School Welcomes National Geographic Scientist

On January 17, 2014, St. Mark’s hosted paleoanthropologist Lindsay Eaves, who spoke to various Biology and Life Science classes about the recent National Geographic Rising Star expedition in South Africa. Ms. Eaves was part of a team of scientists with a unique set of skills: each “underground astronaut” was required to have a master’s degree or Ph.D. in paleontology, archeology, or an associated field, as well as caving experience. In addition, they had to be able to fit through a seven inch wide choke point leading into the caves.

 

In an engaging and humorous lecture, Ms. Eaves described her experience recovering the fossils of early humans from the Rising Star caves, located in South Africa 100 feet below the earth’s surface. She also answered specific questions from faculty and students.

 

Ms. Eaves and the Rising Star caves were already well known to the students in Eugene McDermott Master Teacher John Mead’s science classes, who followed the expedition’s social media updates last November, and shared the scientists’ excitement as they recovered an ancient skull from the caves.