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A University of Florida research teams thinks one key to sustainability could lie in Africa. The UF Geography Department recently received an $870,000 grant from NASA to help fund research in several African countries. Associate professor in the Geography Department, Doctor Jane Southworth says her research team will analyze how climate change affects the land. While one part of the study is very technical-oriented another aspect of the study is strictly social. The researchers will talk with residents of Africa to find out how they are coping with climate change. The research team already went to Africa last summer but have not yet formulated concrete findings. Southworth says she hopes this summer will help them draw more conclusions about how local communities can better deal with a change in climate. Southworth says the money from the grant will be used mostly for travel expenses. More researchers will be sent to Africa this summer to continue work on the project.