Dr. Diana Francis is an atmospheric and climate scientist and Head of the Environmental and Geophysical Sciences (ENGEOS) Lab at Khalifa University, UAE. With over 20 years of experience in climate dynamics, extreme weather, and environmental risk modelling, her work focuses on how climate variability and extremes affect water security, land productivity, and food systems, particularly in arid and climate-vulnerable regions.
Her research explores the impacts of rising temperatures, shifting rainfall patterns, and sand and dust storms on agriculture, soil health, crop yields, and supply chain stability. She integrates satellite remote sensing, high-resolution atmospheric modelling, and artificial intelligence to develop early warning systems for extreme heat, dust events, and hydroclimatic hazards, supporting climate-smart agriculture and risk-informed planning.
Dr. Francis leads the Climate Data and Modelling Cluster for the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment and is a member of the AIM for Scale Weather Forecast Panel, advancing climate services for agricultural resilience.
At the Food Systems Forum 2026, Dr. Francis brings a science-based perspective on how climate volatility is reshaping agricultural risk, and how data-driven climate intelligence can help build resilient, adaptive food systems that feed a growing population while sustaining the planet.