Program Dates: June 11 - 26, 2026
African Climate Literacy and Development is an Honors seminar, which offers an interdisciplinary, research-driven, and globally relevant exploration of one of the most pressing challenges of the 21st century. Africa faces disproportionate climate change vulnerabilities due to its high dependency on climate-sensitive sectors, limited adaptive capacity, and historical underdevelopment. Yet, widespread poor climate literacy continues to hamper effective mitigation, adaptation, and policy implementation. This course addresses this gap and transcends traditional environmental science by promoting effective communication, policy, indigenous knowledge, scientific innovation, and sustainable development within the African context. The course includes a study abroad experience in Zambia where students will gain experiential and technical knowledge of the realities of climate change in Africa. Additionally, the course will provide students with a critical understanding of Africa’s socio-political, -cultural and economic dimensions, making them well-equipped for leadership roles in sustainability, policy, and global development.
Dr. Twange Kasoma is a native of Zambia. She joined Appalachian State University in Fall 2024. She is an associate professor of digital journalism in the Department of Communication. Her specialty is communication and society with an emphasis in development communication. She enjoys incorporating high impact pedagogical practices in her teaching and used to run a study abroad program to Zambia where her students did mini internships with Zambian media. Dr. Kasoma has also done research in Zambia and published in among other areas: Science Communication, Climate Literacy and Environmental Justice; International and Development Communication and African Media Regulation.Dr. Matthew C. Ogwu is an interdisciplinary environmental scientist and Assistant Professor of Sustainable Development in the Goodnight Family Department of Sustainable Development at Appalachian State University. His teaching and research focus on environmental microbiology, conservation biology, soil science, plant diversity and characterization, climate science, resource management, molecular ecology, and sustainable food systems, particularly through convergence approaches like OneHealth and EcoHealth. Dr. Ogwu has published over 100 peer-reviewed papers and regularly presents at international conferences. He is also multilingual, a global traveler, and passionate about mentoring students from underrepresented backgrounds in STEM.
Program Cost: TBD
Academics
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Faculty Leaders
Dr. Twange Kasoma
Associate Professor, Digital Journalism
Department of Communication
kasomat@appstate.edu
Dr. Matthew C. Ogwu
Assistant Professor, Sustainable Development
Sustainable Development
ogwumc@appstate.edu