Hi, my name is Jarred Ford and I am currently a senior attending Muhlenberg College in Allentown, Pennsylvania. I grew up in Lancaster, PA which is about an hour and a half away from the college. For my undergrad, I have chosen to major in public health and minor in sustainability studies. My passion for protecting human health comes from my experience working as a commercial/industrial pipe insulator. For four years, I worked for an insulation company as an apprentice, but what I learned most during that experience was the importance of safety among individuals and the best way to protect stakeholders in any given situation. Whether it is to follow current regulations, advocate for change, or simply listen to those around me, I learned so much in the field and want to pursue that side.

For this semester-long research project, I chose to look into the issue of urban heat islands. On this website, I will be discussing the various elements relating to the urban heat island effect. From the identification of the problem to posing potential solutions, those who choose to learn more will be more informed as to the seriousness of this issue. As the population grows and much more land is being used to support our consumptive lifestyles, the move towards urbanized areas may become more necessary than ever. However, this can not happen unless the issue of urban heat islands is addressed in order to protect the health of people, as well as the environment in which we use to sustain ourselves. I challenge you to take some time and educate yourself in what I call the Great Metropolitan Plague.

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