption\">A HOBO temperature\/relative humidity sensor hangs on a wall inside a childcare center. PHOTO: PATRICIA FABIAN<\/p><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>This summer\u2019s projects are part of the new <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/fabian\/catch\/\" target=\"_blank\">Community Adaptations to City Heat (CATCH)<\/a> and <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/igs\/research\/projects\/b-cool\/\" target=\"_blank\">B-COOL<\/a> projects, funded by <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/wellcome.org\/\" target=\"_blank\">Wellcome<\/a>\u2014a charitable foundation based in the United Kingdom\u2014and <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tbf.org\/\" target=\"_blank\">The Boston Foundation<\/a>, respectively. They build on the 2024&nbsp;B-COOL&nbsp;study, an initiative by SPH, the City of Boston, and the nonprofit&nbsp;<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.abettercity.org\/\" target=\"_blank\">A Better City<\/a>&nbsp;to characterize and address extreme heat exposure across Boston\u2019s neighborhoods. Last summer, with pilot funding from The Boston Foundation, the team <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/news\/articles\/2024\/heatwave-watch\/\">installed a network of 15 sensors<\/a> in <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.boston.gov\/departments\/environment\/preparing-heat#focus-areas\" target=\"_blank\">known hotspots<\/a> like Dorchester, Mattapan, Roxbury, Chinatown and East Boston for a period of nearly four months last summer. Analysis of the sensor data showed that, on hot days, temperatures in these hotspots could be significantly higher\u2014as well as peak earlier and last longer\u2014than those measured by the National Weather Service station at Logan Airport, the sole sensor currently used to decide when to issue heat advisories. By continuing to monitor these hotspots and adding sensors at early childcare centers, the researchers hope to support more equitable ways to declare future heat emergencies and get cooling resources to those who need them most.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Helping the most vulnerable people adapt to climate change, protecting them from both indoor and outdoor environmental exposures\u2014those are my interests and the reasons why I am doing my PhD,&#8221; says Ge.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2>Heat in the Public Sphere<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Childcare centers are not the only city microclimate the B-COOL team plans to study this summer. They are also deploying sensors at the sites of various shade structures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cLast year, we put up sensors that measured how the urban <a href=\"https:\/\/www.epa.gov\/heatislands\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">heat island effect<\/a> impacts different neighborhoods,\u201d says Lee, who is spearheading data collection for the shade project. \u201cThis year, we are going even deeper to understand the microclimate of different settings across the City of Boston and how different shade structures help pedestrians and residents who may be exposed to extreme heat.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Lee and Fabian selected four sites to assemble the sensors and gather data. The sites include: a typical city bus shelter with a clear roof in the Grove Hall neighborhood of Dorchester; another Grove Hall bus shelter that the City has retrofitted with rooftop garden or \u201cgreen roof\u201d in an effort to improve shade coverage; a covered picnic area across from the giraffe habitat at the <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.zoonewengland.org\/franklin-park-zoo\/\" target=\"_blank\">Franklin Park Zoo<\/a>; a covered playground at the <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/bcnc.net\/\" target=\"_blank\">Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center<\/a>; and a covered patio at the Grove Hall branch of the Boston Public Library that the City installed in 2021 as part of their <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.boston.gov\/departments\/new-urban-mechanics\/bpl-outdoors\" target=\"_blank\">Outdoor Spaces pilot<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-editorial-photoessay sphnews-block-editorial-photoessay alignfull wp-block-photoessay js-block-editorial-photoessay\"><div class=\"photo-row-fourths-2-2\">\n<div class=\"photo-2\"><div class=\"wp-block-photoessay-media\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"731\" src=\"\/sph\/files\/2025\/07\/2025-06-18_B-COOL-19e-1024x731.jpg\" alt=\"Jonathan Lee, a PhD student, checks a temperature sensor set up under the shade of the Blue Hill Avenue bus shelter in Dorchester. A second sensor sits outside the bus shelter to the left.\" class=\"wp-image-255563\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/07\/2025-06-18_B-COOL-19e-1024x731.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/07\/2025-06-18_B-COOL-19e-636x454.jpg 636w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/07\/2025-06-18_B-COOL-19e-768x548.