HeatSchools · Protegiendo la salud escolar frente al calor extremo en América Latina

The project

HeatSchools is a research project funded by the Wellcome Climate Impacts Award (331072/Z/25/Z) that examines how extreme heat affects the health, wellbeing and learning of school students in Latin America, and how to translate that evidence into public policies that protect children and adolescents.

Extreme heat is a growing and often invisible climate risk in the school environment. HeatSchools combines exposure mapping, cohort studies, qualitative research, communication and policy co-design to close the gap between evidence and action.

Objectives

01. Establish a baseline of existing policies on heat and schools in the region (WP1).

02. Map heat exposure in school settings using environmental and remote-sensing data (WP2.1).

03. Assess the relationship between heat, cognition and student wellbeing through a cohort study (WP2.2) and qualitative research (WP3).

04. Communicate the evidence accessibly to school communities and decision-makers (WP4).

05. Co-develop public policy recommendations with health and education authorities (WP5).

Where we work

The project brings together institutions from four Latin American countries —Peru, Chile, Colombia— with international collaboration, coordinated around Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia (UPCH) in Lima.

Peru

UPCH — host institution and coordination.

Chile

UChile, MICROBR and Corporación Ciudades.

Colombia

Universidad de los Andes.