A member of our teaching faculty has received a £150,000 grant to conduct research as part of a larger project investigating climate-induced high temperatures and how they impact the mental health of children.

Dr Camilla Audia, who leads our modules on Health and Sustainable Development and Addressing Disasters for Sustainable Development, received the funding from the Canadian Institute of Health Research (CIHR). Working with researchers from McGill University and the University of Ghana, the project is titled ‘Co-producing knowledge on neighbourhood heat and its impacts on child mental health and cognition’ and is being led by Professor Jill Baumgartner (McGill University).

The study will focus on the effect of climate change-driven heat on the mental health of children aged 7-11 in Accra, Ghana. Dr Audia’s role will involve contextualising factors and co-producing knowledge to re-design future epidemiological "strengths and difficulties questionnaires" by engaging with children, their parents and guardians, school staff, and any other societal partners that may emerge. This pivotal work will create a map of stakeholders, ensuring that questionnaires designed thereafter will be better targeted and therefore create more meaningful data.

The funding allocated to Dr Audia will also enable the opening of a PhD studentship within the GSD department, which will begin in January 2026 and be under her direct supervision.

Dr Audia commented:

“This research is an exciting opportunity to blend stakeholder-led, qualitative work with epidemiological, quantitative questionnaires.”

“By co-researching with medical doctors, epidemiologists, teachers, carers, schools' professional staff and some of the older children themselves, we're hoping to co-produce a framework that can be rigorous, culturally appropriate, locally meaningful and, ultimately, used by the schools to reflect on how children experience heat and how it affects their health and their studies.”

“I look forward to starting a very fieldwork-heavy season of the project alongside a PhD student who will have a vital role in the research.”