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Title: Drexel PhD Student Receives Global Recognitions for Groundbreaking Research on Climate Change and Indigenous Knowledge Systems

United States, 6th May 2025 – Essien Oku Essien, a 26-year-old doctoral student at Drexel University’s Communication program, has gained international recognition for his pioneering work in climate communication and cultural studies. His innovative research deconstructs dominant narratives around climate change by incorporating Indigenous knowledge systems and cultural frameworks from Africa and the Americas. In doing so, Essien is reshaping global academic and policy conversations around climate interpretation, cosmologies and resilience.At the 17th International Conference on Climate Change: Impacts & Responses, held in 2025 at Florida International University, Essien received the Emerging Scholar Award for his critical project, Misrepresentations of Climate Change as Cultural Crises: The Case of Africa. The study critiques how spiritual and cultural understandings within Indigenous communities are often mischaracterized or dismissed in global climate debates, emphasizing the need for an empirically grounded, culturally inclusive approach.Recognition Across International Fellowships and Academic InstitutionsIn addition to his award-winning research in Miami, Essien was invited to present a guest lecture at the Federal University of Amazonas in Brazil. His growing academic influence led to his selection as one of the top 25 global fellows for the Climate Leaders Fellowship—an interdisciplinary program hosted by Faith For Our Planet (FFOP) in partnership with Duke University’s Divinity School. Chosen from over 5,000 applicants worldwide, Essien’s work on Indigenous frameworks in climate science stood out for its global applicability and intellectual rigor.Further extending the reach of his research, he will present a workshop at the 15th International Conferenc...

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