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/07\/2025-06-18_B-COOL-19e-755x539.jpg 755w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/07\/2025-06-18_B-COOL-19e-900x643.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/07\/2025-06-18_B-COOL-19e-1200x857.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/07\/2025-06-18_B-COOL-19e.jpg 1375w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption><p class=\"wp-block-photoessay-media-caption wp-prepress-component-caption\">Lee checks a sensor set up under the shade of the Blue Hill Avenue bus shelter in Dorchester. A second sensor sits outside the bus shelter to the left. PHOTO: MEGAN JONES<\/p><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"photo-2\"><div class=\"wp-block-photoessay-media\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"731\" src=\"\/sph\/files\/2025\/07\/2025-06-18_B-COOL-35e-1024x731.jpg\" alt=\"Lee and Yuan record cloud cover over a sensor positioned outside a shade structure at the Franklin Park Zoo.\" class=\"wp-image-255583\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/07\/2025-06-18_B-COOL-35e-1024x731.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/07\/2025-06-18_B-COOL-35e-636x454.jpg 636w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/07\/2025-06-18_B-COOL-35e-768x548.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/07\/2025-06-18_B-COOL-35e-755x539.jpg 755w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/07\/2025-06-18_B-COOL-35e-1401x1000.jpg 1401w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/07\/2025-06-18_B-COOL-35e-900x643.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/07\/2025-06-18_B-COOL-35e-1200x857.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/07\/2025-06-18_B-COOL-35e.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption><p class=\"wp-block-photoessay-media-caption wp-prepress-component-caption\">Lee records cloud cover over a sensor positioned outside a shade structure at the Franklin Park Zoo. PHOTO: MEGAN JONES<\/p><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-editorial-photoessay sphnews-block-editorial-photoessay alignfull wp-block-photoessay js-block-editorial-photoessay\"><div class=\"photo-row-thirds-1-1-1\">\n<div class=\"photo-1\"><div class=\"wp-block-photoessay-media\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"731\" height=\"1024\" src=\"\/sph\/files\/2025\/07\/franklin-park-zoo-2e-731x1024.jpg\" alt=\"A shaded picnic area at the Franklin Park Zoo.\" class=\"wp-image-255573\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/07\/franklin-park-zoo-2e-731x1024.jpg 731w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/07\/franklin-park-zoo-2e-454x636.jpg 454w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/07\/franklin-park-zoo-2e-768x1075.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/07\/franklin-park-zoo-2e-1097x1536.jpg 1097w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/07\/franklin-park-zoo-2e-1463x2048.jpg 1463w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/07\/franklin-park-zoo-2e-755x1057.jpg 755w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/07\/franklin-park-zoo-2e-714x1000.jpg 714w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/07\/franklin-park-zoo-2e-643x900.jpg 643w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/07\/franklin-park-zoo-2e-1200x1680.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/07\/franklin-park-zoo-2e.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 731px) 100vw, 731px\" \/><figcaption><p class=\"wp-block-photoessay-media-caption wp-prepress-component-caption\">A shaded picnic area at the Franklin Park Zoo. PHOTO: MEGAN JONES<\/p><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"photo-1\"><div class=\"wp-block-photoessay-media\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"\/sph\/files\/2025\/07\/Kestrel-heat-stress-sensor-e-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"A close-up of the temperature sensor, a Kestrel 5400 Heat Stress Tracker.\" class=\"wp-image-255571\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/07\/Kestrel-heat-stress-sensor-e-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/07\/Kestrel-heat-stress-sensor-e-477x636.jpg 477w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/07\/Kestrel-heat-stress-sensor-e-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/07\/Kestrel-heat-stress-sensor-e-1536x2048.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/07\/Kestrel-heat-stress-sensor-e-500x667.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/07\/Kestrel-heat-stress-sensor-e-1000x1334.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/07\/Kestrel-heat-stress-sensor-e-755x1007.jpg 755w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/07\/Kestrel-heat-stress-sensor-e-750x1000.jpg 750w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/07\/Kestrel-heat-stress-sensor-e-600x800.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/07\/Kestrel-heat-stress-sensor-e-675x900.jpg 675w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/07\/Kestrel-heat-stress-sensor-e-1200x1600.