Semou Diouf

Semou Diouf is a climate scientist, specialized in the study of heatwaves, desert dust, urban pollution, and their health impacts in West Africa. He is currently a Postdoctoral Research Fellow within the METS synthesis team of the AFRIVERSE project. His work focuses on the development of climate attribution datasets and the establishment of an analysis platform designed to better understand and anticipate the impacts of climate on health.

He obtained his PhD in Applied Physics, with a specialization in Atmospheric and Climate Sciences, at the Université Gaston Berger of Saint-Louis (UGB, Senegal) in April 2025, under the supervision of Professor Abdoulaye DEME. His doctoral research focused on the detection and analysis of heatwaves in Senegal and their interactions with desert dust and urban pollution, highlighting their impacts on health.

Alongside his academic work, Semou has gained applied experience as a junior consultant in projects such as Senegal’s National Adaptation Plan (PNA-FEM) in collaboration with ANACIM (Agence nationale de l'aviation civile et de la météorologie). In this role, he contributed to the development of climate metrics tailored to the health sector, integrated into a decision-support platform.

He is also actively involved in associative and advocacy initiatives, such as Green Soldier and UGB Vert, where he has worked on themes related to climate finance, energy transition, and environmental justice.

Through his research and engagement in climate change adaptation policies, Semou aims to bridge the gap between climate science, public health, and adaptation planning, to enhance the resilience of vulnerable and marginalised communities in Africa.