- Senior research scientist, Stellenbosch University
Dr Dian Spear is an interdisciplinary conservation scientist who works at the Centre for Sustainability Transitions at Stellenbosch University. She previously worked on bioinformatics at the Cape Research Centre of the Scientific Services of South African National Parks. She was born, raised and schooled in Zimbabwe, and she studied nature conservation at Rhodes University, the University of Cape Town and Stellenbosch University. She has worked as a natural and social scientist, climate change consultant, research programme manager and copy and substantive editor of scientific papers. She has conducted research on antelope translocations in the game industry, introductions of alien species and their impacts in South African national parks and countries globally, and the adaptation of society to climate change. Dian has worked for the Global Invasive Species Programme, the Centre for Invasion Biology in Stellenbosch and the United Nations Environment Programme in Afghanistan, where she advised on the use of nature-based solutions to increase resilience to climate change. She has also managed an inter-disciplinary research programme on adaptation to climate change in semi-arid regions, which included engaging with and communicating research findings and recommendations to policymakers, practitioners and small-scale farming communities. Additionally, Dian has written op-eds and news stories for newspapers, including News24, Mail & Guardian and Daily Maverick.
Experience
-
2025–presentSenior researcher, Centre for Sustainability Transitions, Stellenbosch University
-
2021–2025Bioinformatics Manager, South African National Parks
-
2020–2021Life Science Editor, Enago
-
2020–2021Freelance writer, Daily Maverick
-
2019–2020Life Science Editor, Cactus Communications
-
2014–2018Research Fellow, University of Cape Town
-
2012–2014Climate Change Consultant, C4 EcoSolutions
-
2013–2014Climate Change Advisor, United Nations Environment Programme
-
2008–2012Postdoctoral researcher, Centre for Invasion Biology, Stellenbosch University
Education
-
2008Stellenbosch University, PhD Zoology
-
2005University of Cape Town, MSc Conservation Biology
-
2003Rhodes University, BSc Honours African Vertebrate Biodiversity
Contact Dian for
- General
- Media request
- Speaking request
- Consulting / Advising
- Research collaboration
- Research supervision
- Location: Cape Town, South Africa
- Article Feed
- ORCID
- Joined
