Gerontology students bring global perspectives to climate and aging research through the COPE project

Two gerontology graduate students are helping shape the future of climate and aging research through their work on the A Comprehensive Approach to Enhance Older Adults’ Preparedness for Extreme Heat (COPE) project.

The COPE project is an interdisciplinary initiative examining how older adults experience and cope with extreme heat and the strategies they use to stay safe. Aryana Mohammed and Letitia Zhu joined the project for different reasons, but their shared interest in climate change and community engagement brought them to this work.

Seeing extreme heat from different perspectives

Aryana was immediately drawn to COPE’s emphasis on knowledge mobilization. The opportunity to translate research into accessible, public‑facing formats resonated with her. “I love that we are taking our research findings to the wider public in a format that’s understandable and accessible to engage in meaningful dialogue around climate change,” she explained.

Her upbringing in Trinidad, where temperatures have risen sharply over the past decade, has shaped her understanding of heat as a growing health risk. Learning about the 2021 heat dome in British Columbia further expanded her awareness of the serious mortality risks extreme heat poses, especially for older adults.

Understanding heat through lived experience

Letitia, who grew up in a city where summer temperatures regularly reach 40°C, had seen firsthand how heat shapes daily life. COPE offered a chance to bring that lived experience into research. “I was initially drawn to COPE because it brings together my interest in community‑engaged research with a topic I care deeply about but had not worked on directly before,” she said.

While facilitating two Chinese‑speaking focus groups over the summer, she saw how differently older adults interpret and respond to heat. “Many participants said they felt quite satisfied with Vancouver’s summers and did not see the heat as a major problem... it showed me how identity, background, and past environments shape people’s risk perceptions and coping strategies in ways that are more complex than simply labeling older adults as ‘vulnerable’ to heat.”

Shaping future research, policy, and practice

Letitia presented preliminary COPE‑Engage findings at the 2025 Canadian Association on Gerontology conference, sparking new conversations with colleagues. “I felt proud not just of representing our project, but of seeing how many people now care about how older adults experience and cope with extreme heat. It made me hopeful that this growing attention can support real‑world change in policy and practice,” she said.

Both students hope COPE’s knowledge mobilization efforts will help turn research into action by partnering with policymakers and key stakeholders. “It would be exciting to see this type of work being used to guide the creation of climate‑focused community‑based programs,” Aryana added.

Growing as researchers

Aryana’s thesis focuses on co‑creating a multi‑arts workshop with older adults who have lived experience of heat stress. Her arts‑based approach aligns with COPE’s commitment to participatory and creative methodologies, and she hopes it will inspire more climate‑focused community programs and research that integrates arts and action.

Letitia, whose doctoral work centers on older adults with disabilities, says COPE has broadened her understanding of how climate intersects with mobility, participation, and well‑being. Drawing on her experience with sustainable design in Denmark, she plans to bring a stronger climate and sustainability lens into her future research.

Advice for students interested in research

Both students emphasize the importance of curiosity and taking initiative. Aryana encourages students to start by volunteering or working in one or more labs to build a wide range of skills and gain exposure to different research approaches. “Being exposed to different types of research will give you a better understanding of what type of research you are really interested in,” she said.

Letitia echoes this and highlights the value of reaching out directly. Introducing yourself, asking about opportunities, and showing genuine interest, she says, can open the door to meaningful research experiences.