On July 12, 2026, Salt Lake City reached 109 degrees, establishing the hottest temperature ever recorded in the city's history. This record-setting event has prompted University of Utah researchers to examine the wide-ranging consequences of extreme heat on various aspects of community life, from medical recovery and mental health to electrical grid stability.
Medical and public health researchers are investigating how environmental factors influence physical well-being. John Pearson, an anesthesiologist in the Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine, is using a 1U4U Seed Grant to study if urban heat islands—neighborhoods with high pavement density and low tree cover—affect postoperative recovery for surgical patients.
In the field of psychiatry, Amanda Bakian from the Huntsman Mental Health Institute is researching the hidden mental health tolls of heat. Her team's findings indicate that short-term heat stress is linked to an increased risk of suicide, a relationship that strengthens when heat coincides with poor air quality.
Additionally, Jeff Rose, a professor in the College of Health, uses wearable sensors and GPS technology to document how extreme heat affects individuals experiencing homelessness, noting that access to shade and cooling centers can be a matter of life or death.
Urban planning and infrastructure studies are also addressing the physical environment. Alexandra Ponette-Gonzalez of the Department of City & Metropolitan Planning is exploring how neighborhood design affects personal heat exposure, looking at how trees and sidewalks influence the temperatures people actually feel.
From a structural perspective, Ajla Aksamija of the School of Architecture + Planning studies high-performance building designs that can serve as refuges during extreme weather. Meanwhile, Masood Parvania in the Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering is researching ways to strengthen the western electrical grid to prevent outages when air conditioning demand peaks during heatwaves.
The University of Utah's research efforts reflect a strategic plan to address complex, interdisciplinary challenges. By connecting expertise in health, design, and engineering, researchers aim to help Utah communities become more resilient against the growing hazard of extreme heat.
