Hanson Nyantakyi-Frimpong, assistant professor of geography at the University of Denver, has been researching how ineffective farming in the floodplains of Ghana has led to greater societal issues, especially gender roles. His presentation, “Farming the Floodplain: Gendered Surplus People, Food Security, and Maladaptation to Climate Change in Northern Ghana” looks at the intersection of environmental concerns and gender equality in a country that continues to farm in unstable floodplains. 

Nyantakyi-Frimpong is also interested in the sustainability of these farming practices and how to improve the vulnerability of the people and land in this region. 

“I draw upon Karl Marx’s theory of relative surplus population, and empirical fieldwork using in-depth interviews with farmers and government officials,” Nyantakyi-Frimpong said in his abstract summary of the event. 

He will be presenting his research on Friday, Sept. 10 as a part of the Climate@Noon webinar series from noon – 1 p.m over Zoom.

Along with the research Nyantakyi-Frimpong has already done in Northern Ghana, he has plans to team up with Ryan Stock, assistant professor of earth, environmental and geological sciences at NMU, to look at increasing solar power in Ghana as a climate mitigation strategy. 

The Climate@Noon events are co-presented by Northern Climate Network and the Sustainability Hub for Innovation and the Environment. All events are recorded and can be watched at the Northern Climate Network website. 

This event is free, open to the public and can be viewed live on Zoom with the meeting ID 981 6390 8641 and password Climate.