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Hi all,

I am excited to share with you that we have been selected by NOAA to map Knoxville’s urban heat island! We need volunteers for our mapping campaign that will happen at the end of August. These volunteers can be students, faculty, staff, and other Knoxville citizens. Anyone interested in environmental justice, climate, geography, sustainability, etc., may enjoy being involved! We would love to have your help. Please read more below, and also please share with anyone you think would be interested.

Thanks,
Kelsey



Attention: Volunteers needed for a city-wide heat mapping campaign in Knoxville, TN
University of Tennessee researchers in Social Work, Public Health, and Geography are seeking volunteers to help collect environmental data about the hottest places in Knoxville this summer in a heat mapping campaign<https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fheatequity.utk.edu%2Fknoxville-heat-map%2F&data=05%7C01%7Cellis%40utk.edu%7C22b3502c603a42c42afd08da2f787d59%7C515813d9717d45dd9eca9aa19c09d6f9%7C0%7C0%7C637874491813183148%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=Gj%2B%2FaQNqYESD7IASn2PUOT3mamMV%2FWu12sR0i6LtrdY%3D&reserved=0>. Data collected by volunteers during the one-day heat mapping campaign will be used to develop temperature and heat index maps of the city of Knoxville and help address heat-related vulnerabilities across the city. Participating volunteers will be granted a stipend of $50 for completion of their responsibilities and drivers will receive an additional $10 gas gift card.

Why map heat inequities in Knoxville?
In many cities across the U.S., the hottest areas tend to be the poorest and disproportionately communities of color.<https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.npr.org%2F2019%2F09%2F03%2F754044732%2Fas-rising-heat-bakes-u-s-cities-the-poor-often-feel-it-most&data=05%7C01%7Cellis%40utk.edu%7C22b3502c603a42c42afd08da2f787d59%7C515813d9717d45dd9eca9aa19c09d6f9%7C0%7C0%7C637874491813183148%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=tyufv6%2FLwFALOAqjefM5ocjTWpofrwbwzJteEDujQ4w%3D&reserved=0> This project will document how urban heat islands in our city intersects with social inequalities, including, racial discrimination, income, infrastructure and housing, energy burden, transportation, and health care access. The data from the campaign will provide greater public awareness into heat and climate risks in Knoxville and will provide essential information to develop policies and practices that mitigate heat islands and address inequitable distribution of urban heat risk. Knoxville was one of 14 U.S. cities chosen to participate in the 2022 Heat Mapping Campaign supported by the NOAA Climate Program Office and CAPA Strategies LLC<https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.noaa.gov%2Fnews-release%2Fnoaa-and-communities-to-map-heat-inequities-in-14-us-cities-and-counties&data=05%7C01%7Cellis%40utk.edu%7C22b3502c603a42c42afd08da2f787d59%7C515813d9717d45dd9eca9aa19c09d6f9%7C0%7C0%7C637874491813183148%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=MbltO3uXisR%2F9eUImfLpFgGyym%2FPkXYy%2Bne16%2FO0GxU%3D&reserved=0>. Cities from past campaigns have used their heat island maps to develop heat action plans, add cooling stations to bus shelters, educate policymakers and inform new research.
Become a volunteer street scientist!
[cid2665297726*[log in to unmask]]

What will volunteers do?

Volunteers are needed to drive along predetermined routes across Knoxville over three separate one-hour periods during an appointed day in late August, in the morning, afternoon, and evening. Volunteers will use a simple data-collection device attached to the vehicle to measure surrounding temperature and humidity. You can also volunteer as a navigator and help direct drivers’ turns along their route.

Are there any requirements to volunteer?

Drivers will need a valid driver’s license, auto insurance, and access to a vehicle. In addition to the three hours of data collection, volunteers will first be asked to attend a one-hour Volunteer Training Session, complete a short knowledge quiz, and sign a liability waiver. Based on previous campaigns, volunteers will spend a total of about 4 to 6 hours, though the majority of time (~3.5 hours) will occur on the selected campaign day.

On what day will the heat mapping campaign occur?

That will depend on the weather forecast. Heat mapping is best done on a hot temperature and clear-skied day. Using historical weather patterns and support from the National Weather Service, the target campaign date for Knoxville is a weekend in late August, 2022. While weather changes, we will confirm this selected campaign date a few weeks prior as forecasts become more reliable.

Because we must wait for the heat—we need to assemble an “on-call” roster of volunteers — which means that we’ll want more people signing up than we need. We will confirm your participation about one week prior to the campaign once we finalize the date. Please note that signing up does not commit you to the project, rather the process will begin by building out a roster of potential volunteers, and confirmation will occur about one to two weeks in advance.

Volunteer Registration

If you are interested in participating as a volunteer, please respond to this Volunteer Intake Form: Volunteer Registration<https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdocs.google.com%2Fforms%2Fd%2Fe%2F1FAIpQLSfIURJn1VT-NGbPcs-kkmmclB9DAFc8MNuo8VVUA-Q2RWJwtg%2Fviewform&data=05%7C01%7Cellis%40utk.edu%7C22b3502c603a42c42afd08da2f787d59%7C515813d9717d45dd9eca9aa19c09d6f9%7C0%7C0%7C637874491813183148%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=YtClZIHNaUcw30qpovwLpNMT1mp6zbUDzQrGGPQ%2BS4M%3D&reserved=0>
Questions? Contact Dr. Jennifer First at [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]> or Emily Norris at [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>


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