Media releases

  • Brock expert calls for broader view in determining extreme heat’s impact on health

    EXPERT ADVISORY: April 10 2024 – R0048

    As scientists express concern over the world’s hottest March on record — the 10th record-breaking month in a row — a Brock University physiology expert is calling for a more holistic way of determining the health risks posed by extreme heat.

    “Public health messages tend to be oversimplified to say things like, ‘At this temperature, people are susceptible to heat stroke, and at this maximum temperature, people will die,’” says Professor of Kinesiology Toby Mündel. “The truth is much more nuanced when you take many other factors into consideration.”

    Mündel is part of an international research team that published a review study in March challenging conventional methods of calculating the risk of illness and death from extreme high temperatures.

    The team recommends that expertise in human physiology be added to weather and epidemiological data, which is information on patterns of diseases in populations.

    One of the factors used to determine risks to human health is ambient temperature, the temperature of the air in a particular location measured by a thermometer.

    Experts use ambient measurements in their calculations across the board, but this does not take regional variations into consideration, says Mündel.

    “Each area has a normal ambient temperature, which could be higher than other locations; it depends on where you are in the world,” he says. “For example, summers in St. Catharines are very different than summers in the Northwest Territories.”

    People’s bodies adjust to the “normal” ambient temperature of where they live. If these rise, there may be an elevated risk of illness and death, but the fact that the regular ambient temperature is high compared to other places doesn’t pose a risk in itself, he says.

    Another factor that should be included in risk assessments is behavioral thermoregulation, says Mündel. This refers to strategies humans and non-humans use to keep themselves cool or warm depending on their environments.

    Temperatures are typically collected at outdoor weather stations and airports.

    “That doesn’t necessarily give you an indication of the temperatures people are actually exposed to,” he says. “Is it fair to say they experience heat stress during the day when many or most people are sitting nice and comfortably in air-conditioned offices or homes?”

    Similarly, parts of the world lacking widespread air conditioning are at greater risk with rises in ambient temperatures, he says.

    Closely related to behavioural thermoregulation is the wider issue of social and economic inequities in a particular area, says Mündel. For example, homeless people who don’t have access to cooling stations are disproportionately affected by heat-related risks.

    Similarly, locations containing high numbers of older adults or people dealing with heart disease and other pre-existing medical issues are also at greater risk, which should be factored into the overall equation, he says.

    Mündel urges these and other factors be integrated into the risk determinations before issuing public health warnings.

    “There should be caution against generalizing results from extreme heat to milder and more typical summer temperature ranges, especially without accounting for how humans behave and adapt,” he says. “Overestimating these risks leads to ineffective public health strategies and a misallocation of resources toward interventions with little real-world impact.”

    Mündel recommends physiologists and others with expertise on the human body be included in teams that monitor and assess heat waves and health.

    Brock University Professor of Kinesiology Toby Mündel is available for media interviews on the topic.

    For more information or for assistance arranging interviews:

    * Maryanne St. Denis, Manager, Content and Communications, Brock University mstdenis@brocku.ca or 905-246-0256

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    Categories: Media releases

  • Brock business prof named among top global researchers making an impact

    MEDIA RELEASE: April 9 2024 – R0047

    Brock University Professor Samir Trabelsi is one of 22 business school faculty members from around the world named to AACSB International’s 2024 Class of Influential Leaders.

    AACSB (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business) is the longest-serving accrediting body for business schools, accrediting less than six per cent of business schools globally. Their annual Class of Influential Leaders highlights faculty at accredited institutions who are advancing new knowledge and creating impact in business and society through their research.

    Trabelsi is the CPA Ontario Distinguished Scholar and a Professor of Accounting and Governance at Brock’s Goodman School of Business. His research bridges the gap between academic insights and real-world applications, promoting better governance and sustainability reporting in the corporate world.

    “Dr. Trabelsi’s work demonstrates the potential of business school research to address some of today’s most critical challenges,” says Lily Bi, AACSB President and CEO. “The knowledge he is producing will help inform and create real change in the world.”

    Trabelsi says he is humbled to be named part of the AACSB’s 2024 Class of Influential Leaders and has an immense gratitude for receiving the honour.

    “This recognition is a powerful validation of my work on governance and sustainability, affirming my belief that academic research and business schools can drive meaningful change,” Trabelsi says. “It fuels my passion to continue exploring innovative solutions to the urgent sustainability challenges our planet faces, knowing that my contributions can make a tangible difference in business and society.”

    His research impact, detailed by AACSB on the organization’s website, includes work on addressing sustainability reporting challenges, with notable standard-setting bodies in the accounting and sustainability sectors engaging with his research findings. He has also served as a panellist at the U.N. Statistics Division’s Beyond GDP 2023 Sprint Series, presenting on the concept of linking GDP with environmental, social and governance metrics to ensure the effects of climate change are appropriately accounted for, providing a comprehensive view of a country’s long-term economic sustainability.

    “Our School is incredibly proud to have Dr. Trabelsi recognized in the 2024 Class of AACSB Influential Leaders,” said Goodman Dean Barry Wright. “Goodman’s vision is to create meaningful sustainable impact and his research is a perfect example of that in action.”

    Trabelsi’s goal is for his research to transform the way that businesses conceptualize and implement sustainability by challenging conventional models, introducing innovative frameworks and providing actionable guidance that empowers businesses to become genuine agents of positive change.

    “My goal is for my work to inspire a shift from sustainability as a mere compliance exercise to a core, value-driven principle embedded within the DNA of organizations,” he said. “Ultimately, I envision a future where business success and sustainability are inextricably linked, leading to a more equitable, resilient and thriving world for all.”

    Categories: Media releases