UBC experts on heat

Jul 4, 2024

A heat wave is affecting B.C., and UBC experts are available for comment.

Public health and safety
Environmental and ecological impacts
Urban and community planning
Wildfires

Public health and safety

Dr. Philip Ainslie

Professor, UBCO School of Health and Exercise Sciences

Phone: 250-878-6171
Email: philip.ainslie@ubc.ca
Interview languages: English

Expertise:

Heat, pollution and their isolated and combined influence on physiology and health
Effect of temperature and oxygen availability on physiology, pathology and performance
Acclimatization, adaptation and maladaptation to environmental stress

Dr. Michael Brauer, ScD

Professor, School of Population and Public Health

Phone: 672-999-6838

Email: michael.brauer@ubc.ca

Interview languages: English

Expertise:

Health impacts of extreme heat
Air pollution, air quality and health
Preventive measures, climate adaptation, urban greenspace benefits
Health of seniors

* Unavailable July 31

Dr. Christopher Carlsten, MD, MPH

Professor and Head, UBC Respiratory Medicine, Department of Medicine

Phone: 604-839-1561

Email: christopher.carlsten@ubc.ca

Interview languages: English

Expertise:

Respiratory problems, health effects of heat waves, climate change
Air pollution and air quality

* Unavailable July 5-17

Dr. Wendy Hall, RN, PhD

(She/Her/Hers)

Professor Emeritus, School of Nursing

Phone: 604-822-7447

Email: wendy.hall@ubc.ca

Interview languages: English

Expertise:

Heat exposure and effects on sleep
Ways to reduce body temperature, particularly when individuals do not have access to air conditioners or cross-ventilation

Dr. Sarah Henderson, BASc, PhD

(She/Her/Hers)

Associate Professor, School of Population and Public Health

Phone: 604-910-9144

Email: Please contact PHSA

Interview languages: English

Expertise:

Health impacts of extreme heat and ways to protect health

Dr. Michael Koehle, PhD

(He/Him/His)

Professor, Dept. of Family Practice, Division of Sport & Exercise Medicine

phone: 604-822-9331

Email: michael.koehle@ubc.ca

Interview languages: English

Expertise:

Sport medicine
Exercise physiology
Exercising in extreme heat, air pollution and/or wildfire smoke

Dr. Monica Li, MD, FRCPC, FAAD

(She/Her/Hers)

Clinical Assistant Professor, Dept. of Dermatology & Skin Science

Phone: 604-218-6761

Email: info@vancouverskinmd.com

Interview languages: English, Cantonese, Mandarin

Expertise:

Sun protection and sunscreen
Impact of heat and wildfire smoke on skin and hair
Practical tips to protect skin and hair from sun, heat and wildfire smoke

Dr. Harvey Lui

Professor and Head, Dept. of Dermatology and Skin Science

Phone: 604-875-4747

Email: harvey.lui@ubc.ca

Interview languages: English

Expertise:

Sun and UV protection, including myths and truths
Environmental effects on the skin
Skin cancer recognition and treatment
Safe and effective use of skin products

Environmental and ecological impacts

Dr. Christopher Harley

(He/Him/His)

Professor, Dept. of Zoology and Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries

Phone: 604-561-7932

Email: harley@zoology.ubc.ca

Interview languages: English

Expertise:

Effects of extreme heat on marine life including marine invertebrates
Marine life and climate change

* Available July 11-19

Dr. Alison McAfee, PhD, BSc

(She/Her/Hers)

Postdoctoral Fellow, Michael Smith Laboratories and North Carolina State University

Phone: 778-995-2151

Email: alison.n.mcafee@gmail.com

Interview languages: English

Expertise:

Honey and bumble bee survival
Impacts of heat on bee fertility
What this means for B.C.’s honey bee queen production industry

* Unavailable July 13-28

Dr. John Richardson, PhD

(He/Him/His)

Professor, Biodiversity Research Centre, Dept. of Forest and Conservation Sciences

Phone: 604-822-6586

Email: john.richardson@ubc.ca

Interview languages: English

Expertise:

Impacts on freshwater life and terrestrial wildlife and plants
Impact on the evaporation of water from the land and reservoirs, lakes and streams

Dr. Rachel White

Assistant Professor, Dept. of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences

Email: rwhite@eoas.ubc.ca
Interview languages: English
Expertise:

Heatwaves, climate, climate change, atmospheric circulation

* Unavailable July 5-12

Urban and community planning

Prof. Susan Herrington

(She/Her/Hers)

Professor, School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture

Email: susan.herrington@ubc.ca

Interview languages: English

Expertise:

Natural play environments, risky play
Keeping outdoor playspaces cool

Dr. John Janmaat, PhD

(He/Him/His)

Associate Professor, UBCO Dept. of Economics, Philosophy and Political Science

Phone: 250-762-2208

Email: john.janmaat@ubc.ca

Interview languages: English

Expertise:

Environmental economics
Natural resource economics, including water resource economics
Agricultural economics

Dr. Melissa McHale, PhD

(She/Her/Hers)

Associate Professor, Dept. of Forest Resources Management, Urban Forest Research Hub

Email: melissa.mchale@ubc.ca

Interview languages: English

Expertise:

Increased urban heating, urban heat island effect
Climate-resilient communities, heat mitigation at human relevant scales, equity and heat
Nature-based solutions for cooling, landscaping choices and heat, energy, and water consumption tradeoffs