David Maphisa
David Hlosi (aka Sishozonke) Maphisa has spent up to 10 years systematically collecting data on many rare species and contributing valuable data to citizen science projects on various biota. In 2010 he enrolled as the first student of Res Altwegg under SEEC after Mark Anderson of Birdlife South Africa (his employer) successfully persuaded him that all the data that he has been collecting need to be statistically translated into a conservation story. This led David to join SANBI in pursuance of the above idea. Subsequently, David graduated with a PhD in Statistical Sciences in 2015. Upon graduating, David became honorary associate with SEEC and a core member of SEEC mostly co-publishing with SEEC and BirdLife South Africa. Although David can now analysis data that he collects himself, he still prefers outdoor life recording wildlife things than sitting behind the computer!