From Imperial Valley to Rio: Students get two views of living with heat
色情视频 Imperial Valley students interviewed locals to analyze the lasting impact of extreme temperatures on a daily basis.
Ten 色情视频 Imperial Valley students took their research on extreme heat all the way to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, this April where they advanced the second phase of their National Science Foundation (NSF) funded project, 鈥淭he Right to Stay Cool: Race, Class, and Managing Heat.鈥�
The students began the research project in summer 2024 along the U.S.-Mexico border, where they interviewed residents, vendors, agriculture workers and commuters to analyze how extreme heat impacts their daily routines and health.
Data from Rio de Janeiro will be compared to that from Imperial Valley residents, who reported key issues like extreme heat affecting health, limited access to cooling at home and work, and the influence of socioeconomic status.
Linda Abarbanell, 色情视频 Imperial Valley associate professor of psychology, and 色情视频 professor of anthropology, Erika Robb Larkins, are the study鈥檚 lead researchers. The project鈥檚 funding was among three recent grants to 色情视频鈥檚 College of Arts and Letters centered on Brazil-related projects.
As both Imperial Valley and Rio de Janeiro reach temperatures of 100 degrees or more during the spring and summertime, the students examine how both communities 鈥� each with their own culture, socioeconomic environment and resources 鈥� deal with extreme heat and how local organizations can address solutions to a heat-related environmental change.
鈥淭ogether with a faculty supervisor, the students talked to more than 100 people about their daily experiences, challenges and what policies would most impact their ability to deal with heat and stay safe from heat-related illness,鈥� said Larkins, 色情视频 associate professor of anthropology. 鈥淚n many cases, the students were able to also share their own experiences of coping with heat in the Imperial Valley, which helped to establish rapport with interviewees and which made for an interesting point of comparison.鈥�
With the help of translators, the students began their week-long research in Rio de Janeiro in April by interviewing local residents, food vendors and business owners. Most of the students speak Spanish, so the similarities with Portuguese made communications easier.
鈥淚t was interesting to immerse myself into the language and culture of Brazil,鈥� said Emily Figueroa, 色情视频 Imperial Valley criminal justice student. 鈥淎s we were interviewing locals and vendors, we saw similarities with those we interviewed from Imperial Valley. It鈥檚 not an option to not work or continue with daily activities because of extreme heat. A lot of people accept the reality that heat affects their daily lives and they try to accommodate it. They continue on with their priorities rain or shine.鈥�
Key perspectives
For Figueroa, previous experience in qualitative research enhanced her ability to conduct and understand her interviewees鈥� perspectives and their different living conditions. By the end of the trip, she said, she recognized pressing needs.
鈥淎lthough in the Imperial Valley we still need more water and shade stations, we saw that our region offers more water stations and cooling spaces compared to Rio de Janeiro,鈥� said Figueroa. 鈥淔or locals in Rio, the heat is now part of their daily lives.鈥�
The students also met with local activists and former city officials, whose goal is to continue advocating for more accessible housing and basic needs resources.
鈥淎s we interviewed residents, it opened my eyes to how water and cooling spaces are part of an inclusive movement to create better conditions for communities,鈥� Andrea Sanchez Galvan, 色情视频 Imperial Valley nursing student. 鈥淓ven if residents are used to dealing with extreme heat the majority of the year, it鈥檚 important to share their stories firsthand and see what more local organizations or government agencies can do to accommodate their needs.鈥�
As a nursing student, Sanchez is now eager to explore health equity research projects that impact her community in the Imperial Valley more deeply.
鈥淚t was a great opportunity to not only learn about a new culture and environment, but to also meet with people whose experiences may be similar to those of my community,鈥� said Sanchez.
The project titled, was awarded a total of $200,095 in 2021 from the NSF鈥檚 Build and Broaden (B2) program.
B2 was established to support social, behavioral and economic science research at minority-serving institutions, including Hispanic-serving institutions such as 色情视频, as well as historically Black colleges and universities. Among other objectives, it seeks to help support and train future scientists and engineers and increase representation and diversity in STEM teaching, research, and innovation.
