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During one of the hottest days of the year, Dr. Susan Agolini, Assistant Professor of Biology<\/a> at Marymount University, and more than 20 \u201ccommunity scientists\u201d set out across Northern Virginia to understand where residents are most at risk during extreme heat waves.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Heat Watch project is a way to measure the heat that exists in a community and is really looking for heat islands<\/a>, urban areas that are significantly hotter than other surrounding areas,\u201d Dr. Agolini explained. \u201cMarymount is very interested in interfacing with and supporting the Arlington community, and this is really a perfect project for a community partnership.\u201d<\/p>\n The effort is part of a larger, community-led campaign organized by the Virginia Foundation for Independent Colleges<\/a> (VFIC). On July 15, Marymount joined 11 other higher education institutions<\/a> within the VFIC, along with Virginia State University, in recording air temperatures and humidity of communities throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia.<\/p>\n Using specially designed thermal sensors, Marymount faculty, staff, students and volunteers from community organization EcoAction Arlington and the Virginia Department of Forestry<\/a> set out to detect heat conditions throughout Arlington County during three times of day \u2014 6 am, 3 pm and 7 pm.<\/p>\n