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Our World at Risk
S
outh African researchers are fortunate in having easy access to a treasure trove
of fossil and archaeological collections and the natural environments from which
they came, providing local researchers with a special advantage. UCT researchers
in particular have been able to use the South African environment as a natural
laboratory in which to explore questions about isotope systematics – how stable
isotopes are distributed through ecosystems. This type of approach is not possible
in more polluted or ecologically degraded parts of the world.
The
Ten-Year Plan for Science and Technology
of the Department of Science and
Technology (DST) identifies palaeontology (together with earth systems and environmental
sciences) as being among South Africa’s Science Missions, in which it advocates the
Palaeontological research aims to understand how and why
humans evolved as they did as well as why certain climatic
events occurred in some parts of the world and not in others.
Understanding our rich
Archaeological Past
The declaration by UNESCO of the Cradle of Humankind, the
Mapungubwe National Park and Ukhahlamba Drakensberg as
World Heritage Sites recognises South Africa’s exceptionally
rich archaeological heritage. Cutting-edge isotope research is
leading the way in understanding more of this wonderful legacy.