Lee R. Berger

Prof. Lee R Berger FRSSaf ASSAf is a Research Professor in Human Evolution and the Public Understanding of Science in the Institute for Human Evolution at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa and an Explorer in Residence at the National Geographic Society. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of South Africa and the Explorers Club and is a Member of the South African Academy of Sciences. He discovered the site of Malapa in 2008, and is the discoverer of the new species of early human ancestor Australopithecus sediba. He also was Principal Scientific Director of the Rising Star Expedition in 2013 which recovered the new species of early hominid Homo naledi.

Berger, an award-winning researcher, author and speaker is the recipient of the Friedel Sellschop Award for Young Researchers, the Golden Plate of the Academy of Achievement, and the National Geographic Society's first Prize for Research and Exploration. His work has been the recipient of Discover's top 100 Science Stories of the year on several occasions and he serves on the Senior Advisory Board of the Global Young Academy of Sciences. His work has been featured in National Geographic, Time and Scientific American. He was named the National Geographic Society's Rolex Explorer of the Year in 2016 and was named one of Time Magazines 100 Most Influential People in the World in 2015.

He has written numerous books and more than 200 popular articles and academic articles. He has appeared in dozens of television documentaries and is a regular commentator on evolution and palaeontology. An acclaimed speaker, he has delivered invited lectures to hundreds of corporate, government and other prestigious organizations, including the World Summit for Sustainable Development, the Royal Geographic Society, the Time, Fortune, CNN Global Forum, the Young Presidents Organization and the National Geographic Society.

He graduated from Georgia Southern University in 1989 and received his PhD from the University of the Witwatersrand in 1994, and his Doctorate of Science in 2014. Lee is an Eagle Scout, and Boy Scout Honor Medal winner and has been named a Distinguished Eagle Scout.

He is an avid Diver and PADI Divemaster.