FIU experts available to discuss record-breaking heat

FIU experts are available to discuss a wide range of topics including how to prevent heat-related illness, climate change and the dangers of heat exposure.

If you have any questions or need assistance, contact the Office of Media Relations. 

Environmental & Ecological Impact

Climate Change

Dr. Rajiv Chowdhury
Chair and Professor, Department of Global Health
Robert Stempel College of Public Health & Social Work

Chowdhury’s research focuses on climate change and health, global health inequities, and more. He can speak to the impact climate change has on populations, as well as provide guidance on the dangers of heat exposure and how to prevent heat-related illnesses, including emerging new infections and chronic diseases. Chowdhury is an educator and physician trained in global health epidemiology and the chair of the Department of Global Health at the Robert Stempel College of Public Health & Social Work at Florida International University. Chowdhury has received academic training and has experience in global health epidemiology, global public health and implementation science. He holds doctoral and master's degrees in public health and epidemiology, respectively, from the University of Cambridge, where he had the titles of Commonwealth Scholar and Gates Cambridge Scholar. His work has received media attention, appearing in outlets like The New York Times, CNN and BBC.
Office: 305-348-5265
Email:rajiv.chowdhury@fiu.edu

Jayantha Obeysekera
Research Professor and Director of Sea Level Solutions
FIU Institute of Environment
Obeysekera can speak to trends in air temperature and heat index as all projections of warming and heat index with particular reference to South Florida. Obeysekera previously served as chief modeler at the South Florida Water Management District, where he had a leading role in modeling of the Everglades and Kissimmee River and Everglades restoration projects. He was co-author of the sea level rise projections report published by NOAA for the National Climate Assessment. He also co-authored a report on regional sea level projections for Department of Defense facilities across the globe. He has extensive media experience, including print and broadcast.
Office:305-919-4119
Email:  jobeysek@fiu.edu

Heat Intensification

Erik Salna
Associate Director, Education and OutreachCollege
Extreme Events Institute (EEI) & International Hurricane Research Center (IHRC)
Salna is a meteorologist with experience in extreme weather events, including heat waves, hurricanes, and tornadoes. Salna works with the Wall of Wind research team and coordinates education and outreach activities. He has experience as a broadcast meteorologist and within both non-profit and for-profit environments in meteorology, mitigation, preparedness, education, media and EOC activations. Before EEI & IHRC, he worked at America’s Emergency Network, which focused on live video streaming technology. He also served as project coordinator for the non-profit Hurricane Warning at the Disaster Survival House, located in Deerfield Beach. He also served as hazard mitigation manager for the City of Deerfield Beach, was on the city’s crisis activation team and participated in all activations of the emergency operations center.
Salna testified before the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology on the importance of storm preparedness, the forecasting workforce and fostering a Weather-Ready Nation (WRN).
Office: 305-348-1146
Email:  Erik.Salna@fiu.edu

Health 

Dr. Rajiv Chowdhury
Please see bio above.

Jason R. Kostrna
Assistant Professor, Graduate Kinesiology Program Leader
School of Education and Human Development
College of Arts, Sciences & Education
Kostrna can discuss the effects of heat on exercise performance and motivation as well as lessons learned from exercise that can benefit the general population’s health during periods of high heat. Kostrna’s professional philosophy centers on the integration of scientific research and applied practice. He is a Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC) and Approved Mentor for the Association of Applied Sport Psychology (AASP), a Certified Personal Trainer for the National Council on Strength and Fitness, serves on the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) Sport Psychology Registry, and a former member of the Sport and Exercise Psychology Area Program committee for the North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity (NASPSPA). He has consulted and conducted research with numerous teams and individual performers of all age ranges, from amateur to professional/Olympic levels. Additionally, he has worked with non-sport and exercise populations to improve performance and increase enjoyment, motivation and adherence.
Office: 305-919-4074
Email: jkostrna@fiu.edu

Dr. Aileen Marty
Professor, Department of Translational Medicine
Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine
College of Arts, Sciences & Education
Marty can speak to the impact of extreme heat on the body and give tips on staying safe. Marty is a Miami-Dade County Medical Reserve Corps member and works with the county government on hurricane strategy and outbreak response. Marty has extensive experience in infectious disease, public health, outbreak response, & mass gatherings. She also works with the World Health Organization at the Health-Security Interphase and has responded to disease outbreaks worldwide. Marty is co-editor-in-chief of One Health, the official journal of the International Federation for Tropical Medicine. Marty is also available for interviews in Spanish.
Email: amarty@fiu.edu 
Office: 305-348-0377

Social & Political Impact

Dr. Rajiv Chowdhury
Please see bio above.