A KOMANI woman, Cebisa Mdekazi, has been awarded the R80 000 Palaeosciences Honours bursary.
The Johannesburg-based NGO the Palaeontological Scientific Trust (PAST), in collaboration with the Department of Science and Technology’s NRF Centre of Excellence in Palaeosciences (CoE-Pal), accepted applications late last year for the bursary.
In a media statement this week it was indicated that, after a stringent approval process, which included the need to have a minimum average of 70% in the previous degree and current research in one of the disciplines of Palaeosciences: Palaeontology, Palaeobotany, Palaeo-anthropology or Stone Age Archaeology, Mdekazi had been awarded the bursary.
“We have so many talented students in South Africa and Africa, yet those going on to advanced, research-based studies are still too low. We are therefore excited to be able to offer an opportunity to Cebisa to explore all of her horizons while undertaking important research in the origin sciences,” says PAST’s Chief Scientific, Education and Fundraising Strategist, Prof. Robert Blumenschine.
Apart from supporting cutting-edge museum, laboratory and field research in the origin sciences at African institutions, PAST provides bursaries for postgraduate students in the origin sciences at Honours, Masters and Doctoral levels, post- doctoral fellowships, and funds facilitating the participation of African students in established origin sciences field schools. The current award is for Honours level studies.
“Young African scientist development is close to our heart and has been one of PASTS’s key programmes for many years. We wish Cebisa well in her future studies and look forward to watching her grow as a scientist,” says Blumenschine.
PAST is dedicated to the mission of protecting, preserving and promoting the scientific evidence for our shared origins in Africa and to making this evidence valuable to the future of humankind.
“In order to do this it is important we retain valuable skills in the origin sciences in Africa. Our numerous educational initiatives, from our Walking Tall Theatre Education project to supporting doctoral research and fieldwork, are designed to do just that. Our vision is to inspire scientific curiosity and an appreciation for ancient heritage among Africa’s youth, and to develop global scientific leadership by African origin scientists,” says PAST CEO Andrea Leenen.