Ariane Middel

Ariane Middel is an Associate Professor at Arizona State University (ASU) with joint appointments in the School of Arts, Media and Engineering and the School of Computing and Augmented Intelligence. She holds affiliations with the Urban Climate Research Center, the Central Arizona-Phoenix Long Term Ecological Research (CAP LTER) program, and the Global Futures Scientists and Scholars initiative. A Senior Global Futures Scientist, she leads the SHaDE Lab and serves as President of the International Association of Urban Climate (IAUC).

Her research focuses on interdisciplinary urban climate science, emphasizing climate-sensitive urban design, heat mitigation, and human biometeorology. She employs quantitative field observations, microclimate modeling, and geovisualization to address sustainability challenges like urban heat islands and energy-water nexus issues. Her work spans scales from pedestrian-level thermal comfort to global climate discourse.

Middel’s education includes a Ph.D. in Computer Science (visualization) from Universität Kaiserslautern and degrees in Geodetic Engineering from the University of Bonn. Her awards include the 2023 Timothy Oke Award and the 2024 AAG Media Achievement Award. She has secured over $25 million in grants, including leadership roles in the Southwest Urban Corridor Integrated Field Laboratory (SW-IFL) and the Cool Pavement pilot program.

Her expertise spans urban sustainability, climate adaptation, and interdisciplinary collaboration. The SHaDE Lab develops innovative tools like MaRTy (Mean Radiant Temperature sensor) and WebMRT to advance urban climate resilience. Middel also contributes to policy through initiatives like the HeatReady Communities Center and collaborates globally on urban heat mitigation strategies.