Dr Chris Tyler, Reader in Environmental Physiology at the University of Roehampton, attended the House of Parliament on 20 November to partake in a Parliamentary and Scientific Committee Meeting focused on the impact that rising temperatures will have on the UK residents and businesses.
Chris’ research focuses on environmental extremes, particularly the impact of heat on the human body and what can be done to reduce the negative impact that thermal stress can have on human health, function, and performance.
The meeting brought together MPs, Members of the House of Lords, civil servants, and academics to discuss how prepared the UK is for hotter temperatures and more frequent heat waves. The meeting was also the launch of a report titled ‘Red Alert: Developing a Human centred National Heat Resilience Strategy’, co-authored by the Physiological Society and the Faculty of Public Health. The report focuses on improving the understanding of how heat can impact vulnerable groups and ensuring the nation are prepared to deal with extreme temperatures.
Chris said that “it is great to be able to represent the University of Roehampton at the House of Parliament and to hear first-hand that Members of Parliament from all parties are discussing the threat of increased heat stress in the UK. The impact of increased UK temperatures will be felt by everybody and hopefully the thermal physiology research conducted at the University of Roehampton will be able to inform future plans, strategies, and interventions.”