Texting the Climate: How farmers in Southern Africa are meeting the future

Across the world, we face the impacts of climate change, but adaptation is tough. Small-scale farmers in Southern Africa are exceptionally vulnerable, facing challenges from both weather and pests. Using text messaging as a communication tool, we connect with thousands of farmers and are therefore able to map and monitor the challenges they face and the decisions they make. Understanding how farmers can best prepare themselves for risk allows us to work towards meeting the challenges of the future.

Andrew Zimmer is a Ph.D. student in the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Department of Geography and Development. Andy's work focus on understanding the relationships between climate change, farmer decision-making, food security, and livelihoods.

This talk is a part of the Fall 2019 Science Café series hosted by the UA College of Science in partnership with Borderlands Brewing Company.

Water, Water Everywhere - But Will it Always Be?

Water is the key to life as we know it. And scientists have long realized water’s vitality, but its patterns—from rivers to rain and more—are becoming harder to predict. A little extra or a little less can have cascading effects. The water norms we grew up with aren’t the norms of the future or even the present. Researchers in the UA Carson Scholars program are working to understand how changes in water fluctuation and frequency will effect humans, animals and places. By looking at different ecosystems and different “kinds” of water, and by working with the people and species who have to adapt, we are getting closer to understanding what the future might hold. In this series, we will talk water and life, from Africa to Arizona and from ice ages to ice melt.