Inspiring Grads: Science 3

Ramontsheng Rapolaki

Job history

2021–Present Researcher: Agrometeorology Agricultural Research Council

2021 NRF PDP Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Climate Science South African Environmental Observation Network

2020 Postdoctoral Lecturer in Ocean and Atmospheric Dynamics UCT

2019–2021 LaunchPAD Early Career Research Fellow UCT

2018–2019 Website Manager SAEON Graduate Student Network

Academic history

2016–2019 PhD Ocean and Atmosphere Science UCT

2015–2016 Master of Science in Ocean and Climate Dynamics UCT

2014 BSc Honours Ocean and Atmosphere Science UCT

2009–2013 BSc Environmental and Geographical Science, and Ocean and Atmosphere Science UCT

What do you do?

I conduct and lead research in climatology and the impacts of weather and climate on agricultural production and potential. My job includes looking at the potential effect of projected climate change on agriculture, and developing climate modelling capabilities. My favourite part of my job is working with farmers to address their climate-related challenges.

How have your degrees helped you to get where you are?

My current position required a PhD in a climate-related field as a minimum. I have developed the required set of skills and behavioural competencies for a career as a researcher in agrometeorology though my academic career. These skills include effective communication, programming, grant applications and project management, to name a few. My undergraduate and postgraduate degrees have equipped me with the theoretical knowledge of southern African meteorology and climatology which I require for my job.

What advice would you give to graduates that want to follow in your footsteps?

1. Set some career goals for yourself, and work towards them while allowing for some flexibility.

2. Learn to prioritise what is most important to you. We live in a world with many opportunities and options available to us, and we must be cautious about where and how we spend our energy and time.

3. Find a mentor(s) who will point you in the right direction and (push) you when you are slacking.

4. Begin publishing your work (honours project, master's thesis, and/or PhD thesis) in reputable journals as early as possible. If you do this, you will have at least five good papers when you finish your PhD to help you get a postdoctoral fellowship or a job as a researcher.

What has been a highlight of your career so far?

My first manuscript publication from my MSc dissertation is one of my career highlights. Growing up, I never imagined myself as a published author in reputable journals, with my work being cited across the world. I am grateful to my postgraduate supervisors for ensuring that I began publishing early in my career.

What is the next thing you want to achieve or learn?

To obtain an NRF rating within the next few years. I'm also interested in learning more about artificial intelligence and its applications in climate science and agrometeorology.

How do you see your industry evolving in the future?

As in many other sectors, technological advancement and innovation are revolutionising and transforming the climate science sector as a whole. To monitor environmental changes and variability, researchers are now employing a wide range of technologies, including sensors mounted on drones, automated weather stations, numerical models and satellites. These technological advancements are resulting in a plethora of climate data, which must be transformed into meaningful information to guide climate policy and decision making. As a result, more climate analyst jobs may be created in the future to analyse and interpret climate data for various industries such as agriculture, energy, health, and finance.

Another new line of climate research emerging that will complement the use of observations and climate models is artificial intelligence, particularly, machine learning.

BOOK & COURSE recommendations

I would recommend scientific writing courses – I took the “Write Science” course through UCT’s CHED as well as The Conversation Africa’s science communication course “Learn how to write for the media-online”. These courses will train you to communicate your science to a wide range of audiences, including scientists and the general public.

For books, “Managing Oneself” by Peter F. Drucker