Meet the leader of SAEON’s Data Science Team

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Dr Claire Davis-Reddy enjoys solving complex problems Claire’s PhD research investigated the dynamics of vegetation phenology and productivity over Sub-Saharan Africa in response to climate variability and change (Photo: Timm Hoffman)

Dr Claire Davis-Reddy joined SAEON uLwazi’s Node in Cape Town on 1 February.

Claire has a PhD from the University of Stellenbosch, specialising in the fields of spatial statistics, remote sensing and vegetation modelling.

Her primary objective in this new role will be to improve SAEON’s data products, atlas portals and views in order to facilitate effective data- and evidence-driven decision-making.

Before joining SAEON, Claire was a senior researcher in the Climate Studies, Modelling and Environmental Health Research Group at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). She established a formidable track record of interdisciplinary research and leadership in the field of natural resources and the environment and developed strong networks with partners and academic institutions across South Africa and Africa.

Claire’s research has contributed significantly to the understanding of climate change risks and impacts and has fed into both national and regional policy. Examples include South Africa’s National Climate Change Response White Paper, the SADC Climate Change Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) Response Framework as well as the SADC Climate Change Strategy.

The most noteworthy of her publications is Climate Risk and Vulnerability: A Handbook for Southern Africa (1^st and 2^nd Edition), which provides decision-makers with up-to-date information on the latest climate change science.

Leading the Data Science Team

Her responsibilities at the uLwazi Node include planning and prioritising data projects, establishing operating procedures for data collection and analysis to ensure the quality and integrity of data products, building analytic systems and predictive models, creating standards for data visualisation and reporting, testing of data-driven products, and managing a dynamic team of data scientists, machine learning engineers and big data specialists.

“Data and statistical analysis have always been a passion of mine,” says Claire. “I am purely a quantitative thinker and love solving complex problems. This position presents a perfect bridge for my post-PhD as it combines my technical background with 10 years of experience in climate change risk and adaptation-related research.”

Third phase of the South African Risk and Vulnerability Atlas

Claire will be spearheading the development of the third phase of the South African Risk and Vulnerability Atlas (SARVA), funded by the Department of Science and Technology.

“When starting at the CSIR, I was part of the core team that established the Risk and Vulnerability Atlas and now by joining SAEON I get a chance to fulfil my, and others’, vision of what this tool is meant to achieve,” Claire explains.

SARVA was initiated with the intent to provide decision-makers with up-to-date information on global change risks at a scale relevant for planning. SARVA III will build upon massive efforts in this field, including the recently launched Green Book.

Claire’s other projects at the uLwazi Node include the National Climate Change Information System being developed for the Department of Environmental Affairs, the development of a National Hazard Database in partnership with the National Disaster Management Centre, the second version of the BioEnergy Atlas funded by the Department of Science and Technology, and the Carbon Sinks Atlas in partnership with the CSIR.

For this new phase in her career, Claire says her mantra will be a quote by American businessperson Carly Fiorina: “The goal is to turn data into information, and information into insight.”