Alesi: The Life, Death, and Discovery of an Ancestor
2017-10-12 18:00 - 19:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Walter Payton College Prep High School, 1034 N. Wells St., Chicago, IL, 60610, United States
Register Today!
Nyanzapithecus alesi © Fred Spoor
The recent discovery of a 13 million-year-old fossil infant ape skull has offered a rare glimpse of what the common ancestor of all living apes and humans may have looked like. The fossil, nicknamed “Alesi,” belongs to a newly named species called Nyanzapithecus alesi. Alesi was discovered in a desolate region of Kenya by John Ekusi, a member of Dr. Isaiah Nengo’s research team. In this talk, Dr. Nengo will share the story of finding this rare fossil and discuss the secrets that cutting-edge technology has uncovered about the life of this ancient infant.
Presented by The Leakey Foundation and the Chicago Council on Science and Technology
With generous support from:
Camilla and George Smith
Ann and Gordon Getty

Check out our Origin Stories podcast episode featuring Isaiah Nengo!

The Origins of the Genus Homo
2017-10-25 19:00 - 20:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | California Academy of Sciences, 55 Music Concourse Dr 94118, San Francisco, CA, 94118, United States
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KNM-FR181 © Fred Spoor
When did our ancestors look the way we expect the earliest members of our genus to have looked? When did they behave in the way we expect the earliest members of our genus to have behaved? The search for what defines the genus Homo has spanned decades and is still debated among scientists today. In this talk, paleoanthropologist Dr. Bernard Wood will survey the history of attempts to find the earliest members of the genus Homo, including very recent and controversial additions. He will review the complications that arise from defining the genus and discuss how half-a-century of paleontological research has taught him what to look for within the hominin fossil record when searching for the origins of our genus Homo.
Presented by The Leakey Foundation and the California Academy of Sciences
With generous support from:
Camilla and George Smith
Ann and Gordon Getty

Check out our Origin Stories podcast episode featuring Bernard Wood!
https://soundcloud.com/origin-stories/episode-07-the-currant-bush-of

Science Speakeasy: Fake or Fact?
2017-11-01 18:00 - 21:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Public Works, 161 Erie Street, San Francisco, CA, 94103, United States
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How can you tell what’s fake and what’s fact when it comes to science? Join New York University biological anthropologist Dr. Todd Disotell and Science Friday’s Undiscovered podcast co-host and producer Elah Feder for an evening separating the fantastical from the factual.
Disotell will discuss how he uses DNA evidence to test hypotheses on everything from the intricacies of our evolution to the existence of “Bigfoot.” Feder will share a story about a science headline gone wrong and her quest to find the truth.
Science Speakeasy mixes science with storytelling and blends learning with conversation, drinks, food, hands-on experiments, and more.
Ages 21+, ID required for entry
Presented by The Leakey Foundation and the Bay Area Science Festival
With generous support from:
Camilla and George Smith
Ann and Gordon Getty

Rewriting Modern Human Origins: Insights from New Discovery in Morocco
2017-11-08 18:30 - 20:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | The Houston Museum of Natural Science, 5555 Hermann Park Drive, Houston, TX, 77030, United States
Buy Tickets Now!
Composite reconstruction of Homo sapiens fossils from Jebel Irhoud, Morocco © Philipp Gunz
Newly discovered Homo sapiens fossils in Jebel Irhoud, Morocco, push back the origins of our species by 100,000 years. The fossils show that by about 300,000 years ago, important changes in our biology and behavior had taken place across most of Africa. Dr. Shara Bailey is part of the international research team that has been studying these fossils. In this talk Dr. Bailey will discuss her comprehensive study of the cranial and dental remains. She will also share how these fossils are reshaping our understanding of how we evolved.
Presented by The Leakey Foundation and the Houston Museum of Natural Science
With generous support from:
The Brown Foundation, Inc.
Camilla and George Smith
Ann and Gordon Getty

Check out our Origin Stories podcast episode featuring Shara Bailey!
https://soundcloud.com/origin-stories/episode-16-neanderthals