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/07\/Kestrel-heat-stress-sensor-e.jpg 1575w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><figcaption><p class=\"wp-block-photoessay-media-caption wp-prepress-component-caption\">A close-up of sensor, a Kestrel 5400 Heat Stress Tracker. PHOTO: MEGAN JONES<\/p><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"photo-1\"><div class=\"wp-block-photoessay-media\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"732\" height=\"1024\" src=\"\/sph\/files\/2025\/07\/franklin-park-zoo-1-732x1024.jpg\" alt=\"A giraffe stands in the shade on a sunny day at the Franklin Park Zoo.\" class=\"wp-image-255570\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/07\/franklin-park-zoo-1-732x1024.jpg 732w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/07\/franklin-park-zoo-1-454x636.jpg 454w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/07\/franklin-park-zoo-1-768x1075.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/07\/franklin-park-zoo-1-1098x1536.jpg 1098w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/07\/franklin-park-zoo-1-755x1057.jpg 755w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/07\/franklin-park-zoo-1-715x1000.jpg 715w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/07\/franklin-park-zoo-1-643x900.jpg 643w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/07\/franklin-park-zoo-1-1200x1679.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/07\/franklin-park-zoo-1.jpg 1397w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 732px) 100vw, 732px\" \/><figcaption><p class=\"wp-block-photoessay-media-caption wp-prepress-component-caption\">The picnic area sits opposite the giraffe enclosure where the giraffes enjoy their own shade structure. PHOTO: MEGAN JONES<\/p><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>On sunny days with temperatures above 85 degrees Fahrenheit, the researchers set up a pair of sensors at each site: one under the shade structure and one in the sun. The sensors, <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/kestrelmeters.com\/kestrel-5400-heat-stress-tracker?gad_source=1&amp;gad_campaignid=20392464610&amp;gbraid=0AAAAADx28Jq1UREDe7MYHUbiOJdpF_Wyc&amp;gclid=CjwKCAjwsZPDBhBWEiwADuO6y3Cxcyix9sESGWj6bsVl1oxVDulgRNTTn7_o_XgMdWqbwmg2oLRMmhoC5iEQAvD_BwE\" target=\"_blank\">Kestrel 5400 Heat Stress Trackers<\/a>, take into account temperature, humidity, wind speed, and solar radiation based on sun angle and cloud cover to record the wet bulb globe temperature, a measure of heat stress under direct sunlight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Once data collection is completed, the team will compare the measurements taken by each pair of sensors to determine the magnitude of reduction in heat stress provided by the shade structure at that site. Based on the results, Lee and Fabian hope to be able to make recommendations to guide future shade structure construction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Just before the Northeast\u2019s <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.boston.com\/weather\/weather\/2025\/06\/23\/boston-ma-weather-heat-wave\/\" target=\"_blank\">first heat wave of the summer<\/a>,&nbsp;Fabian&nbsp;joined the National Public Radio show&nbsp;<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2025\/06\/21\/nx-s1-5439453\/parts-of-the-us-are-facing-heatwaves-heres-how-they-affect-vulnerable-populations\" target=\"_blank\">&#8220;All Things Considered&#8221;<\/a> to discuss extreme heat and health. \u201c[I]n Boston, we&#8217;ve been used to thinking about cold and blizzards and snow days and not heat days,\u201d she said. \u201cAnd I think for that reason also, all of the buildings have been built up over time to retain heat and not to be cool. Long-term, I think that there&#8217;s a lot of things we can do to the built environment &#8211; so the houses where we live, the buildings where we work, the spaces where we play.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Listen to the show (linked below) to hear her commentary in full.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/player\/embed\/nx-s1-5439453\/nx-s1-5499598-1\" width=\"100%\" height=\"290\"><\/iframe><\/figure>\n\n\n\t<aside class=\"wp-block-editorial-relatedstories is-style-card has-three sphnews-block-editorial-relatedstories\">\n\t\t<h3 class=\"wp-block-editorial-relatedstories-title\">Related<\/h3>\n\t\t<ul class=\"wp-block-editorial-relatedstories-list\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"wp-block-editorial-relatedstories-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<article class=\"wp-block-editorial-relatedstories-article\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-block-editorial-relatedstories-article-image\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img width=\"600\" height=\"362\" src=\"\/sph\/files\/2025\/06\/heat-symposium-600x362-1.png\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"Attendees of SPH and MAPC&#039;s heat health symposium view a poster on identifying and engaging heat-vulnerable communities.