Indonesia and South Africa share deep political, economic and cultural histories that have contributed to a lack of diversity in palaeoscience, says visiting academic Paige Madison from Arizona State University.

Visiting academic Kimberly Tommy writes about rediscovering her confidence as a scientist and a women of colour in academia during her visit to HERI.

A new code of conduct, driven by HERI’s Rebecca Ackermann, has been accepted by the UCT Science Faculty to help tackle discrimination and harassment in classrooms, laboratories, field camps and other settings.

Visiting academic Silindokuhle Mavuso writes about his time with HERI and how its gives validation to a diversity of students researching our origin story.

From equipment stores to on-the-ground support, HERI helps prepare student for the field so they can focus on what matters most.

Awarded by the Mail & Guardian at the end of Women’s Month, Ackermann said, “we all need to double down on uplifting women and fighting for their rights to exist and thrive in all spaces”.

The recent three-day Human Evolution Research Institute’s (HERI) field camp on the West Coast quietly marked milestones in Women’s Month at the University of Cape Town (UCT).

HERI’s Deputy Dean discussed her work in human evolution and gave insight into deeper questions around race and nationalism in the fourth Vice Chancellor’s Inaugural Lecture of the year.

HERI has announced new projects and fellowships aimed at driving a new generation of South African women scientists.

HERI has opened applications for young black South African women to apply for PhD and postdoc fellowships as part of the Advancing Womxn initiative.

Ayanda Mdludu, HERI archaeology student at UCT, shares the good and the bad that she's experienced as a young South African woman in the field.

HERI calls for young black women and trans students to apply for PhD and postdoc funding opportunities as part of the Advancing Womxn initiative.

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.