The Rob Walton College of Global Futures to advance Principled Innovation in heat resilience education
Jennifer Vanos, Associate Professor, School of Sustainability in the Rob Walton College of Global Futures, Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory, is co-investigator with Mary Munoz Encinas, HeatReady Schools Project Coordinator, Global Futures School of Sustainability, on Heat Resilience at ASU: From Classroom to Community, a new $6,000 grant awarded by Rob Walton College of Global Futures Principled Innovation Research and Teaching Grant.
Says Vanos: Extreme heat is an urgent and growing public health challenge. While scientific understanding of heat risk has advanced significantly, there remains a critical gap in how that knowledge is communicated, understood and acted upon by communities. Now enrolling for Fall 2026, SOS/GPH 494/591: Climate Change and Health is one way the Rob Walton College of Global Futures is connecting extreme heat science, education and outreach to bridge that gap. By incorporating Principled Innovation practices and building on established work within ASU's HeatReady program, SOS/GPH 494/591: Climate Change and Health will introduce graduate students to experiential education in heat resilience and equip them with essential skills in science communication, stakeholder engagement and sustainability leadership, positioning them as leaders in heat-health education and engagement and preparing them for the careers that await them beyond their degrees.
A brief summary follows:
Extreme heat is a leading weather-related cause of death in the United States, yet public understanding of heat risk, adaptation and equity remains limited. The dangers of overexposure to heat are a serious local health concern, where communication, education and training can support community members across the lifespan. This project addresses knowledge gaps by engaging graduate students in translating scientific knowledge into accessible, community-relevant educational assets and media. Students will work in teams to create heat-risk and resilience educational videos and design experiential lessons for community-engaged settings. The project practices Principled Innovation by centering values-based communication, civic engagement and applied problem-solving to produce both student learning outcomes and tangible community-facing educational heat assets, strengthening CGF’s role as a leader in climate and health innovation.
Vanos offers the following acknowledgments:
The Rob Walton College of Global Futures and ASU Office of University Affairs.