Heat Crisis: Unpacking Urban Heat Islands and Gaps in City Responses

Topic: As the hottest summer on record for the second straight year comes to a close, the IQ Brew is hosting a conversation on urban heat islands (UHI). UHI amplify the impact of rising temperatures in cities, intensifying public health risks, damaging infrastructure, stressing water supply systems, overloading power grids, disturbing ecosystems, and threatening vulnerable communities. To address the complexities and impact of UHI, cities must adopt heat action plans (HAP) that are holistic, systemic, and grounded in public health and equity. Most have not. The majority of U.S. cities lack comprehensive HAP, approaching urban heat as secondary to other climate mitigation efforts or focusing narrowly on singular solutions. Dr. Jones and Dr. Prior highlight gaps and challenges in HAP through the lens of anthropology, focusing on public health and urban preservation. Please join us for an engaging conversation!

Bios:

Rose Jones, PhD

Dr. Jones has a doctorate in medical anthropology from SMU and extensive experience in academic medicine, applied research, and non-profit consultancy. She has held teaching and research positions at UT Southwestern Medical Center, Parkland Health & Hospital System and Children’s Hospital. Dr. Jones has conducted research along the Texas/Mexico Border, Jamaica, St. Lucia, Barbados, and Native America. Her work focuses on public health and equity, ranging from HIV/AIDS and gender violence to refugees and the unhomed. Dr. Jones recently launched Rapid Anthropology Consulting to address climate change at the intersection of Heat + Health + Human Rights. https://www.rapidanthropology.com/

Marsha Prior, PhD

Dr. Prior is a cultural anthropologist and principal at Rapid Anthropology Consulting. She has vast experience documenting, researching, and preserving historic and cultural landscapes, including the built and natural environments. As the climate crisis continues to threaten an already unstable relationship between human, animal, and plant life, Dr. Prior’s work focuses on the deleterious impact heat poses to society. From the tragic loss of human life, the impact upon the built environment, and the destruction of earth’s resources, rising temperatures and sustained exposure to heat constitute complex problems that are embedded in social inequities and the violation of human rights.

About the Brew:

The IQ® Brew is a free, public networking and educational series featuring short presentations from entrepreneurs, small business owners and subject-matter experts.

The goal of The IQ® Brew is to share the successes and challenges the Richardson business community has faced and to pass along the knowledge needed to start and grow a business here.

Agenda
· 8:30 a.m. - Networking
· 9:00 a.m. - Opening Remarks
· 9:05 a.m. - Introductions
· 9:15 a.m. - IQ Speakers
· 9:45 a.m. - Q&A

Host or Publisher The Richardson IQ®HQ