Zaheed Gaffoor

Dr. Zaheed Gaffoor is a Research Scientist with IBM Research Africa, currently pursuing research focused on development and application of the latest AI technology in climate and sustainability. Before joining IBM, Dr. Gaffoor worked as an environmental consultant, where he consulted on various project related groundwater exploration and resource development, shale gas mining, mine dewatering and saline water intrusion, and drought risk monitoring, amongst others.

Dr. Gaffoor completed his undergraduate degree in earth sciences at the University of the Western Cape, with honours specialising in oil and gas exploration. Thereafter, Dr. Gaffoor completed his master degree at the University of the Western Cape, focusing on the development of a hybrid geostatisical-hydrogeological approach to groundwater monitoring network design in advance of shale gas mining in South Africa. Finally, Dr. Gaffoor completed his PhD degree at the University of the Western Cape, where his research focused on determine the applicability of machine learning for groundwater management support in Southern Africa.