The University of North Florida officially opened the Perry Weather Heat Lab at UNF\u2019s Korey Stringer Institute (KSI) on Monday.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The heat lab will serve as a research hub dedicated to understanding how extreme heat affects the human body, aiming to inform real-world policies and protocols, according to UNF researcher Dr. Gabrielle Brewer.\u00a0<\/p>\n
UNF interim president Dr. Angela Garcia Falconetti was in attendance alongside university leaders, researchers, and athletes.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThis partnership reflects UNF\u2019s commitment to research that improves lives,\u201d said Falconetti.<\/p>\n
Inside the Lab\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Perry Weather Heat Lab utilizes advanced technology to simulate extreme heat conditions, according to a university press release.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Located at Hicks Hall on UNF\u2019s campus, this lab allows researchers to measure physiological and biochemical responses to physical activity under stress and translate these findings directly into safety recommendations, according to the press release.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The lab\u2019s founding industry partner, Perry Weather, provided the facility with critical instrumentation and weather-monitoring software to allow scientists to match environmental data, such as wet bulb globe temperature and heat index, with their physiological findings.<\/p>\n
Colin Perry, CEO and Founder of Perry Weather, said that heat-related illness is one of the most preventable risks facing outdoor workers and athletes.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cPerry Weather was founded on the belief that better data and better decisions can save lives,\u201d said Perry. \u201cWe\u2019re proud to partner with KSI and UNF on a lab that will help move heat safety research and education forward.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Opportunities for the UNF Community<\/p>\n
Leading the research are UNF faculty members Dr. Michael Szymanski, an assistant professor of kinesiology, and Brewer, a post-doctoral associate.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOur lab can go all the way down to 32 degrees and up to 120 degrees,\u201d said Brewer. \u201cWe can simulate any weather condition and study how particpaints respond.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Brewer said the institute\u2019s research will study the effectivness heat interventions like cooling towels and vests as well as the microbiome of sweat.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re hoping to study the sweat composition of workers in Jacksonville and it\u2019s a huge area we\u2019re interested in, trying to help us tolerate the heat,\u201d said Brewer.<\/p>\n
For UNF students, the lab offers hands-on learning opportunities with graduate and undergraduate students gaining experience in biological sample analysis, physiological data collection, and scientific communication, according to the press release.<\/p>\n
As the facility prepares to open, Brewer said volunteers are welcome to visit.<\/p>\n
\u201cAny undergraduate who wants to help, we don\u2019t say no to anyone,\u201d said Brewer. \u201cIts really hot and really sweaty, so if you can handle those stressful situations, please come volunteer.<\/p>\n
According to the press release, the lab\u2019s impact also stretches across the UNF campus through key collaborations with the university\u2019s Department of Nutrition and Dietetics and Army ROTC.<\/p>\n
The team is collaborating with UNF\u2019s Department of Nutrition and Dietetics to provide body composition tracking and nutritional recommendations to professional athletes.<\/p>\n
Brewer and Szymanski are also working with UNF Army ROTC cadets to provide physiological support and educational guidance ahead of demanding training events, helping cadets safely maintain their military readiness standards.<\/p>\n
Brewer said that while the lab\u2019s main focus pertains \u201cworkers, war fighters, and athletes\u201d but all are welcome to come in for testing.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIf someone is struggling with the heat, sweats a lot or not a lot, we have heat tolerance testing, and we bring in two physicians from Mayo to conduct heat tolerance testing and help them manage their heat stress,\u201d said Brewer.<\/p>\n
According to Brewer, KSI is putting the \u201cfinal touches\u201d on the heat chamber and working on securing funding for the facilities.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Why Jacksonville and UNF?\u00a0<\/p>\n
KSI was originally founded in 2010 at the University of Connecticut (UConn) following the death<\/a> of NFL Pro Bowler Korey Stringer from exertional heat stroke, according to the press release.<\/p>\n Over the last 16 years, the institute has produced research and policies that have reshaped how the military, sports organizations, and employers manage heat risks, according to the press release.<\/p>\n