Louise Leakey
Encyclopedia
Louise Leakey is a Kenya
n paleontologist. She does research and field work related to human fossil
s in Eastern Africa. She first became actively involved in fossil discoveries in 1977, at the age of six, when she became the youngest person to find hominid fossils. In 1993, she replaced her father as field expedition leader for Turkana
paleontological expeditions, in an arid and hostile environment. Today, together with her mother, Meave Leakey
, she leads the Koobi Fora
research project, which has been the main program behind some of the most notable hominid fossil discoveries of the past two decades, the most recent being Kenyanthropus platyops
.
Louise Leakey received her IB from United World College of the Atlantic, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Geology
and Biology
from the University of Bristol
. Later she received a PhD degree from the University of London
.
Louise Leakey was born in Kenya in 1972, the same year as her grandfather Louis Leakey died. She married Emmanuel de Merode
, a Belgian
primatologist in 2003. They have two daughters Seiya, born in 2004, and Alexia born in 2006.
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
n paleontologist. She does research and field work related to human fossil
Fossil
Fossils are the preserved remains or traces of animals , plants, and other organisms from the remote past...
s in Eastern Africa. She first became actively involved in fossil discoveries in 1977, at the age of six, when she became the youngest person to find hominid fossils. In 1993, she replaced her father as field expedition leader for Turkana
Turkana
Turkana may refer to:* Turkana people of Kenya and Ethiopia* Turkana language of Kenya and Ethiopia* Lake Turkana in Kenya* Lake Turkana National Parks* Turkana District in Kenya* the fictional world of Turkana IV in a Star Trek Next Generation episode...
paleontological expeditions, in an arid and hostile environment. Today, together with her mother, Meave Leakey
Meave Leakey
Meave G. Leakey is together with her husband Richard Leakey one of the most renowned contemporary paleontologists. She studies the origin of mankind in Africa.-Flat-Faced Man of Kenya:...
, she leads the Koobi Fora
Koobi Fora
Koobi Fora refers primarily to a region around Koobi Fora Ridge, located on the eastern shore of Lake Turkana in the territory of the nomadic Gabbra people. According to the National Museums of Kenya, the name comes from the Gabbra language:...
research project, which has been the main program behind some of the most notable hominid fossil discoveries of the past two decades, the most recent being Kenyanthropus platyops
Kenyanthropus platyops
Kenyanthropus platyops is a 3.5 to 3.2 million year old hominin fossil that was discovered in Lake Turkana, Kenya in 1999 by Justus Erus, who was part of Meave Leakey's team...
.
Louise Leakey received her IB from United World College of the Atlantic, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Geology
Geology
Geology is the science comprising the study of solid Earth, the rocks of which it is composed, and the processes by which it evolves. Geology gives insight into the history of the Earth, as it provides the primary evidence for plate tectonics, the evolutionary history of life, and past climates...
and Biology
Biology
Biology is a natural science concerned with the study of life and living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy. Biology is a vast subject containing many subdivisions, topics, and disciplines...
from the University of Bristol
University of Bristol
The University of Bristol is a public research university located in Bristol, United Kingdom. One of the so-called "red brick" universities, it received its Royal Charter in 1909, although its predecessor institution, University College, Bristol, had been in existence since 1876.The University is...
. Later she received a PhD degree from the University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
.
Louise Leakey was born in Kenya in 1972, the same year as her grandfather Louis Leakey died. She married Emmanuel de Merode
Emmanuel de Merode
Prince Emmanuel de Mérode is the Director of Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo .-Background:...
, a Belgian
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
primatologist in 2003. They have two daughters Seiya, born in 2004, and Alexia born in 2006.
See also
- List of fossil sites (with link directory)
- List of hominina (hominid) fossils (with images)
External links
- Koobi Fora Research Project
- Leakey Foundation
- http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2003/11/1104_031104_louiseleakey.html
- TED Talks: Louise Leakey digs for humanity's origins at TEDTED (conference)TED is a global set of conferences owned by the private non-profit Sapling Foundation, formed to disseminate "ideas worth spreading"....
in 2008