About ESD
Making sense and growing in a changing world.
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EarthSystemData was formed, launched, and continues to be run by myself, Dr. Craig Wallace.
Our company mission is to provide organisations with the absolute best-possible scientific data and analyses to fore-arm themselves against ongoing climate change and volatility. The climate system is in a present state of re-configuration, the final outcome of which remains unclear. The climate research community has devised numerous predictive and adaptive tools and data to enable society to build adaptive capacities now – to hedge against climate-driven instability. Our specialism is the generation of tailored made data & intelligence, on a case-by-case basis, utilising research-backed methods and outputs. The output of our services is actionable information.
A bit more about me and the company: The ESD project began in 2010 with a few lines of code to display updates of some NOAA data as part of a post-doctoral research position. Since then, this has given rise to two mobile apps, and it lit the fire to form an independent company. Much of my research work involved applying climate model simulation output to help organisations form climate response strategies.
I’ve also extensively researched the physical climate system per-se, focussing on atmospheric circulation, land surface processes, and major climate indices such as the global temperature record.
In addition to this specialism I am also an expert-level scientific programmer, Unix sys-admin, and experienced front-end web developer, all of which I deploy in ESD’s work. Some highlights of running ESD over the last few years include:
- The initial company formation, full time in 2019;
- Surviving the United Kingdom’s CV-19 lockdown restrictions: we received zero assistance since we were a newly-registered company;
- Winning our first contracts for domestic and international companies;
- Winning a UK Innovation and Research Award in 2023!
My Background
D.Phil Climatology, MSc Climate Change, BSc Physical Geography.
Craig Wallace
Founder and Owner
01.
EDUCATION & EMPLOYMENT
Prior to founding ESD I worked at the world-renowned Climatic Research Unit – one of the pioneering scientific institutes which first analysed the Earth’s climate system. I completed several government-funded research projects, in addition to being awarded a Doctorate from the institution.
Between two stints the Climatic Research Unit, I was a post-doctoral scientist at the National Oceanography Centre in the United Kingdom. Here I was the Knowledge Transfer Manager for the UK’s flagship ‘RAPID’ climate research program investigating the stability of the Gulf Stream system.
02.
SKILLS & EXPERIENCE
My background lies in the analysis of modelled and observed climate data, and the climate system per se. For my PhD research I ran IPCC-class computer climate models and, over the years, have developed a wide portfolio of analytical methods and scientific computing skills, including ForTRAN, IDL, Python, MatLab as well as scientific platform scripting.
With colleagues, my research has helped create new methodologies to construct climate prediction data – specifically for climate impact studies, contributed to the understanding of Earth’s land/sea heating ratio and aspects of the annual temperature and atmospheric circulation cycles.
I’ve authored/co-authored a number of scientific research papers. Some of these have been cited within UN-IPCC reports. I have also been a contributing author to the UK Government’s Climate Impacts Reports. My work within the UK Marine Climate Change Impacts Program received UK Royal recognition.
03.
AWAY FROM THE DESK
Client delivery is always my priority, and a healthy work-life balance contributes to that efficiency. Running a business is extremely rewarding & can be all-consuming, but outside the office I have several passions:
Photography and design is a huge passion – digital design overlapping with ESD’s work. I shoot photos on a Sony Alpha 6 and love capturing moments and stories. I love reading physics and fiction.
I am a certified CrossFit Level-1 trainer and train CrossFit / calisthenics to combat the effects of 20-years sat at a desk. I am a certified Emergency First Aider and my favourite ice cream is mint chocolate chip.
Acknowledgements.
Several people have contributed to ESD over the years and I would like to thank them. First and foremost to all of our clients and partners – especially those who continue to support ESD in our relatively early stages. Colleagues at CRU and NOC UK were instrumental in my training and development, none more so than Professor Tim Osborn. Ashley Whitehair became our first employee, working with ESD between 2020 and 2021. David Clark has advised ESD on several occasions. My direct family have provided steadfast support when it mattered the absolute most. In so many ways they are invaluable to me.
"The Earth is the only world known so far to harbor life. There is nowhere else, at least in the near future, to which our species could migrate. Like it or not, Earth is where we make our stand."
-Carl Sagan