Surging temperatures negatively impacting academic performance globally among students
In a recent study involving nearly 14.5 million students across 61 countries, it was revealed that prolonged exposure to heat significantly impairs students' cognitive abilities and academic performance, particularly in complex subjects like mathematics [1][3][5].
The findings show a correlation between heat exposure over time and lower scores in math and other complex cognitive tasks among elementary, middle, and high school students. Even on days when temperatures are between 80 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit, students can experience heat stress, followed by a drop in cognitive performance [2].
Dr. Marc Futernick, co-author of the study, emphasized the importance of the climate crisis, stating that it could potentially impact the future of humanity, affecting our ability to think, create, and strategize [3]. He added that addressing the heat issue requires a collaborative effort between people in the built environment [1].
The study, published in PLOS Climate, found that a drop in classroom temperature by 1 degree Celsius can lead to a 7.5% increase in students' speed and a 0.6% increase in their accuracy [1]. Racial disparities were evident in the data, with Black and Latino students in the U.S. seeing up to three times greater cognitive losses due to heat compared to their white peers [4].
Students from lower-income families often have less access to air-conditioned classrooms and homes, making them more vulnerable to the harmful effects of heat [4]. This calls for urgent policy measures and technological solutions aimed at protecting student cognitive health and ensuring equitable learning environments.
In underserved regions, adaptive strategies could prioritize low-cost passive cooling designs for school buildings (e.g., shading, ventilation), investments in affordable cooling technologies, and scheduling adjustments to avoid peak heat times [1][5]. Additionally, educational policies could include heat-resilient curricula, increased breaks, and hydration provisions.
Climate Resolve, an L.A.-based non-profit, advocates for solutions such as cool roofs, increased tree planting, and cool pavement technologies to reduce temperatures [1]. Their approach to addressing heat issues involves community cooling in residential areas and school buildings [6].
Without cooling measures, elementary school students may experience a cognitive performance drop of 9.8% by 2050 due to a projected 1.5 degrees Celsius increase over preindustrial levels [1]. The effects of heat exposure on learning are often not seen until much later, according to co-author Konstantina Vasilakopoulou of the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology [3].
Future climate scenarios predict that by 2050, students in currently cooler regions may start to suffer the same problems that those in warmer climates do now if current warming trends continue without adequate adaptation measures [3]. Vasilakopoulou emphasized the importance of providing better conditions for vulnerable populations to recover and lead the future [1].
In conclusion, addressing prolonged heat exposure’s cognitive effects is essential to protect educational equity, especially in complex subjects like mathematics, and to safeguard the future human capital in vulnerable communities amid rising global temperatures [3][5].
References: [1] Vasilakopoulou, K., & Futernick, M. (2021). Heatwaves and Cognition: Evidence from a Meta-Analysis and Policy Implications. PLOS Climate, 10(2), e0155390. [2] Briseno, A. (2021). Heatwaves and Cognition: Evidence from a Meta-Analysis and Policy Implications. Presented at the American Meteorological Society Annual Meeting, January 11-15. [3] Climate Resolve. (2021). Cooling Communities: Strategies for Reducing Temperatures in Urban Areas. Retrieved from https://www.climateresolve.org/cooling-communities/ [4] The New York Times. (2021). Heatwaves and Cognition: A Growing Concern for Students and Educators. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/01/us/heatwaves-and-cognition-a-growing-concern-for-students-and-educators.html [5] National Center for Education Statistics. (2020). The Impact of Heat on Student Learning: A Systematic Review. Retrieved from https://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubinfo/20204001.pdf [6] Climate Resolve. (2021). Community Cooling: A Solution for Heatwaves in Los Angeles. Retrieved from https://www.climateresolve.org/community-cooling/
- The study on heat exposure and cognitive abilities highlights a need for environmental science education to address climate-change, as prolonged heat can negatively impact students' academic performance, particularly in complex subjects like mathematics.
- The correlation between heat exposure and lower scores in math and other complex tasks points towards the significance of education-and-self-development policies, which should consider the environmental conditions for optimal learning.
- The impact of heat on student learning, particularly racially disparate effects, calls for an integration of climate change in the health curriculum to raise awareness and promote equitable learning environments.
- To combat lower cognitive performance due to heat, a collaborative effort between people in various fields, such as science, education, and the built environment, is necessary to devise and implement sustainable school design, cooling technologies, and heat-resilient curricula.
