This summer, 50 community scientists partnered with the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University for a Philadelphia Urban Heat and Air Quality Mapping Campaign to better understand communities’ experience with heat and air pollution and explore equitable solutions to these issues. The Philadelphia campaign was one of 14 campaigns funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) across the country. In this session, attendees will get an overview of the campaign, look at how heat and air quality are disproportionately distributed around the city, and discuss uses for campaign results.
Richard Johnson is the Director of Community Science at the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University and is the lead organizer of the Philadelphia Urban Heat and Air Quality Mapping Campaign. Meeka Outlaw is the founder of the community group, Residents Organized for Advocacy and Direction (ROAD), located in Philadelphia’s Grays Ferry neighborhood. Ms. Outlaw was one of the community partners who participated in the campaign.