Film Screening: Rise of the Warrior Apes
2018-04-16 18:30 - 20:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Anderson-Clarke Center, Rice University, 6100 South Main Street, Houston, TX, United States
This event is a screening of the award-winning documentary Rise of the Warrior Apes featuring a question and answer session with collaborating scientist Dr. John Mitani.
Filmed over 23 years, Rise of the Warrior Apes tells the epic story of an extraordinary troop of chimpanzees in Ngogo, Uganda – featuring four mighty warriors who rule through moral ambiguity, questionable politics, strategic alliances, and destroyed trust.
Admission is free. Registration is not required.
If you have questions, please contact Arielle Johnson- email arielle@leakeyfoundation.org
Presented by The Leakey Foundation and Rice BioSciences
Sponsored by:
The Brown Foundation, Inc.
Ann and Gordon Getty
Camilla and George Smith

What Makes Us Human? Lessons from the Study of Wild Chimpanzees
2018-04-17 18:30 - 20:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | The Houston Museum of Natural Science, 5555 Hermann Park Drive, Houston, TX, 77030, United States
Chimpanzees and their sister species, the bonobo, are humankind’s closest living relatives. Because of this close evolutionary relationship, chimpanzees provide a model system to evaluate claims about human uniqueness.
John Mitani’s 23-year study of an unusually large community of chimpanzees at Ngogo in Kibale National Park, Uganda, continues to challenge our notions of what makes us human.
In this talk, Mitani will review findings that reveal some interesting parallels between humans and chimpanzees with respect to friendships, longevity, and cooperation. Humans form long-lasting friendships, live a very long time, and are an unusually cooperative species. Studies of the Ngogo chimpanzees indicate that the gap between them and us in these regards may be smaller than previously thought. These findings furnish new insights into chimpanzee behavior and are particularly relevant as we continue to struggle to conserve the dwindling populations of these animals.
This event is produced in partnership with the Houston Museum of Natural Science.
Sponsored by:
The Brown Foundation, Inc.
Ann and Gordon Getty
Camilla and George Smith

Atapuerca: Crossroads of Human Evolution in Europe
2018-05-02 19:00 - 20:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | California Academy of Sciences, 55 Music Concourse Dr 94118, San Francisco, CA, 94118, United States
Get tickets now!
© Atapuerca Foundation
Archaeological sites at Sierre de Atapuerca in Northern Spain offer extraordinary insight into the evolution of humankind. Atapuerca is a unique treasure trove that includes the earliest and most abundant evidence of humans in Europe, the earliest evidence of human cannibalism, and possibly the first burial in our history. Atapuerca is a UNESCO World Heritage site celebrated for its outstanding contribution to reconstructing the earliest human communities in Europe. In this talk María Martinón-Torres will discuss her work tracing the origins of our closest extinct relatives, the Neanderthals. She will also share how fossils of Homo antecessor, an early human species, found at Atapuerca have shifted our understanding of the ancestry of the first Europeans.
This event is produced in partnership with the California Academy of Sciences.
Sponsored by:
Ann and Gordon Getty
Camilla and George Smith
Virginia and Wilson Crook
Rebecca del Rio and Numa Marlborough

Discovering Us: 50th Anniversary Gala
2018-05-03 18:30 - 23:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | NY
Since 1968, The Leakey Foundation has supported scientists in their quest to discover what makes us human. Join us on May 3, 2018, at the St. Regis in San Francisco to celebrate the accomplishments of the past 50 years and explore the endless possibilities of the future.
“Discovering Us” will take you on an inspiring journey through some of many regions of the world where The Leakey Foundation funds research…from the painted caves of Europe to the jungles of South America, to the African savanna.
This very special evening will feature renowned scientists, a reception with a hosted bar featuring sparkling wine provided by Iron Horse Vineyards, a gourmet dinner with wine provided by Grgich Hills Estate, and South African music and dance performances by the Chinyakare ensemble.
Our program will be emceed by primatologist Kelly Stewart and will include remarks by Nina Jablonski and a keynote address by Kirk Johnson, Sant Director of the Smithsonian Institution National Museum of Natural History.
Our Young Professionals Group is hosting an after-party immediately following the dinner program. This exciting event will include two special virtual reality experiences – Lenovo’s virtual reality experience will let you visit Jane Goodall’s Gombe, and Dartmouth University will be bringing their Tarsier Vision Experience which will let you see the world through the eyes of a tarsier.

Proceeds from this event will help fund human origins research and outreach.
Every donation will be matched by a generous sponsor. Double your impact while enjoying an unforgettable evening!