\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-editorial-relatedstories-article-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"wp-block-editorial-relatedstories-article-category\"><span>research<\/span><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"wp-block-editorial-relatedstories-article-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/news\/articles\/2025\/sph-partners-with-mapc-to-host-symposium-on-heat-health\/\" class=\"wp-block-editorial-relatedstories-article-title-link\">SPH Partners with MAPC to Host Symposium on Heat Health<\/a><\/h4>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"wp-block-editorial-relatedstories-article-date\">June 26, 2025<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"wp-block-editorial-relatedstories-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<article class=\"wp-block-editorial-relatedstories-article\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-block-editorial-relatedstories-article-image\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img width=\"600\" height=\"362\" src=\"\/sph\/files\/2025\/01\/city-trees-600x362-1.png\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"Business towers and Green leaves\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-editorial-relatedstories-article-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"wp-block-editorial-relatedstories-article-category\"><span>school news<\/span><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"wp-block-editorial-relatedstories-article-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/news\/articles\/2025\/professor-awarded-3-2m-grant-to-expand-urban-heat-research\/\" class=\"wp-block-editorial-relatedstories-article-title-link\">Professor Awarded $3.2M Grant to Expand Urban Heat Research<\/a><\/h4>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"wp-block-editorial-relatedstories-article-date\">January 31, 2025<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"wp-block-editorial-relatedstories-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<article class=\"wp-block-editorial-relatedstories-article\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-block-editorial-relatedstories-article-image\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img width=\"600\" height=\"362\" src=\"\/sph\/files\/2024\/06\/heat-sensor-photo-600x362-1.png\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"Jonathan Lee and Ameera Saba install a heat sensor in a tree while Isabella Gambill and Adam Lauziere-Vecanski look on.\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-editorial-relatedstories-article-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"wp-block-editorial-relatedstories-article-category\"><span>extreme heat<\/span><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"wp-block-editorial-relatedstories-article-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/news\/articles\/2024\/heatwave-watch\/\" class=\"wp-block-editorial-relatedstories-article-title-link\">Heatwave Watch<\/a><\/h4>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"wp-block-editorial-relatedstories-article-date\">June 20, 2024<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t<\/aside>\n\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As the summer heat intensifies in Boston, teams of SPH researchers have deployed a variety of sensors across the city to assess heat exposure among vulnerable residents and evaluate cooling interventions. Heat in the Workplace On a steamy June day in Chelsea, Massachusetts, three students\u2014Victoria A. Lopez, a Master of Public Health student, and PhD [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":22210,"featured_media":255615,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"bu_prepress_billboard":"","_bu_prepress_primary_term":"","_bu_prepress_primary_term_manual":""},"tags":[5280,5279,2488,3889,2261,4032,4899,4873,5278,2367,3214,3177,3335,5273],"bu-publication":[3516],"sphnews-article-category":[3519,3529,3531,3538,3540,3541,4084],"sphnews-topic":[],"bu_edition":[],"media_type":[],"profile_tax":[324,226,4825],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bu-article\/255551"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bu-article"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/bu-article"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/22210"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=255551"}],"version-history":[{"count":50,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bu-article\/255551\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":255741,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bu-article\/255551\/revisions\/255741"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/255615"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=255551"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=255551"},{"taxonomy":"bu-publication","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bu-publication?post=255551"},{"taxonomy":"sphnews-article-category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/sphnews-article-category?post=255551"},{"taxonomy":"sphnews-topic","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/sphnews-topic?post=255551"},{"taxonomy":"bu_edition","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bu_edition?post=255551"},{"taxonomy":"media_type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media_type?post=255551"},{"taxonomy":"profile_tax","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/profile_tax?post=255551"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}