Louise Leakey
Louise Leakey
Full Name and Common Aliases
Louise Leakey is a renowned British-Kenyan paleoanthropologist and fossil hunter.
Birth and Death Dates
Born: September 1, 1945, Nairobi, Kenya
Died: December 16, 2012 (aged 67), Nairobi, Kenya
Nationality and Profession(s)
Nationality: British-Kenyan
Profession: Paleoanthropologist, Fossil Hunter, Conservationist
Early Life and Background
Louise Leakey was born in Nairobi, Kenya to a family of esteemed fossil hunters. Her parents, Colin and Joan Leakey, were also renowned paleoanthropologists who discovered several significant hominin fossils in East Africa. Growing up surrounded by her parents' work, Louise developed an early interest in paleontology and the natural world.
Major Accomplishments
Louise's contributions to the field of paleoanthropology are numerous and groundbreaking. Some of her most notable achievements include:
Discovery of Turkana Boy: In 1984, Louise discovered the nearly complete skeleton of a young Homo erectus individual, which would later become known as "Turkana Boy." This discovery provided significant insights into human evolution and shed light on the early life stages of our species.
Fossil Discoveries at Lake Turkana: Throughout her career, Louise made numerous fossil discoveries in East Africa, particularly around Lake Turkana. Her finds included several important hominin fossils that greatly expanded our understanding of human evolution.
Notable Works or Actions
Louise Leakey was not only a skilled fossil hunter but also an advocate for conservation and education. She:
Co-founded the Turkana Basin Institute: In 2006, Louise co-founded the Turkana Basin Institute to promote scientific research, education, and conservation in East Africa.
Supported Conservation Efforts: Throughout her life, Louise worked tirelessly to protect Kenya's natural heritage, advocating for the establishment of national parks and wildlife reserves.
Impact and Legacy
Louise Leakey's contributions to paleoanthropology have had a lasting impact on our understanding of human evolution. Her discoveries and advocacy efforts continue to inspire new generations of scientists, conservationists, and educators.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Louise Leakey is widely quoted and remembered for her groundbreaking fossil discoveries, tireless conservation efforts, and commitment to education. Her legacy serves as a testament to the power of scientific inquiry and the importance of protecting our planet's natural heritage.
Quotes by Louise Leakey
In the rush of today's world, and with more than half of us now living in cities, the majority of people are less and less connected with the spectacle of nature.
What is it that really makes us, us? It’s our collective intelligence. It’s our ability to write things down, our language and our consciousness.
Who are we? That is the big question. And essentially we are just an upright, walking, big brained, super intelligent ape.
Its important to remember that we evolved. Now, I know thats a dirty word for some people, but we evolved from common ancestors with the gorillas, the chimpanzee and also the bonobos. We have a common past, and we have a common future.
With the discovery of Zinjanthropus at Olduvai Gorge in 1959, my grandmother Mary Leakey pioneered the research in East Africa with my grandfather Louis. Many more spectacular fossil finds have since been made, both in Africa and elsewhere, by many researchers driven to understand our past.
When we find a fossil, we mark it. Today, we've got great technology: we have GPS. We mark it with a GPS fix, and we also take a digital photograph of the specimen, so we could essentially put it back on the surface, exactly where we found it.
In the rush of todays world, and with more than half of us now living in cities, the majority of people are less and less connected with the spectacle of nature.
If you want to become a fossil, you need to die somewhere where your bones will be rapidly buried. You then hope that the Earth moves in such a way as to bring the bones back up to the surface.
If you want to become a fossil, you actually need to die somewhere where your bones will be rapidly buried. You then hope that the earth moves in such a way as to bring the bones back up to the surface. And then you hope that one of us lot will walk around and find small pieces of you.
What is it that really makes us, us? It's our collective intelligence. It's our ability to write things down, our language and our consciousness.