Bones - Keneiloe Molopyane
Dr Keneiloe Molopyane: Explorer / Archaeologist / Biological Anthropologist / Palaeoanthropologist; Post-doctoral fellow Centre for the Exploration of the Deep Human Journey, University of the Witwatersrand; National Geographic Emerging Explorer; Featured on CNN Africa; #blackinexploration #archaeology, #palaeoanthropology #exploration
Watch Keneiloe on CNN along with the awesome Kolisa Sinyanya (another SuperScientist- Nitro!) and Ndoni Mcunu. You can download for FREE Keneiloe’s poster and all 48 we’ve made so far.
Her Research Exploration is the name of the game. I would describe myself as an archaeologist/palaeoanthropologist. I study artefacts and human and fossil remains from archaeological and palaeontological sites. I was one of the later “underground astronauts” involved in the Homo naledi excavation and now work on the team excavating the super exciting #105site in the Cradle of Humankind. With all of this work, what we learn about the past mistakes or successes from the ancient world can be used as to help us safeguard our future as modern humans.
That Science Spark: My initial inspiration for becoming an archaeologist came from watching Saturday morning cartoons with my mom. We were watching our first episode of the Adventures of Tintin, the Cigars of the Pharaoh. I immediately got hooked on the show. Despite Tintin not being an archaeologist, I was intrigued by the adventures and mysteries surrounding ancient artifacts featured in the show. I was seven years old at that point, and haven't looked back on my decision yet.
Her Heroes: My biggest heroes have got to be my immediate family. I'm not the only explorer in the family, because they have been on this journey with me since day one. My academic mentors are also my heroes, among them Assistant Professor Alex Schoeman and Prof Lee R Berger. They have really taken me under their wing and nurtured my adventurous side.
Her Top Tip: It’s a difficult question because advice is usually tailored made, and one size rarely fits all. My best answer is: Be true to yourself. The dreams that you had as a child were real and pure. With sheer determination, those dreams can come true.
Her Superpowers! Bringing the dead to light! It sounds morbid and creepy, but that's what I do. I excavate objects and mortal remains (human or hominid) from often dangerous environments to bring them to the surface and into the realm of the living.
Her Scientific Strengths Exploration. I am willing to go where very few people dare to...with a pinch of caution of course.
What do you need to succeed? Tenacity, determination, curiosity, hard work, communication, and good humor
Scientists Are People Too: I started my career journey by watching cartoons. To this day, I still watch cartoons with a keen eye on how they influence the next generation of adults. Just the other day I got into Ducktales again. I remember watching the show as a child and didn't realise that it had such strong exploration themes running through the show.
In isiZulu
U-Dkt. Keneiloe Molopyane: Ngiyi-explorer / Archaeologist / Biological Anthropologist / Palaeoanthropologist; Post-doctoral fellow Centre for the Exploration of the Deep Human Journey, University of the Witwatersrand; National Geographic Emerging Explorer; #blackinexploration #archaeology, #palaeoanthropology #exploration
Ucwaningo lwakhe: Ngithanda ukuzichaza njenge-archaeologist/palaeoanthropologist. Ngihlaziya izinsalela zabantu nezitshalo zakudala ezindaweni ekumbiwa khona. Ngangingomunye wososayensi ababebandakanyeke kwi-Homo naledi excavation kanti manje sengisebenza nequmbu elicwaninga indawo yekhulu nanhlanu kwi-Cradle of Humankind okuyinto ejabulisa kakhulu. Inhloso yawo wonke lomsebenzi ukufunda emaphutheni nasezintweni ezeninhle ezazenziwa kudala ukuze sikwazi ukwesekela abantu banamuhla ikusasa eliqhakazile elingenazinkinga eziningi.
Inhlasi yobusosayensi: Ubusosayensi wakuthanda esamncane ebukela opopayi kumabonakube ngemigqibelo ekuseni. Wayethi ebabuka wachazwa indlela ababehamba ngayo beya ezindaweni eziningi bethola izinto ezahlukahlukene ezimangazayo zakudala, yilapho naye wafuna ukuba yingxenye yalabo bantu abahamba bethola izinto ezintsa zakudala ukuze bafundise abantu ngazo. Selokhu athanda labopopayi wenza isinqumo sokuthi naye uzobangusosaye, kuze kube yinamhlanje akaze aguquke kuleso sinqumo.
Amaqhawe akhe: Amaqhawe akhe ngumndeni wakhe, uthi igazi lobusosayensi ligijima emndenini wakhe wonke. Ngaphandle kwalokho ubusosayensi wazithandela ngokwakhu kodwa wakujabulela kakhu ukwesekwa ngumndeni wakhe. Abanye abantu abukela kubona ngothisha bakhe abamfundisa konke ayedinga ukukwazi ngesayensi ne-archaeology
Ithiphu yakhe: Ithiphu yakhe ithi ungazikhohlwa ukuthi ungubani. Abantu bangenza noma yini ukuze baphumelele bagcine sebengazazi ukuthi bangobani ngoba babegxile ekutholeni impumelelo.
Ama-Superpowers akhe: Ukwazi ukubuyisa izinto zakudala ezaziphila aziphilise futhi ukuze azokwazi akufunda kabanzi ngazo.
Izinto ozidingayo ukuze uphumelele: Udinga ukuzikhandla , ukusebenza kanzima nokungalilahli ithemba.