Top teaching accolade for Prof Lee Berger
- Wits Alumni Relations
Renowned explorer honoured for sharing human evolution research “to the widest possible audiences”.
The National Association of Biology Teachers (NABT) announced that paleoanthropologist, explorer and Wits alumnus Professor Lee Berger (PhD 1994, DSc 2014) has been named the recipient of the 2023 NABT Distinguished Service Award for Enhancing Education through Biological Research.
“Professor Berger’s career is one of important discoveries, science communication, and adventure. He epitomizes so much of what NABT stands for in life science teaching: curiosity, exploration, openness, excellence, and growth. We are honored to give him this award, " said Dr Tara Jo Holmberg, president of NABT.
The NABT Distinguished Service Award was established in 1988 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the association. This award recognises individuals who have made significant contributions to biology education through their research, writing, and teaching.
Professor Berger’s decades of research on human origins in Africa, Asia, and Micronesia have resulted in numerous new discoveries, including the discovery of two new species of early human relatives – Australopithecus sediba and Homo naledi. Recognised by the Smithsonian Museum as among the 10 most important scientific discoveries of the decade in 2020, Berger’s work at the Rising Star Cave System in Africa's Cradle of Humankind continues to inform understanding of human evolution. One of the most important aspects of Berger’s work is to communicate what we know about human evolution to the widest possible audiences.
Professor Berger is an internationally-recognised champion for open sourcing and open access science. He has authored more than two hundred scholarly papers and popular works, including several academic and popular books on paleontology. He was appointed as National Geographic Explorer in Residence, but remains at Wits in an honorary capacity.
In 2015, the Public Broadcasting Service, an American public broadcaster, aired the two-hour documentary, “Dawn of Humanity” about the discovery of Homo naledi by Professor Berger and a team of six women paleoanthropologists nicknamed the “Underground Astronauts”. The film was described as “thrilling” by The New York Times and garnered an Emmy nomination.
In May, it was announced that Netflix will highlight Berger’s work in the Cradle of Humankind during its third film in the “Unknown” series. “Unknown: Cave of Bones” was available to stream from 17 July 2023.
Most recently, Professor Berger and his team released preprint articles outlining their discovery of symbols and burials that suggest Homo naledi engaged in funeral practices.
“With great awareness of where this award originates, it is with humility and appreciation that I accept the National Association of Biology Teachers Distinguished Service Award. As an explorer and scientist, I am keenly aware that if, as I often predict, we are in the midst of the greatest age of exploration, then it is science teachers, such as the members of this great association, that stand in the vanguard of ensuring that this generation, and the next, is prepared to seize the arsenal of weapons of discovery and knowledge transmission that are at their disposal, and evolving in front of them, and do good.
“However, to truly capitalise on this moment and make the planet a better place for all its current residents, we require quality science education and quality educators, such as this society promotes. Such tools, in a thus informed society, can also ensure we recognize the wondrous contributions of the past,” wrote Lee regarding his award.
“Through exploration and discovery, we can use the knowledge gained about history not only for conservation and preservation, but through awareness and understanding, and ultimately education, the past can teach us lessons to plan for a better future. By learning from these lessons from the human and non-human record alike, we ultimately make the world a better place for all. Thank you for this honor. Never stop exploring!” he said.
The award will be presented to Professor Berger at the 2023 NABT Professional Development Conference in Baltimore, Maryland in November.
Source: NABT