A keynote excursion on interdisciplinarity, scholarly excellence and the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site – Part 2
TITLE:
From bones to 3D models: How imaging techniques have revolutionaized the search for human origins
ABSTRACT:
Since the discovery of the Taung child, which was the first fossil of a human ancestor found in Africa, South Africa has played a pivotal role in the search of our origins. The palaeontological sites of the ‘Cradle of Humankind’ have yielded a significant amount of fossil remains that document the history and biology of our ancestors and distant relatives. Besides the high density of fossils and their excellent preservation, the integration of imaging techniques into the traditional toolkit of palaeontologists has contributed to provide critical insights into our understanding of human evolution. In this presentation Dr Amélie Beaudet will explore how the combination of cutting-edge methods in ‘virtual palaeontology’ and the unique southern African fossil record is revolutionising the search for human origins.
For more information and the link, contact fpp@sun.ac or jackiedutoit@sun.ac.za
Amélie Beaudet is a paleoanthropologist and lecturer in Human Origins at the University of Cambridge (UK) and honorary researcher at the University of the Witwatersrand.