Dear Friends and Students
One of my friends shared an article on the
appointment of Chief Heat Officer (CHO) for Bangladesh! It is not a new
role altogether, but an interesting role in the times we are living in! I am
writing this article when the whole of India is experiencing a cloudburst and
now, I am witnessing heavy rain outside my room.
You might be wondering why only Chief Heat
Officer? Why should also have Chief Cold Officer (CCO), Chief Rain
Officer (CRO), etc.? The day is not far!
You should know that heat is killing more people
than any other climate-driven hazard. Extreme heat costs $100 billion to
the U.S. economy. A quarter of the income is lost because of extreme heat
(Harvard Public Health) for workers working outside New Delhi. Heat is making
cities inhospitable, as buildings and roads absorb and trap it.
As a consequence, seven cities around the world
have recently appointed these leaders, with Miami being the first in June 2021
(fastcompany.com). Now you understand the importance!
Chief Heat Officers are generally appointed at a
city level to tackle issues locally. Bushra Afreen, first in the post not
just in Bangladesh but in Asia appointed by international think-tank, Adrienne Arsht-Rockefeller
Foundation Resilience Centre (Arsht-Rock) (tbsnews).
While we are worried about
the potential impact of AI in the future, at the same time, we also need to be
super worried about climate change. I am sure, the new jobs like Chief Urban
Reforestation Officer to cool the city, Chief Hurricane Preparedness Officer,
etc. are the future jobs!
How does it impact
Education? While we are introducing advanced topics like AI-ML, Deep Learning, Data
Science, and Robotics, etc. in Education, similarly, the time has come to
revive the old courses on Energy Management, Heating Systems and
Infrastructure, Thermal Efficiency, Heat Recovery Systems, etc. This time
not in the way we taught 100 years in the traditional roof-top four-wall
Classroom but classes to be taught under the sun, in the rain, and during cold
winters as part of the field work. We should prepare them for future living.
They need to either build sustainable solutions or prepare themselves for
future conditions!
Nature Publication (the world’s top
journal) announced a faculty position for Carbon Neutrality and Climate Change
Thrust, at Hong Kong University. The job description says,” The
Carbon Neutrality and Climate Change (CNCC) Thrust at HKUST(GZ) aims to address
key national priorities, train the next generation of leaders who face global
challenges of climate change, seize opportunities of the new industrial
revolution, and develop technical, institutional and policy solutions for a
shared sustainable future.” This is just the beginning! Every University
should recuperate their old departments in these lines!
If we discuss Chief Heat
Officer in this Rainy Season, we don't need to create Chief Rainy Officer
during Winter Season! Hope You Got the essence!
Ravi Saripalle
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