On May 9, 2022, Dataphyte welcomed 6 MSc candidates on research placement from the University of Edinburgh’s School of Social and Political Science (SSPS). The first of such a partnership between the School and Dataphyte, the placement programme was designed by the Edinburgh SSPS to help students facilitate research that are adaptable to real world challenges while also acquiring relevant policy and business experience and building relationships with stakeholders in their respective field. Dataphyte is providing this linkage, providing fellows with the requisite relevant experience to enrich their research.
Speaking at the onboarding programme for the 6 fellows, Dataphyte’s Programme Director and Managing Editor, Adenike Aloba, expressed her optimism at this partnership. According to her, being at Dataphyte offers the fellows a unique opportunity to conduct research that is rigorous, data-intensive and draws fresh insights from facts and figures that is enriched by on-the-ground insight.
In her words, she said that “Dataphyte’s partnership with the University of Edinburgh is a template for facilitating the critical connection between town and gown and our hope is that we can expand and replicate this model both locally and internationally”. She said further that embedding academic research in real-time practice will greatly enhance research outcomes and its uptake among stakeholders.
In a mix of virtual and physical work mode, students will spend about 8-10 weeks at Dataphyte, conducting research across various spectrums of Dataphyte’s work — from Nigeria’s climate change adaptation policies to digital health initiatives and Covid 19 policy communication in the Nigerian media.
Below is a brief profile of the 6 fellows:
Sarah Wolters
Sarah is an MSc candidate in Science and Technology in Society at the University of Edinburgh. During her placement at Dataphyte, she will research the socio-technical factors that influence the expansion of energy access in Nigeria viz a viz the Energy Transition Policy of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). Sarah holds a B.A in Public Management from Kehl University of Applied Sciences, Germany. She previously worked as a Government Official at the Ministry of Environment, Climate Protection, and the Energy Sector Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany.
Tesana Derrick
Tesana is currently studying the MSc in Africa and International Development at the University of Edinburgh. Tesana’s research will evaluate Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives and Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) strategies being used by International Oil Companies (IOCs) to mitigate the social and environmental impacts of their activities in oil ‘host communities’ in Nigeria’s Niger- Delta region. Tesana holds a B.A in English Literature from the University of Essex, United Kingdom.
Shane Londagin
Shane is currently an MSc candidate on the Global Environment, Politics and Society program at the University of Edinburgh. His MSc research will investigate the political processes that led to the formulation of Nigeria’s new Energy Transition Plan, 2021. Shane’s professional experience includes serving as Consulting Director at Six Degrees Edinburgh, and previously as Senior Project Manager at Power Grade Inc., Los Angeles.
Yongqi Hu
Yongqi is an MSc student in Public Policy at the University of Edinburgh. Her placement research with Dataphyte explores the coverage of Covid19 policy in the Nigerian state and private media using Framing Theory to analyse the impact of their linguistic strategies on the Nigerian public. Yongqi holds a bachelor’s degree in Public Affairs Management from the South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou. She previously worked as HR Assistant at Avery Dennison, Guangzhou, China.
Risty Restia
Risty is a student on the MSc in Global Health Policy at the University of Edinburgh. During her placement at Dataphyte, she will assess the role of public private partnerships (PPP) in providing better healthcare services in Nigeria. Risty has previously worked as Relationship Manager for the Oil & Gas Insurance Portfolio at PT Asuransi Jasa Indonesia in Jakarta, Indonesia. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Communication Management from the University of Padjadjaran, Bandung, Indonesia.
Natasha Khurana
Natasha is an MSc candidate in Global Health Policy at the University of Edinburgh. Her placement at Dataphyte will explore the digitisation of health programs and its impact on healthcare service delivery in Nigeria. Natasha has previously worked as a District Consultant at the Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India. She holds a B.A in Political Science from the University of Delhi in New Delhi, India.