C-HEAT combines research, community engagement, and data analysis to better understand and address extreme heat in Chelsea and East Boston. These insights highlight environmental inequities and help inform community-driven and policy-level solutions.
Our Work
C-Heat White Papers and Reports
Photovoice
C-HEAT integrates community-based research methods to better understand how extreme heat impacts daily life. Through participatory approaches, like Photovoice, residents document their experiences and contribute to shaping research and solutions.
Temperature Measurements
& Adaptation Findings
A multi-year study analyzing temperature data collected across neighborhoods in Chelsea and East Boston. The findings reveal significant variations in heat exposure and provide insight into how residents adapt to extreme heat conditions.
Residential Heat Exposure & Policy Recommendations
This report examines how housing conditions, air conditioning access, and structural inequities contribute to heat exposure in Chelsea and East Boston. Findings highlight that older housing and lower-income residents face greater risk and identify policy strategies to improve heat resilience.
Scientific Publications
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McIntyre AM, Fabian MP, Nori-Sarma A, Healy M, Ge B, Geddes J, Bowman B, Kinney PL, Bongiovanni R, Scammell MK. 2025.
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McIntyre, A.; Heidari, L.; Hagen, M.; Bongiovanni, R.; Bowman, B.N.; Fabian, P.; Kinney, P.; Scammell, M.K.
2025 -
Mueller A, Fabian MP, Scammell MK, Navarro-Bowman B, Barrera BE, Aponte Y, Cares B, Allen K, Bongiovanni R. 2024.
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Leila Heidari 2023
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Milando, C.W.; Black-Ingersoll, F.; Heidari, L.; López-Hernández, I.; de Lange, J.; Negassa, A.; McIntyre, A.M.; Botana Martinez, P.; Bongiovanni, R.; Levy, J.I.; Kinney, P.L.; Scammell, M.K.; Fabian, M.P. 2022
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McIntyre, A.M.; Scammell, M.K.; Botana Martinez, P.; Heidari, L.; Negassa, A.; Bongiovanni, R.; Fabian, M.P. 2022
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Black-Ingersoll, F.; de Lange, J.; Heidari, L.; Negassa, A.; Botana Martinez, P.; Fabian, M.P.; Scammell, M.K. 2022
Presentations & Outreach
C-HEAT’s work has been shared through conferences, public events, and community partnerships to support knowledge sharing and inform policy and practice.
CAFÉ Research Coordinating Center Climate & Health Conference (2024)
Chelsea Research Festival (2023) — Hot Spots and Cool Places in Urban Heat Islands
Museum of Science Climate Action Weekend (2023)
International Society of Exposure Science (ISES) Conference (2021)
CCRUN Seminar Series — Environmental Justice & Community-University Research
MAPC Heat Preparedness Week (2021)
C-HEAT In The News
Explore recent media coverage and research highlighting C-HEAT’s work, impact, and the growing urgency of extreme heat.
2025
In Chelsea, an air, water, land fight for environmental justice
By Lynn Jolicoeur and Lisa Mullins
WBUR, October 9, 2025
https://www.wbur.org/news/2025/10/09/chelsea-massachusetts-environmental-justice-pollution-flooding
New Ordinance requires steps to protect workers from extreme heat.
By Avery Bleichfeld
Bay State Banner, September 3, 2025
https://baystatebanner.com/2025/09/03/new-ordinance-requires-steps-to-protect-workers-from-extreme-heat/
Boston is under another heat emergency as temps rise into the 90s.
By Marilyn Schairer
WGBH, August 11, 2025
https://www.wgbh.org/news/local/2025-08-11/boston-is-under-another-heat-emergency-as-temps-rise-into-the-90s
New study looks at how severe heat impacts workers.
By Craig LeMoult
WGBH, August 11, 2025
https://www.wgbh.org/news/health/2025-08-11/new-study-looks-at-how-severe-heat-impacts-workers
How a “cool block” in one Massachusetts city could provide a template for combatting extreme heat.
By Ben Tracy
CBS News, July 7, 2025
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/cool-block-chelsea-massachusetts-template-combatting-extreme-heat/
Sweating for Science: SPH Measures Heat Where Bostonians Work, Play and Live.