This event will sell out quickly. Tables, sponsorships, and individual tickets are available now!
Click here to learn more about sponsorship opportunities
Click here to register

Thank you to our generous sponsors:
50th Anniversary Patrons
Gordon and Ann Getty, Camilla & George Smith
Platinum Sponsors
Nina Carroll, Collaborative Consulting, Alice Corning, Grgich Hills Estate, Austin and Sara Hills, Julie LaNasa and John Kunzweiler, Jeanne Newman
Gold Sponsors
Gianni Amato, Far Horizons, Carolyn Farris, J. Michael and Sally Gallagher, Iron Horse Vineyards, Mark Jordan and Jennifer Gomersall, Diana McSherry and Patrick Poe, Bill and Debby Richards, Barry and Audrey Sterling, Cole and Judy Thompson.

The Origins of the Genus Homo
2018-05-23 18:30 - 19:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Cindy Pritzker Auditorium in the Harold Washington Center of the Chicago Public Library, 400 South State Street, Chicago, IL, 60605, United States
KNM-FR181 © Fred Spoor
When did our ancestors look the way we expect the earliest members of our genus to have looked? When did they behave in the way we expect the earliest members of our genus to have behaved? The search for what defines the genus Homo has spanned decades and is still debated among scientists today. In this talk, paleoanthropologist Dr. Bernard Wood will survey the history of attempts to find the earliest members of the genus Homo, including very recent and controversial additions. He will review the complications that arise from defining the genus and discuss how half-a-century of paleontological research has taught him what to look for within the hominin fossil record when searching for the origins of our genus Homo.
This event is free to attend, no registration is necessary.
Doors open at 6:00 pm for a book signing of Dr. Bernard Wood’s book Human Evolution: A Very Short Introduction.
Presented in partnership with the Chicago Council on Science and Technology and The Chicago Public Library, Harold Washington Center.
Sponsored by:
Camilla and George Smith
Ann and Gordon Getty

Primate Palate: Orangutans, Obesity, and Human Evolution
2018-06-06 19:00 - 20:30 (America/New_York) | American Museum of Natural History, 56 West 81st St., New York, NY, 10024, United States
© Tim Laman
How can studying what orangutans eat help us better understand the obesity epidemic in humans? Dr. Erin Vogel shares her research on wild orangutans in the tropical forests of Sumatra and Borneo, illuminating how their diet, behavior, and metabolism can provide insights into the human condition. Vogel explores how orangutans are uniquely adapted for survival in Borneo’s forest and how this relates to human evolution.
This event is produced in partnership with the American Museum of Natural History.
Sponsored by
Ann and Gordon Getty
Camilla and George Smith
Register Now!

The Evolution and Meanings of Human Skin Color
2018-09-27 18:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | The Houston Museum of Natural Science, 5555 Hermann Park Drive, Houston, TX, 77030, United States
Buy Tickets Now!

Variation in human skin color has fascinated and perplexed people for centuries. As the most visible aspect of human variation, skin color has been used in the past as a basis for classifying people into “races.”
In this lecture, Nina Jablonski will discuss the evolution of human skin color and how color-based race concepts have influenced societies and social well-being. The evolution of human skin color is one of the best examples of natural selection acting on the human body. In the 200,000 year history of modern humans, similar skin colors have evolved independently numerous times in response to similar environmental conditions. Understanding the evolution and social importance of skin color can help eliminate color-based discrimination and racism.
This event is produced in partnership with the Houston Museum of Natural Science.
“Early Bird” tickets are $16 or $10 for Leakey Foundation supporters and museum members until September 19.
To receive the discount, call the museum box office at (713) 639-4629 and use the promo code “LECLeakeyFnd.”
Student Admission (at box office with valid student ID) – $8.00
Sponsored by:
The Brown Foundation, Inc.
Ann and Gordon Getty
Camilla and George Smith

Family Class: Skin We Are In
2018-09-29 09:00 - 10:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | The Houston Museum of Natural Science, 5555 Hermann Park Drive, Houston, TX, 77030, United States
Illustrations by Lynne Fellman
When we meet someone, one of the things we notice is the color of their skin. But what can someone’s skin color tell us about them? Despite what some people say, your skin color means very little! Inside we’re all the same.
Join anthropologist Nina Jablonski for an exploration of the science behind skin color. Jablonski will discuss the history of skin and its meaning. She will also read from her new book Skin We Are In.
More about Skin We Are In
Skin We Are In is the story of Njabulo, Aisha, Tim, Chris and Roshni, five friends who explore why humans have different skin and how people’s thinking about skin color has changed throughout history. The conversation topics of the children’s adventure are expanded and supported by scientific facts and research set amidst beautiful and vivid illustrations.
Skin We Are In is a collaboration between anthropologist Nina G. Jablonski, South African author Sindiwe Magona, and illustrator Lynn Fellman.
Copies of Skin We Are In will be available for purchase at the event.
The book is aimed at children between the ages of 8 and 14.
This event is produced in partnership with the Houston Museum of Natural Science.
Sponsored by:
The Brown Foundation, Inc.
Ann and Gordon Getty
Camilla and George Smith

