Heat Mapping w/ the Citizen Scientists

A citizen scientist is an ordinary inhabitant of a region that utilizes resources, applicable education, and shares knowledge of current health trends with their community to empower and better their neighborhoods. Prime examples of these citizen scientists are those from Richmond, Virginia who are working to address community heat concerns. These citizen scientists included students from the University of Richmond and Virginia Commonwealth University; the Virginia Academy of Science; the City of Richmond’s Sustainability Office; and Groundwork RVA, a Richmond nonprofit organization that engages young people with environmental and social issues in their communities. 

Personally, I think preparing and teaching a citizen sciences short course would require a few steps such as firstly, amassing an appropriate amount of citizens willing to give valiant efforts to the cause. Without numbers, a movement cannot be effectively sustained. I would also gather supplementary learning materials to accompany interactive sessions in which the citizens are educated on the matters at hand. To gauge interest and further retain citizens, I would provide incentive to their efforts as well as pair them with well esteemed and established real world scientists to facilitate more understanding and aid towards what the goal at hand is. 

Some topics that would need to be covered in order to do urban heat island mapping are technology training (in properly utilizing air measurement devices), data analysis (being able to read maps, decipher statistics, etc...), and possible a policy protocol course. I think the last topic would get citizens informed on all of the little things that go into getting a policy changed as well as getting the creative juices going on how to combat dangerous urban heat. 

Planting trees is crucial to the city of New Orleans. Why is this so? We can point to the searing summer temperatures that a humid region such as New Orleans boasts. Those who live without air conditioning, those who work outside, elderly, and with conditions that could be worsened by excessive heat exposure. NOLA Project Tree plants trees near New Orleans homes for citizens that opt in. They want to spread not only an environmentally friendly message, but also emphasize how planting trees can provide vegetative shade and lower temps across the city. Black and impoverished communities especially have less trees and tend to be warmer areas on average because of this. Less than 10% of these areas contain trees. With increased oxygen output from these plants, air quality improves as well. Planting trees can contribute to lower temperatures during the summertime heat and can save lives with the continued efforts of NOLA Project Tree and SOUL. 

Where Do We Need Shade? Mapping Urban Heat Islands in Richmond, Virginia | U.S. Climate Resilience Toolkit