COOL) Community-led, Open-source, Opportunities to Learn: Creating an Mesonet of Emerging Technologies and Culturally Responsive Approaches for Heat and Health Mitigation

Amid rising temperatures, communities face heightened risks of extreme heat-related illnesses, exacerbating the spread of mosquito-borne diseases and increasing vulnerability among elderly populations. Furthermore, extreme heat exacerbates pre-existing conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and hypertension, particularly in historically marginalized areas. The COOL Community-led, Open-source, Opportunities to Learn: Creating an Mesonet of Emerging Technologies and Culturally Responsive Approaches for Heat Mitigation project in partnership with the Miami Workers Center and Howard University addressed these challenges through a multifaceted approach centered on community engagement, advanced technology, and interdisciplinary collaboration. By harnessing open IoT sensing technologies and high-performance computing tools, the planning grant looks to develop a model to empower communities to monitor and mitigate the impacts of urban heat islands effectively. Through culturally responsive co-design processes, the project fosters equitable partnerships, ensuring that community voices drive innovation and decision-making.