This thesis discusses the importance and impact of preserving Italian culture, food traditions, and local identity. Reflecting on a year spent in Italy during the 2021-2022 academic school year, the author explores the significance and preservation of Italian culture, food traditions, and local identities. The thesis identifies three compelling rationales for their preservation: the health benefits derived from traditional practices, the positive environmental implications of maintaining biodiversity and sustainable methods, and the societal advantages of connected communities fostering a sense of belonging and purpose. Then, this thesis will examine how the nonprofit organization Slow Food, renowned for its commitment to preserving culinary heritage, raises awareness about the imperative need for preservation and education. The organization's core principles and ongoing initiatives serve as a model for championing these essential causes. Using academic analyses of the intersection between food and culture, this thesis establishes a comprehensive analysis of their connection and the significance of their preservation. This thesis draws on diverse sources, including the author's personal experiences during their study-abroad program in Italy. Through these lenses, the paper underscores the critical importance of upholding Italian culture and food traditions amidst evolving global food systems.

Shade plays an important role in designing pedestrian-friendly outdoor spaces in hot desert cities. This study investigates the impact of photovoltaic canopy shade and tree shade on thermal comfort through meteorological observations and field surveys at a pedestrian mall on Arizona State University's Tempe campus. During the course of 1 year, on selected clear calm days representative of each season, we conducted hourly meteorological transects from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and surveyed 1284 people about their thermal perception, comfort, and preferences. Shade lowered thermal sensation votes by approximately 1 point on a semantic differential 9-point scale, increasing thermal comfort in all seasons except winter. Shade type (tree or solar canopy) did not significantly impact perceived comfort, suggesting that artificial and natural shades are equally efficient in hot dry climates. Globe temperature explained 51 % of the variance in thermal sensation votes and was the only statistically significant meteorological predictor. Important non-meteorological factors included adaptation, thermal comfort vote, thermal preference, gender, season, and time of day. A regression of subjective thermal sensation on physiological equivalent temperature yielded a neutral temperature of 28.6 °C. The acceptable comfort range was 19.1 °C-38.1 °C with a preferred temperature of 20.8 °C. Respondents exposed to above neutral temperature felt more comfortable if they had been in air-conditioning 5 min prior to the survey, indicating a lagged response to outdoor conditions. Our study highlights the importance of active solar access management in hot urban areas to reduce thermal stress.