Page 42 - Careers in Mathematics
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from several sources which gives me the opportunity to This is certainly a fascinating and rewarding career option –
interact with meteorologists, atmospheric chemists, and one which few people would have enough knowledge to
oceanographers carbon specialists and ecosystem specialists. pursue. My role is “hands on”. And I love the idea that I can
I have performed instrumental work on developing code that analyse data and develop models that will predict events that
led to the development of the first African-based climate or you can see coming to life. We are the last generation who
earth system model. The application of this model is can really make a difference to saving our precious planet.
assisting the Global Change Institute (GCI) to generate Now, who wouldn’t want to do that?
projections of future climate change for Africa.
Communication of Science – the communication component
of my knowledge and research is, of course, critical. There is
a strong interface between the work performed by the GCI and
the formulation of government and inter-governmental policy
on climate change. A paper that I published in 2018
addressed the effects of a 1.5°C increase in global
temperatures and was a strong component of the Paris
Agreement on climate change which affected 197 nations
around the globe. Whilst scientists do not prescribe policy,
they are responsible for providing data and information that
is policy relevant. This means that I regularly interact with
South Africa’s Climate Change Directorate, I attend climate
change negotiations and I communicate with numerous
stakeholders such as the agricultural sector, water authorities,
municipalities and even financial institutions who have an
interest in understanding the risks associated with climate
change.
I have a deep passion for what I do, and I am keen for
students to experience the amazing work I do and the
opportunities I have encountered in my career. I love the
outdoors, describe myself as an environmentalist and, I also
have a passion for butterflies!
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