With this award, HERI strengthens its support for young black women and trans students in the palaeosciences.

The first timeline for fossils from Cradle of Humankind caves has been identified by a team of international scientists led by HERI’s Dr Robyn Pickering. The work, published in the journal Nature, also sheds light on the region’s climate conditions.

A team of scientists led by HERI’s Dr Jayne Wilkins has shown that humans in South Africa survived and thrived 74,000 years ago, despite the eruption of super-volcano Mount Toba.

Our Dr Robyn Pickering is recognised for outstanding contributions to science, engineering, technology and innovation.