The world is waiting to be explored. Come discover it with us.
Find out how our grantees are making a significant impact with the latest articles, events, news and content from our Palaeoscience community.
Why Palaeoscience is important
What can the past teach us about our future? Everything.
From dinosaurs, mass extinctions and meteorite impacts to the evolution of our species, the Palaeosciences has always inspired wonder and intrigue.The practical benefits of Palaeoscience span across many areas, including insights into modern human medicine and biological conservation to creating a love of learning and enabling positive societal change through a shared understanding of our human heritage.
As our knowledge of the Earth and human history expands, we begin to discover just how connected we all are, how the past impacts the future, and what we can do to protect our planet today and beyond.
Research Projects
Research inspired by a fossil collection unlike any other.
In the heart of Africa, where South Africa has an unmatched geographical record, our four major research themes provide unique insights into the story of life.
Evolutionary Processes
This area of research centers on the study of evolutionary processes, biodiversity, and understanding the timing of evolutionary events within major clades. It involves analysing the global distribution of fossil taxa, as well as exploring the intricacies of functional morphology and key innovations in morphological evolution.
Cultural & Behavioural Evolution
Explore the pivotal shifts in material culture and behavioral patterns among early humans, elucidating their profound influence on the development of modern human behaviour.
Palaeo-environments & Palaeoclimates
Earth systems change dynamically, and when stretched beyond certain thresholds, lead to changes (and potentially collapses) in ecosystems and biodiversity. This theme uncovers the variability in the resilience of past ecosystems to fluxes through space and time.
Innovation
Utilising technologies to optimise the utilisation of fossils and archaeological material by enhancing efforts to explore, preserve, enhance, and research them is crucial. It is equally essential to seek out new, inventive methods for extracting and analysing information.
Latest updates
See what we’ve been up to with the latest news and events from GENUS.
Continuing a Legacy: GENUS Director Professor Jennifer Botha Inducted as RSSAf Fellow
Tall Grass, Long Legs – A New Lovebird Species From the Cradle of Humankind
Moschorhinus kitchingi: The Ancient Stocky Survivor of the Karoo
New Fossil Impumlophantsi boonstrai Sheds New Light on Early Therapsid Evolution
