French-American Innovation Days (FAID): Advancing Heat & Health Resilience
Panel session moderator Mona Arora with panelists Paxton Sample, Rietta Wagoner, Melissa Furlong, Alice Plane, and Joseph Hoover.
SCORCH was pleased to support Heat and Health French-American Innovation Days (FAID), November 12–13, 2025, sponsored by the French Consulate of Los Angeles, France Science, UA France–Arizona Institute for Global Grand Challenges, and the French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS). The two-day event held at UA Tucson campus brought together more than 60 researchers, students, and community partners from Arizona, France, and and other arid regions across the United States for an opportunity to exchange ideas, build new collaborations, and strengthen bilateral efforts to address the growing health impacts of extreme heat.
The symposium opened with welcome remarks from university, local government, and international leaders followed by keynote presentations highlighting both Arizona’s statewide heat preparedness work and France’s national heat adaptation strategy. These opening sessions set the tone for a shared commitment to resilience, innovation, and community-centered approaches.
During FAID, attendees participated in three dynamic interdisciplinary sessions:
- Geographies of Heat and Health: Speakers explored how climate, land use, urban design, and environmental exposures shape heat-related health risks, underscoring the importance of data-driven, place-based solutions.
- High Exposure Populations: Researchers shared emerging insights on heat impacts in agricultural and border communities, prenatal health, and underserved populations.
- Innovation for Solutions: Presenters highlighted new tools and technologies from urban microclimate modeling and indoor heat research to communication platforms and materials science innovations, all aimed at improving preparedness and reducing heat-related illness.
Participants also engaged in a networking lunch and poster session showcasing student and early-career research. The closing roundtable conversation focused on strengthening academic–industry partnerships across France and the United States.
FAID represented meaningful efforts to deepen global partnerships and build momentum toward addressing the growing challenges of extreme heat and its impact on health.
