Hotter weather leads to lower exam results, according to new study from Harvard University, University of California and Georgia State University. What's more, hot weather may reduce learning in both short term and long term. Researchers reported that hot weather on test days and higher than average temperatures throughout school year resulted in poorer grades. study is first major research into effect of heat on students in USA. Researchers analyzed how test scores from 10 million American students were impacted by weather. Their findings showed that average temperature increase of just 0.55ºC over one year resulted in 1 per cent decrease in learning.
The research is in paper called "Heat and Learning" and was published last month by USA's National Bureau of Economic Research. One of more concerning conclusions contained in study is that global warming may affect leaning and income-earning potential of students around the world. The researchers predicted that if global temperatures continued to rise, average American student could lose $25,000 in income over their lifetime because of lower exam results. Using air conditioning in classrooms could circumvent this. The researchers also found that hotter weather was, "particularly damaging...for low income and minority students" across USA.
