On Campus
Lee Berger Paleoanthropologist and explorer Lee Berger returned to campus to speak with Upper and Middle School students about his historic discoveries and new developments at his dig site in South Africa. In 2012, Professor Berger visited St. Mark’s and shared the story of his discovery of Australopithecus sediba, a 2-million-year-old skeleton of an early hominid. The discovery was made by Berger’s 9-year-old son, who was exploring the area around the dig site. Before and after his initial visit, Berger kept in touch with John Mead, Eugene McDermott Master Teaching Chair in Science, through email and
During his campus visit, Professor Berger cautioned
social media. Berger even tweeted with some of Mr.
students not to let technology replace actual
Mead’s science classes from his dig site in Africa.
exploration. “We need your generation to step out
Over the summer of 2013, Mr. Mead used the Seay
from behind the computer screen and get back out
Family Professional Development grant to visit
in the field. There are things all around you to be
Berger’s lab at Wits University in Johannesburg.
found, and you will not find them on a screen.”
St. Mark’s School of Texas
(top) Dr. Lee Berger shows the fossil he and his son discovered. (above) Dr. Lee Berger signs copies of his book.
Spring 2015 | On Campus
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