Meet our experts

Stephen Hayward - Senior Data Scientist

Stephen Hayward is one 4 data scientists at Agrimetrics.

I originally trained as a Mechanical Engineer at Liverpool University where I graduated with a BEng. I subsequently joined Caterpillar (Perkins Engines) where I worked as a design and development engineer on a new diesel engine program. I shifted career direction quite significantly towards the geospatial domain after a few years at Caterpillar in pursuit of an MSc in Geographical Information Management at Cranfield University. During my studies I developed my skills in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) but also specifically discovered my passion for Earth Observation (EO) and Remote Sensing. Following graduation, I worked at Rothamsted Research as a GIS and Remote Sensing specialist on a temporary basis, supporting an Innovate UK project "Advancing Earth Observation Applications in Agriculture" which gave me my first taste of the agricultural domain. I supported the project through improving data management and development of time-series analysis.

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After my short time at Rothamsted, I joined Airbus Defence and Space on the early careers programme as an EO Data Engineer/Data Scientist. I worked on developing applications in a variety of domains such as Maritime and Agriculture but also developing Image Quality Assurance tools for optical imagery.  Some examples of applications I worked on were vessel detection (from SAR Imagery) and crop type classification (applying Machine Learning techniques to timeseries SAR imagery). In R&D, I worked on Super-resolution of optical imagery, Sulphur Dioxide monitoring and an early phase project investigating how EO data could be used to help tackle Modern Slavery. I recently completed a "Nanodegree" on Artificial Intelligence and have been focussing my development and career towards learning and applying this exciting topic. Outside of work I play sports (tennis, football, running, cycling), enjoy cooking and love being outdoors exploring the countryside.

Why did you want to move into the agrifood industry?

Having worked as a generalist EO Data Scientist on a variety of applications, I enjoyed my time working on agricultural applications most. It is an industry which we all rely on so greatly to provide some of our basic needs. Many of us (including me not so long ago!) took for granted having food on our plate each day, yet the reality is that there is a lot of work to be done to ensure food security remains in such a volatile geopolitical environment. In addition, the sharp focus on reducing the environmental impact within the agri-food industry provides great challenges and requires major changes. The opportunity to focus solely on this sector to make a positive impact at such a pivotal time for the industry is what inspired me to make the move into agrifood.

How do you think data science can help solve some of the issues in the industry?

Agnostic of application or industry, the role of data science is to turn unstructured noisy data into meaningful and actionable insights. The agri-food industry, arguably more than any other industry, is currently being hit on so many fronts; climate change, a looming cost-of-living crisis and decreasing subsidies to name a few. Never has the need for leveraging the role of data science been more important to help solve these challenges. Measuring, analysing and extracting valuable information from data (coming from for example Earth Observation satellites, weather stations, sensors in the field) for decision makers to act upon, from a political level right through to farmers on the ground, is the only way that these challenges will be overcome. This is how data science will support the industry.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given.

Not to think too far into the future, dwell for too long in the past or worry about things outside of your control. Instead concentrate your efforts on the present and what is within your sphere of influence. "A series of small wins will lead to great success in the long term".