The Heat Problem
This is the maximum temperature students can face while walking across Arizona school campuses, according to the proposal.
Up to 120 degrees Fahrenheit
According to the proposal's student survey, what percentage of ASU students said they spend up to 2 hours walking outside during peak heat months?
40.6%
According to the Arbor Day Foundation, by how many degrees Fahrenheit can trees cool a neighborhood?
Up to 10°F.
What is the main solution proposed in this project?
Increasing the number of native trees planted across campus in high-traffic areas to provide shade and reduce heat exposure.
This rival university is cited in the proposal as a model for using native trees in high-traffic campus areas to provide shade.
University of Arizona
In 2023, this many heat-related deaths were recorded in Maricopa County — the highest on record at that time.
645 heat-related deaths
The survey found that just over half of students — 51.9% — make course registration decisions based on what two factors?
Walk time and sun exposure
Besides cooling, what two additional environmental benefits do urban trees provide, according to Livesley et al.?
Improved air quality and reduced water runoff.
Why does the proposal recommend planting native trees specifically, rather than non-native species?
Native trees are accustomed to Arizona's climate, meaning they require less water and maintenance than non-native species.
The World Health Organization fact sheet cited in the proposal covers the intersection of what two topics?
Climate change and heat and health
Beyond heatstroke and heat exhaustion, the proposal names this specific health risk caused by UV radiation.
Skin cancer
The proposal says the lack of shade and long walking distances makes students feel uncomfortable and less motivated to do what specific thing?
Spend time outdoors
The EPA article cited in the proposal explains evapotranspiration as a two-part cooling process. What are both parts?
Trees evaporate water from their leaves which cools the air, and this cooling also occurs from the surrounding soil and when trees catch rainfall on their leaves.
The proposal suggests planting trees in phases. What are three specific high-traffic locations named as priorities?
Major walkways, near classroom buildings, and around dormitories.
What university does the proposal point to as a model for using native trees in high-traffic areas?
The University of Arizona, which uses native mesquite and palo verde trees to provide relief from heat.
The proposal notes that over 600 confirmed heat-related deaths occurred in Maricopa County in 2024. How does this compare to the 2023 figure?
It was a slight decrease from the record-breaking 645 deaths in 2023
The proposal argues that the combined effects of heat, discomfort, and sun avoidance could negatively affect student performance in class. What mental health condition does it link this to?
Summer-related depression / heat-related irritability and stress
The proposal mentions specific tree characteristics that affect how well they cool an area. Name at least two factors the proposal says matter when selecting trees.
Leaf traits, tree size (and implicitly shade coverage). Specific examples like Shamel Ash and Chilean Mesquite are also noted.
The proposal identifies three sustainability dimensions that planting native trees supports. What are they?
Environmental sustainability (reducing heat, improving the ecosystem), social sustainability (making campus more comfortable for students), and operational/economic sustainability (reducing energy and maintenance costs).
The proposal cites Livesley et al. to connect urban trees to ASU's broader institutional goals. What specific university initiative does it say tree planting reinforces?
ASU's sustainability efforts
The proposal references a UNICEF statistic cited by UC Santa Barbara, stating that 1 in 5 children experience what heat-related change compared to previous generations?
Twice as many extremely hot days as before
The proposal connects students' outdoor avoidance behavior to a sustainability argument about campus design. What is that argument?
If students avoid outdoor spaces due to heat, campus outdoor areas go unused — investing in shade supports the social side of sustainability by making those spaces livable
Explain how increasing biodiversity through native plantings, as described in the proposal, connects to broader sustainability goals beyond just temperature reduction.
Native plants support the local ecosystem, improve biodiversity, reduce water runoff (per Livesley et al.), improve air quality, and align with universities' broader environmental and social sustainability mandates, not just heat mitigation.
The proposal argues that increasing tree coverage around buildings could reduce energy costs. Explain the scientific mechanism behind this claim as described in the proposal.
Through evapotranspiration — trees and vegetation evaporate water into the air, using heat from the surrounding air to do so, which cools the air and surrounding soil. This lowers building temperatures and reduces the need for air conditioning.
The proposal makes a subtle argument that the UC Santa Barbara elementary school research is applicable to college students specifically. What is the connecting logic?
Students on large campuses also spend significant time walking outside, in hot classrooms, and in buildings without strong air conditioning — similar conditions to elementary schools