Rebecca Ackermann

The fossil skull that became known as the Taung Child introduced the world to a new hominin species 100 years ago. HERI

February 7, 2025

The fossil skull that rocked the world – 100 years later scientists are grappling with the Taung find’s complex colonial legacy

Rebecca Ackermann, University of Cape Town; Lauren Schroeder, University of Toronto, and Robyn Pickering, University of Cape Town

The history of human origins research is intimately intertwined with the prevalent socio-political landscape.

Visitors engage with artefacts at the exhibit. Robyn Walker

October 18, 2023

Rebecca Ackermann, University of Cape Town and Wendy Black, Iziko Museums of South Africa

The exhibit offers a close look at the problematic history of palaeoanthropology.

When women do science, society benefits in myriad ways. Solskin/Stock image/Getty Images

February 10, 2021

Natasha Joseph, The Conversation; Ogechi Ekeanyanwu, The Conversation, and Wale Fatade, The Conversation

Less than 30% of researchers worldwide are women. The biases and perceptions that keep women and girls out of STEM must be tackled.

More room should be made for archaeologists who do things differently. Robyn Walker/HERI

May 27, 2020

Robyn Humphreys, University of Cape Town; June Bam-Hutchison, University of Cape Town, and Rebecca Ackermann, University of Cape Town

There are some moves towards recognising and redressing archaeology’s colonial history.