Kali Abel’s Summer in Colombia

Dr. Kali Abel, an assistant professor in Environmental Studies, spent this past summer in Antioquia, Colombia doing research on climate adaptation. Colombia is one of the most diverse nations on the planet. It is also one of the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Dr. Abel looks at the ways in which informal powers—such as armed groups—play a role in enabling or limiting the ability of communities to adapt to climate impacts. While the communities in Antioquia are invested in protecting their environment and biodiversity, it can be a dangerous endeavor—on average, one environmental activist is killed every two days. Through stories from community members, she investigates this balance of power, conflict, and environmental change, and their relation to climate adaptation.  

Her summer wasn’t all research, though. During her trip, she was welcomed by locals to a number of different events, including teaching in local schools. Dr. Abel had the opportunity to speak to students in Andes, the hub of Southwest Antioquia, about climate change and the environment. During this event, Dr. Abel and the students covered several topics: how to encourage younger generations to express their passions of finding climate change solutions; how to support communities in this pursuit, the power of partnerships between United States and Colombian students; the role of stories in the education of climate change and the communities it affects; and how to develop a sense of global community as we address climate change together. After giving her talk, Dr. Abel appeared on the local news in Andes, highlighting the link between UP and communities in Colombia, both in the sense of collaborative approaches to climate solutions and in the sense of the themes of her work as a teacher and a researcher translating between communities. 

Stating that Antioquia is her “other home”, Dr. Abel emphasizes how grateful she is to be a part of both the UP and Antioquian community and the opportunity to facilitate connection between the two.  

To watch Dr. Abel’s news story, follow this link: https://fb.watch/tl1AYuz3tr/