Urban heat presents significant risks to the elderly, those with chronic conditions, pregnant women, children, outdoor workers, and the unhoused
Urban Heat
Although there are a number of public health impacts that go along with climate change, urban heat poses one of the greatest concerns to human health, especially to vulnerable populations. Approximately 1.7 to 2 billion people across 13,000 cities worldwide have already experienced the health impacts of extreme heat.
While extreme heat impacts everyone, it presents particularly significant risks to the elderly, those with chronic conditions, pregnant women, children, outdoor workers, and the unhoused.
Mostafijur Rahman, an assistant professor of environmental health sciences, is leading a research project funded by a $2.1 million Wellcome Climate Impacts Award to explore the health impacts of extreme heat in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The initiative aims to create detailed heat exposure maps and assess health disparities linked to rising temperatures. Dhaka's rapid urbanization has intensified the urban heat island effect, compromising the health of more than ten million residents.
Using mobile temperature sensors and machine learning, the project gathers accurate data on heat exposure correlated with emergency department visits for heat-related illnesses. By collaborating with urban planners and public health agencies, the research seeks to develop targeted interventions, such as community cooling spaces and rooftop gardens.
Rahman’s work offers insights applicable to other rapidly urbanizing regions facing similar heat challenges, underscoring the urgent need for interdisciplinary collaboration to protect community health and adapt urban infrastructures in response to climate change. Research on urban heat is targeted toward improving health outcomes and fostering resilience against escalating climate threats.
In addition to this project, Rahman recently secured a $3.7 million R01 grant from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, a unit of the National Institutes of Health, to study the impact of two environmental determinants—heat and wildfire—on the development of autism in utero.
Tulane researcher receives $3.7 million National Institutes of Health grant to study links between heat, wildfire smoke and autism risk
Tulane University climate and health scientist Mostafijur Rahman and Southern California researchers have secured a $3.7 million R01 grant from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, a unit of the National Institutes of Health, to study whether exposure to extreme heat and wildfire smoke during pregnancy may affect autism risk in children.
Minor in Climate Change: Science and Practice
This program offers students the opportunity to study climate change through a multidisciplinary foundation of applied, health, natural and urban science. The minor provides students the opportunity to understand how professional practices including public health, engineering, sustainable design and environmental management converge to support climate action that reduces greenhouse gases and climate-related natural hazards risk, preserves biodiversity, advances public health and supports adaptations to climate impacts.
Academic Opportunities in Environmental Health Sciences
The Environmental Health Sciences (EHS) MPH Program provides training in assessment of environmental health hazards, integrating emerging knowledge and strategies to understand and reduce public health risk. The curriculum and applied learning opportunities draw upon Tulane's extensive research and over five decades of experience in providing leadership training in environmental health to students locally, nationally and from around the world to tackle critical contemporary issues in climate change, exposure science, and data science.
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