Opha Pauline Dube

Biography

Pauline is a global environmental change scientist based at the University of Botswana (UB) in the Department of Environmental Science. She holds a PhD, University of Queensland (UQ), Australia (2000); an MPhil in Applied Remote Sensing, Cranfield University, UK. She is an Adjunct Professor, Griffth University, Australia (2026-27) where she was a visiting Fellow, 2012. She was also visiting Fellow, University of Oxford, UK, 2018. Pauline was appointed to the15 Independent Group of Scientists by the UN Secretary General for the 2023 UN Global Sustainable Development Report. She has served in and led local, regional and international research initiatives, applying innovative approaches to pull together resources and motivate groups to address environmental sustainability. She served in the International Geosphere Biosphere Programme Science Committee, 2008-2010; and as its Co- Vice Chair (2010-2015). Pauline was part of the IPCC assessment process from the 3rd WGII report to IPCC WGII AR6, 2022, assuming different roles including Coordinating Lead Author for the Global Warming 1.5 °C report. Currently she serves in the World Meteorological Organisation Scientific Advisory Panel and was Vice Chair, 2020-2022. She leads the Kalahari Basin Observatory Climate Resilience Network. Pauline received the UQ 2018 International Alumnus of the Year Award; and 2019 the UB Vice Chancellor’s Award for International Collaboration.