Robert Payne

Robert Payne

Robert is a MSc student at the University of Victoria, supervised by Dr. Adam Monahan and Dr. Derek van der Kamp. His research involves the use of generative adversarial networks – a type of machine learning model – for statistical downscaling of meteorological data to convection-permitting scales. He is especially interested in how these models can be used to aid our understanding and prediction of hazardous fire weather. His background includes an undergraduate degree in physics at the University of Victoria, and his previous research concerned how well certain global climate models are able to model trends and variability in sea ice cover around Antarctica, under the guidance of Joseph Martin, Dr. Adam Monahan, and Dr. Michael Sigmond. Outside of his studies, he particularly enjoys hiking, climbing, reading, music, and (amateur) photography of wildflowers and landscapes.