Urban heat: The Université de Sherbrooke recruits a leading expert to develop mitigation solutions and protect public health

Sherbrooke, le 27 août 2026 – A research team at the Université de Sherbrooke (UdeS) led by Jan Carmeliet, a renowned international expert in urban climate recruited by UdeS, is receiving $8 million in funding through the Eddie Goldenberg Research Chair of Canada on Urban Climate as part of the federal government’s highly prestigious research chairs program. The team’s work will focus on solutions to mitigate urban heat.

Thanks to their expertise in building physics, urban climate, urban energy, and the multiscale study of porous materials, Jan Carmeliet’s team will create fundamental knowledge, develop technological innovations, and harness nature-based solutions that will make cities and communities more climate-resilient.

The researchers will use advanced simulation tools combined with participatory scenario planning to overcome the limitations of purely technical or policy-based approaches. The benefits of their work include validated and adaptable mitigation strategies, planning tools that are accessible to municipalities, nature-based solutions, and innovative cooling solutions that strengthen the ability of populations to adapt to extreme heat events.

“By awarding this chair to our university, the Government of Canada has recognized that we are a major player in sustainable innovation. Our ability to connect different types of advanced expertise and work closely with our partners lets us devise bold solutions to tackle the challenges of the ecological and social transition. The arrival of Jan Carmeliet has further enhanced this dynamic, and I want to personally welcome him to our research community”, said Jean-Pierre Perreault, President.

“UdeS is continuing to attract the world’s best research talent. Jan Carmeliet is one of the world’s most influential researchers in building physics, urban energy, and heat island mitigation. We are very pleased to include this chair in our research environment, which is already known for its excellence and vitality”, said Valérie Laflamme, Vice-President, Research and Vice-President, International Relations.

Mitigating heat islands
Jan Carmeliet, Department of Civil and Building Engineering, Faculty of Engineering

As an Eddie Goldenberg Canada Research Chair, Jan Carmeliet will lead a team in the combined fields of science, engineering, and social engagement. Their work will focus on how cities can cope with the increased risks related to extreme heat.

The aim of this research program is to develop, implement, and validate community-driven heat solutions, which include innovative shading systems, cooling materials, and the use of nature, such as trees and urban forests. The team will also employ physical modelling along with simulations of human responses to heat stress and stakeholder engagement to develop resilient, climate-adapted cities.

A key feature of the research program is a co-creation approach with municipalities, coupled with multiscale physical modelling (of materials, buildings, neighbourhoods, and cities) and machine-learning-optimized solutions. This multi-pronged approach will help the team overcome the limitations of solely technical or policy-focused solutions.

Jan Carmeliet said: “We must take urgent action to help populations better cope with extreme heat events and support municipalities as they implement effective mitigation measures. Climate change has led to more and longer episodes of extreme urban heat that pose a growing threat to public health. Extreme heat is often called a ‘silent killer.’ While it may have a less visible impact compared to other disasters, it nevertheless results in thousands of excess deaths every year. Our goal is for this chair to help develop and implement concrete, science-based solutions that are adapted to the realities of local communities.”

A leading authority in building physics

Jan Carmeliet is a prolific researcher who has published over 430 scientific articles. He is a renowned professor at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH Zurich), where he served as Chair of Building Physics for over 18 years. During that time, he also headed the Laboratory for Multiscale Studies in Building Physics at the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Testing and Research (Empa) in Dübendorf, Switzerland, until 2017.

His contributions to science have earned him three Switzerland Leader Awards from Research.com, which measures scientific impact based on the number of publications and citations.  His papers on heat, air and moisture transfer in porous materials have become key references in the field of building sustainability.

About the Eddie Goldenberg Research Chairs of Canada Program  

As part of the Canada Global Impact+ Research Talent Initiative, this research chair program was launched to help Canadian academic institutions attract world-renowned researchers who address critical national and international challenges, with an emphasis on both research excellence and tangible impact. It is a joint initiative of the NSERC, CIHR,  and SSHRC. The quality of institutional support provided to the recruited chair is one of the federal government’s selection criteria. The Eddie Goldenberg Research Chairs of Canada are eight-year funding awards of $8 million or $4 million, with a possible four-year extension at 50% of the initial award amount.

Additionnal links:

Read the government’s press release
Dive deeper into the Université de Sherbrooke’s unique research ecosystem
Discover the Université de Sherbrooke’s unique research approach

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Information:

Geneviève Lussier, Public Relations and Media Relations
Communications Department | Université de Sherbrooke
medias@usherbrooke.ca | 819-821-8000, ext. 65472