By Megan Jones
BUSPH News, July 2, 2025
https://www.bu.edu/sph/news/articles/2025/sweating-for-science-sph-measures-heat-where-bostonians-work-play-and-live/
As temperatures soar, researchers and advocates talk extreme heat solutions
By Avery Bleichfeld
Bay State Banner, June 25, 2025
https://baystatebanner.com/2025/06/25/as-temperatures-soar-researchers-and-advocates-talk-extreme-heat-solutions/
Professor Awarded $3.2M Grant to Expand Urban Heat Research.
By Megan Jones
BUSPH News, January 31, 2025
https://www.bu.edu/sph/news/articles/2025/professor-awarded-3-2m-grant-to-expand-urban-heat-research/
2024
Community Leaders Share Challenges Communicating Climate Risks in Greater Boston
By Jillian McKoy
BUSPH News, November 22, 2024
https://www.bu.edu/sph/news/articles/2024/community-leaders-share-challenges-of-communicating-air-pollution-and-extreme-heat-risks-in-greater-boston/
Most Mass. workers are unprotected from extreme heat on the job — and reliant on preparation, education. A federal heat standard is in the works, but is unlikely to take effect any time soon.
By Erin Douglas and Natalie La Roche Pietri
Boston Globe, June 24, 2024
https://www.bostonglobe.com/2024/06/19/science/workers-extreme-heat-regulations/
Heatwave Watch
By Megan Jones
BUSPH News, June 20, 2024
https://www.bu.edu/sph/news/articles/2024/heatwave-watch/
Massachusetts braces for first heat wave of the year
By Sam Turken
WGBH, June 17, 2024
https://www.wgbh.org/news/local/2024-06-17/massachusetts-braces-for-first-heat-wave-of-the-year
How to Properly Cool Your Home With a Fan
Time Magazine, Health and Wellness, June 2024
https://time.com/6985139/how-to-use-fan-air-conditioning/
2023
How researchers hope to combat urban heat island effect in Boston
Extreme heat can feel even hotter in cities like Boston due to the urban heat island effect
By Bianca Beltrán
NBC News, July 28, 2023
https://www.nbcboston.com/news/local/how-researchers-hope-to-combat-urban-heat-island-effect-in-boston/3100381/
When it comes to extreme heat, we’re all in hot water. But some of us are in deeper than others.
By Yvonne Abraham
Boston Globe, July 8, 2023
https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/07/08/metro/too-hot-handle/
2022
How pavement can help cool overheated cities, even in chilly Mass.
By Martha Bebinger
WBUR, October 24, 2022
https://www.wbur.org/news/2022/10/24/northeast-boston-asphalt-pavement-cooling-strategies
2021
Trees: Our Mental, Physical, Climate Change Antidote
By Martha Bebinger
WBUR, September 1, 2021
https://www.wbur.org/news/2021/09/01/massachusetts-trees-health-environment-benefits
September 2021, the Chronicle on News Channel 5 WCVB
https://www.wcvb.com/article/heat-islands-what-can-be-done-to-mitigate-the-rising-temperatures-of-heat-islands-in-massachusetts/37535030#
Chelsea Public Schools Install White Roofs to Reduce Heat
By Hannah Chanatry
WBUR, July 26, 2021
https://www.wbur.org/news/2021/07/26/chelsea-white-roofs-heat-island
With extreme heat increasingly in the forecast, how can we adapt?
By Sabrina Shankman
Boston Globe, June 29, 2021
https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/06/29/science/with-extreme-heat-increasingly-forecast-how-can-we-adapt/?event=event25
As Temperatures Set Records, Heat Exposure Hits Some Neighborhoods Harder than Others
By Michelle Samuels and Kat J. Macalpine
Boston University’s The Brink, June 25, 2021
https://www.bu.edu/articles/2021/heat-exposure-hits-vulnerable-communities-harder-than-others/
Northeastern U.S. has the widest tree cover disparities in the Country.
By Jesse Remedios
WBUR, April 2021
https://www.wbur.org/news/2021/04/28/urban-tree-cover-disparities
Eco C-HEAT Campaign
The Eco C-HEAT campaign engages local youth and community members in environmental education and data collection related to extreme heat. Through hands-on activities and outreach, participants explore how heat affects their neighborhoods and contribute to community-driven solutions.
This interactive StoryMap highlights the Eco C-HEAT campaign, including youth-led data collection, community outreach efforts, and insights into how extreme heat impacts Chelsea.
Explore the Project
Learn more through the project’s data, community resources, and research outputs