M.Sc. Student, University of Guelph
Supervisor: Dr. Helen Hambly
About Taku Mundenga
Originating from Zimbabwe, Takudzwanashe (Taku) Mundenga is an MSc Candidate in the Capacity Development and Extension program at the University of Guelph, specializing in international development. He holds a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Development Studies from the Midlands State University in Zimbabwe and based mainly out of Harare, has worked as an independent journalist and political commentator for more than 5 years. In 2021, a Tomson Reuters Foundation environmental journalism course sparked his interest in the ideational and structural basis for emergent climate change consciousness. His current research examines the role of the media as a stakeholder in soil health-related climate change mitigation. The purpose of his research is to examine the role of news and online media in engaging, informing, and educating farming communities about the relationship between soil microbiological health, carbon capture, and climate change mitigation. This work draws upon case studies in Canada and the Global South. His research also seeks to further the conversation on Climate-Smart Soils (CSS) communication within agricultural systems innovation and to unpack how scientific/academic analysis of soil health-related climate change in CSS-supported programming can be shared with other social climate stakeholders, including NGOs, industry, and government policymakers. The media plays a critical role in agricultural and environmental communication for development (C4D). Media coverage of soil-related climate change has a very significant impact on public and private sector soil health prioritization. Through his research, Taku would like to create a positive social impact toward CSS and expand climate consciousness by exploring the breadth and depth of climate-soil relationship knowledge dissemination and exchange in the public and private sectors. . The gravity of this under-examined climate change factor has not yet been embraced by public discussions of climate change mitigation and if this knowledge gap and lack of policy focus continue, it will have deleterious effects on future generations. After completing his MSc degree, Taku hopes to assist media organizations in bridging the gap between contemporary knowledge about soil-related climate change and climate change mitigation policies at the national level in Canada and globally via international climate change regimes. Apart from his studies, Taku loves social media banter, nature photography, writing, and traveling.