What’s new from the PAST?

Robert J Blumenschine,Andrea Leenen

doi:10.17159/sajs.2016/a0139

Abstract

2003, Bob Brain wrote in this journal about the first decade of operation of PAST, the Palaeontological Scientific Trust (then known as the Palaeo-Anthropology Scientific Trust). Entitled 'A perspective on the PAST', and written in his capacity as the NGO's scientific advisor, Brain described PAST's creation at the dawn of democracy in South Africa in 1994 as an effort to 'avert a serious financial crisis at the University of the Witwatersrand that was threatening the future of palaeoanthropological research there', particularly at the world-renowned Sterkfontein Caves. Brain outlined the central role PAST played in resuscitating student training and research in palaeoanthropology at Wits, such as supporting the discovery and development of the Little Foot skeleton at Sterkfontein, through public sector financial support from Anglo-American, Standard Bank, and other corporations.

Highlights

By 2003, Brain wrote that PAST was funding over 90% of human origins research in southern Africa
A growing and prominent board of trustees, and the infusion in 2002 of research funds from the South African Department of Science and Technology (DST) via the National Research Foundation (NRF), PAST expanded its support to the broader field of southern African palaeontology, including notably research in the richly fossiliferous Karoo Basin
The project’s origin sciences workshops were designed to meet the additional elements of PAST’s founding mission: promoting public education into the sciences related to our origins, among school children, and protecting South African hominid sites to facilitate palaeo-tourism

Summary

Introduction

By 2003, Brain wrote that PAST was funding over 90% of human origins research in southern Africa. A growing and prominent board of trustees, and the infusion in 2002 of research funds from the South African Department of Science and Technology (DST) via the National Research Foundation (NRF), PAST expanded its support to the broader field of southern African palaeontology, including notably research in the richly fossiliferous Karoo Basin.

Results

Conclusion