Work for SAEON

The South African Environmental Observation Network (SAEON,  www.saeon.ac.za) is an initiative of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), the National Research Foundation (NRF) and the national Earth observation system stakeholders.

SAEON is an observation and research network that aims to deliver long-term reliable data for scientific research that will inform decision-making at all levels of government. The data is collected at specific nodes as well as being contributed by partner organisations.

Through its activities SAEON promotes a knowledge society and improved quality of life. It is an institutionalised network of organisations operating through permanent nodes (field stations) that are connected and coordinated for data and information sharing.

One of the SAEON goals is to develop an observation programme based on a series of core variables and to be measured by all of its nodes. The data gathered must be adequate for the future needs of the Earth observation science community and environmental policy makers, and provide for interpretation at multiple spatial and temporal scales. The process to determine those variables must be informed by international examples (e.g. GTOS, GOOS, IHDP, IGOS) and high-level user needs (e.g. State of Environment Report , scientific analysis and synthesis, GEOSS).

The challenging array of ecoregions, user needs and scientific disciplines will initially require progressive consultation and ongoing conceptualisation in partnership with the national research and user groups. Data resulting from the programme must be made publicly accessible, integrated with supplementary data, and transformed into user-friendly tools.

SAEON currently has three exciting and challenging positions available:

• Observation Science Specialist
• GIS Officer / Information Manager (Phalaborwa)
• Node Manager: Coastal-Inshore Zone (Grahamstown)