Name
Block 1: Depicting Miami's Extreme Heat: Using Student Photo Essays to Advocate for Climate Change Adaptation
Date & Time
Wednesday, April 10, 2024, 11:15 AM - 12:00 PM
Location Name
Penrose I
Focus Area
Addressing systemic inequities and wicked societal problems
Session Type
Promising Practice (two 20-minute sessions per block)
Description

This session focuses on how Miami Dade College students utilized writing and photography to protect Little Havana from extreme heat. College Composition classes first used thermal imaging applications and smartphones to document how the LatinX neighborhood is affected by increasing temperatures. These images and community testimonies were combined in photo essays to educate the campus about climate change. Students later e-mailed commissioners to advocate for infrastructure improvements to help Little Havanna adapt to extreme heat. This presentation will inform participants how to implement climate change education and empower students to tackle local environmental issues. Additionally, attendees will learn to use thermal imaging apps to replicate and adapt the photo essay assignment to their courses.