Field School Scholarship
The Joan Cogswell Donner Field School Scholarship provides funding to field site directors to help students access hands-on training in paleoanthropology, archaeology, and primatology. In 2025, The Leakey Foundation awarded eight scholarships supporting 29 students at field schools across Africa and Europe.
Field school is a crucial step in the journey to becoming a scientist, research assistant, or heritage management professional, but tuition can be unaffordable for students from the countries where field schools are located. Programs run by international institutions can cost upwards of $4,000, and slots for local students are limited. University archaeology programs often lack the resources or faculty to offer fieldwork, leaving students with theoretical training but no practical experience. The Joan Cogswell Donner Field School scholarship helps close that gap so students can participate in intensive training at active research sites.
This year’s recipients include recent graduates gaining their first excavation experience, research scientists expanding their methodological skills, and doctoral candidates preparing for careers in heritage management. They come from institutions in Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, and Ethiopia. Their training spans Middle and Later Stone Age archaeology, Miocene paleontology, rock art documentation, primate behavioral ecology, and paleoenvironmental reconstruction.
Several of this year’s field schools are led by African researchers building new models for training the next generation. Dr. James Munene, a previous Leakey Foundation grantee, Francis H. Brown African Scholar, and 2022 Joan Donner scholarship recipient, is working to launch the Lake Naivasha Basin Archaeological Field School as a pilot project to address the shortage of training opportunities for East African students.
Dr. Mariam Bundala, also a multiple-time Leakey Foundation grantee, runs an eight-week program at Magubike Rockshelters in southern Tanzania through the University of Dar es Salaam, taking students through the full arc of archaeological research. With support from this grant, six students will gain experience in surveying and excavation, cataloging, analysis, report writing, and community outreach.
The 2025 Joan Cogswell Donner Field School Scholarship recipients are:
- Dr. David Braun, Koobi Fora Research Consortium field training program, Kenya (2 students)
- Dr. Mariam Bundala, Magubike Rockshelters, Tanzania (6 students)
- Dr. Susana Carvalho, Gorongosa Interdisciplinary Training in Human Evolution, Mozambique (3 students)
- Dr. Philbert Katto, Kagera Rockshelters, Tanzania (8 students)
- Dr. Isis Mesfin, Mormolo Archaeological Project, Angola (1 student)
- Dr. James Munene, Lake Naivasha Basin Archaeological Field School, Kenya (4 students)
- Dr. Justin Pargeter, HOMER Consortium field training, Boomplaas Cave, South Africa (4 students)
- Dr. Marta Pina, Creu de Conill Paleontological Field Campaign, Spain (1 student)
In the coming months, we’ll share stories and photos from students about their field school experiences.