An A+ for Valentine Ochanda!
A hearty congratulations to GCSRI PhD bursar Valentine Ochanda who received top marks at the recent CLIVAR Open Science Conference 2016 in Qingdao, China.
Out of approximately 300 presentations at the CLIVAR Open Science Conference 2016, Valentine Ochanda’s presentation on Shoreline integrated SLR change prediction for Mombasa and Lamu islands in Kenya won the ‘CLIVAR 2016 Open Science Conference: Poster Competition Outstanding Award’ in the category of ‘Ocean and climate dynamics’.
The conference focused on climate change and variability under five themes, namely:
- Centennial to millennial/intraseasonal to interannual and decadal climate systems analysis
- Ocean and climate dynamics
- Climate information and sustainable development
- Climate modes/upwelling and frontal zones
- Energy and water system’s role in climate science
There were five outstanding awardees – one per theme – and Ochanda was the only African scholar to scoop up top honours. On winning the award Ochanda says, “I was excited to be among great minds and among the best in my category. I also acknowledge that we have the capacity to perform well when supported.”
Professor Barend Erasmus, GCSRI Director and Exxaro Chair in Global Change and Sustainability, upon hearing Ochanda’s accomplishment had this to say, “One of our objectives at GCSRI is the advancement and promotion of African scholars through mentorship, supervision, funding and access to opportunities. I am really happy and proud of Valentine – and that the GCSRI was able to lend support during her PhD. She has worked hard and this award is recognition of her dedication.”
GCSRI chatted to Ochanda about some key findings of her research. “Almost 40% of the island of Mombasa will be under threat and the population exposure will rise to almost 2.4 million people by the end of the century if climate change and especially SLR [sea level rise] adaptation and mitigation are not prioritised,” says Ochanda. Another key finding according to Ochanda is that almost 64% of the island of Lamu (a UNESCO world heritage site) is also prone to inundation and flooding (sea land encroachment) if adaptation techniques are not included in the islands development plans.
“Adaptation and mitigation to the effects of climate change for coastal areas cannot be underestimated because of accelerated SLR. Plans need to be put in place to protect coastal ecosystems, people and infrastructure that may be threatened in the event of an extreme event, due to a changing climate,” says Ochanda.