MEER India hosts five-day student workshop on climate adaptation and passive cooling
A five-day workshop introduced students to the science, engineering and community dimensions of climate adaptation — combining lectures on surface cooling and reflective materials with hands-on rooftop activities and community site visits.
MEER India recently hosted a five-day student workshop designed to introduce participants to the science, engineering and community dimensions of climate adaptation. The program provided practical experience in understanding extreme heat challenges, passive cooling technologies, field research methods and the role local interventions play in building climate resilience.
Throughout the workshop, students were introduced to the principles behind surface cooling, urban heat reduction, reflective materials and community-based adaptation strategies. Sessions combined technical discussions with practical activities, allowing participants to explore how scientific concepts translate into real-world solutions for vulnerable communities.
A key focus was helping students understand the growing challenge of heat stress and the importance of low-cost, scalable adaptation measures. Participants learned about the environmental, social and public health impacts of extreme heat, while gaining insight into how organizations such as MEER develop, test and evaluate cooling interventions in different settings around the world.
The workshop also emphasized field observation and community engagement, encouraging students to consider how climate impacts are experienced locally and how adaptation measures must be designed around the needs of the people they are intended to serve. Programmes like this help equip the next generation of students and professionals with a deeper understanding of climate adaptation while creating pathways for future involvement in practical, community-centered solutions.