I am a Lecturer in the Department of Environmental and Geographical Science, University of Cape Town linked to the Climate Systems Analysis Group. I am a geographer by training (BSc at UCT, Honours at Rhodes University and PhD at University of Oxford). South Africa is my home, where I grew up, and am now happy to be living in lovely Cape Town with its mountains, Mediterranean climate and magic.  Three of my favourite things are chameleons, swings and ice-cream.

My current research explores how to support adaptation to climate change in a development context. My focus has been on vulnerable groups that are faced with a range of stressors on their livelihoods including those to water, health, employment and food security. In addition to this the climate is changing and so novel ways are needed to learn about the change and how best to respond in order to address the needs of different stakeholders. Increasingly I am interested in how municipalities plan for climate risk and the extent to which they consider climate change or face barriers around adapting to climate change.

I have recently been awarded a P-rating by the NRF (National Research Foundation), that recognises ‘up-and-coming researchers under the age of 35 as potential national and world leaders in their fields’. I was surprised but honoured by this news, as there were only 2 in the country last year.

I am a lead author in the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) special report on ”Managing the Risks of Extreme Events and Disasters to Advance Climate Change Adaptation” that is currently being prepared and will be released in 2011.

Teaching

I teach undergraduates and postgraduates in the Department of Environmental and Geographical Science

EGS1003S - Environment and Development: section on climate change equity and justice

EGS3021F - Sustainability and the Environment: section on vulnerability and adaptation to climate change

EGS4043S - Living with environmental change. Semester course limited to 18 Honours and Masters students

Contact details

gina_at_csag.uct.ac.za

w) +27 21 6504796

Dept. of Environmental & Geographical Science; University of Cape Town

    Private Bag X3, 7701, South Africa