Michael Frachetti wants to convince students there is more to Kazakhstan than Borat look-alikes and gypsies.

Frachetti, assistant professor in the department of anthropology at Washington University in St. Louis, will be on campus today to present his lecture “Living on the Edge.”

The lecture focuses on the studies of mountain pastoralism in the Kazakhstan area. Pastoralism is the branch of agriculture concerned with raising livestock.

“Part of the responsibility that world has is making an understanding of the history and cultural framework of an area,” Frachetti said.

Frachetti worked for 10 years understanding and studying the nomadic herds that live and farm in the mountains and deserts of Central and Eastern Asia. A recent economy boost also makes Kazakhstan a hot bed for topics of interest, he said.

According to the CIA fact sheet, Kazakhstan is rich in valuable resources. The rising economy has put Kazakhstan at the top of the major players for world resources, beyond all other Central Asians states combined. Among the resource supplies of gold, copper and uranium, Kazakhstan is a major deposit for petroleum, coal and iron ore.

Frachetti said he believes that areas rich in resources should be explored.

Exploration could open up a part of the world that was closed for so long, he said.

“Not having a long-term perspective – or no understanding – of that type of region is dangerous,” he said.

Frachetti teaches “From Country to Heavy Metal,” “Ancient Civilizations of the Old World” and “Landscape of Archeology” at Washington University.

Eastern’s anthropology department invited Frachetti to lecture for the first time on campus.

“This is a great opportunity to build regional relationships,” Frachetti said.

The lecture will take place today at 1 p.m. in Room 1103 of Blair Hall.

Cari Wafford can be reached at 518-7942 or cmwafford@eiu.edu.