Explorer who discovered early human relative, Homo naledi, to speak on the lost species at SMU

Contact: Kenny Ryan
khryan@smu.edu
214-768-7641

DALLAS (SMU) – Lee R. Berger, an award-winning researcher who discovered two new species of early human relatives, will discuss one of those species during a lecture titled, “Almost Human, the astonishing tale of the Homo naledi,” from 6-7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 17, at SMU’s Fondren Science Building, room 123.

Berger, professor of palaeoanthropology at the University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa, was recognized as one of the 100 most influential people in the world by Time Magazine in 2016. He has received the National Geographic Society’s first Prize for Research and Exploration, the Academy of Achievement’s Golden Plate Award, and was named the 2016 National Geographic Society’s Rolex Explorer of the Year. His work has brought him recognition as a Fellow of the Royal Society of South Africa, Royal Geographical Society, Explorers Club and the South African Academy of Sciences and prominent advisory positions including the Chairmanship of the Fulbright Commission of South Africa, the Senior Advisory Board of the Global Young Academy and the Centre of Excellence in PalaeoSciences of South Africa.

Berger’s explorations into human origins on the African continent, Asia and Micronesia for the past two and a half decades have resulted in many new discoveries, including the discovery of two new species of early human relatives – Australopithecus sediba and Homo naledi. His contributions to exploration sciences have also resulted in advances in the field of applied exploration methods and the application of technology to exploration, excavation and discovery.

Berger’s book, “Almost Human: The Astonishing Tale of Home naledi and the Discovery That Changed Our Human Story,” was published in 2017 by National Geographic Partners, LLC.

The event is cosponsored by The Lyda Hill Foundation, the Perot Museum of Nature and Science and Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences at Southern Methodist University. Attendance is free, but space is limited. Tickets are required via Eventbrite.

For more information: Visit the event’s Eventbrite page

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