2018 Fellows Tour - "Origins: China's Early Human History and Prehistoric Culture"
2018-10-08 - 2018-10-20, 2018-10-08 00:00 - 2018-10-20 23:59 (America/Los_Angeles) | NY
Download Itinerary and Registration Form

Join The Leakey Foundation on a journey like none other. This exciting and educational trip will combine behind-the-scenes exploration of China’s early human history with luxury experiences in the exciting modern cities of Beijing and Shanghai.

October 8-20, 2018 – Main Tour
October 20-23, 2018 – Extension
This once-in-a-lifetime adventure will take you from the bustling city of Beijing to the Nihewan Basin where some of the earliest stone tools and fossils of East Asia were discovered. You will visit the one-million-year-old archaeological site of Dongutou and receive special access to a new multi-acre facility for paleoanthropology research.
You will visit several UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the Great Wall of China, the Forbidden City, the Terracotta Warriors, and Zhoukoudian, the site where the Peking Man lived between 200,000 and 500,00 years ago. You will see some of the original sites where the Peking Man fossils were discovered.
Have questions? Email Sharal Camisa, Executive Director.
Cost Per Person

$7,499 for double occupancy
$8,499 for single occupancy

The cost of the tour includes a $1,125 tax-deductible donation to The Leakey Foundation. Your donation will be doubled by a generous donor.
Cost Includes

Round-trip airfare from San Francisco, economy class
High-speed train from Beijing to Xian
11 nights in centrally located first class hotels, all rooms with private facilities
Breakfast daily, 10 lunches, and five dinners
Sightseeing as per itinerary in private deluxe motor coaches with expert guides and all entry fees covered
Experienced English speaking tour director in China
All hotel taxes and service charges
All baggage handling and porterage at hotels
All air taxes and fuel surcharges

Download Itinerary and Registration Form

What Makes Us Human? Lessons from the Study of Wild Chimpanzees
2018-11-08 18:00 - 19:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Café Brauer, Lincoln Park Zoo, 2021 N Stockton Drive, Chicago, Illinois, 60614
Buy Tickets Now!

Chimpanzees and their sister species, the bonobo, are humankind’s closest living relatives. Because of this close evolutionary relationship, chimpanzees provide a model system to evaluate claims about human uniqueness.
John Mitani’s 23-year study of an unusually large community of chimpanzees at Ngogo in Kibale National Park, Uganda, continues to challenge our notions of what makes us human.
In this talk, Mitani will review findings that reveal some interesting parallels between humans and chimpanzees with respect to friendships, longevity, and cooperation. Humans form long-lasting friendships, live a very long time, and are an unusually cooperative species. Studies of the Ngogo chimpanzees indicate that the gap between them and us in these regards may be smaller than previously thought. These findings furnish new insights into chimpanzee behavior and are particularly relevant as we continue to struggle to conserve the dwindling populations of these animals.
This event is produced in partnership with the Chicago Council on Science and Technology and the Lincoln Park Zoo.
Sponsored by:
Ann and Gordon Getty
Camilla and George Smith

Film Screening: Rise of the Warrior Apes
2018-11-09 18:00 - 20:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Film Row Cinema, Columbia College, 1104 South Wabash Ave, Chicago, Illinois
5:30 PM Complimentary Reception
6:00 PM Film Screening
Doors to this event open at 5:30 PM. Join The Leakey Foundation and Chicago Council of Science and Technology for a complimentary reception with refreshments.
The film screening will begin at 6:00 PM. Filmed over 23 years, the award-winning documentary Rise of the Warrior Apes tells the epic story of an extraordinary troop of chimpanzees in Ngogo, Uganda – featuring four mighty warriors who rule through moral ambiguity, questionable politics, strategic alliances, and destroyed trust.
The screening will be followed by a question and answer session with collaborating scientist Dr. John Mitani.
This event is produced in partnership with the Chicago Council on Science and Technology and Columbia College.
Sponsored by:
Ann and Gordon Getty
Camilla and George Smith
Disclaimer: This movie contains scenes of violence that may be inappropriate for small children.
