Keneiloe Molopyane
on Archaeology and becoming a Super Scientist
“We all love a good fictional superhero, but real scientists, real people, have just as amazing powers!”
If you were to draw your SuperScientist character…what would it look like?
Keneiloe Molopyane, also known as “Bones”, is a real-life superscientist who might inspire you to design your own! Her superpower? “Bringing the dead to light!” It sounds morbid and creepy, but that’s what she does. She excavates objects and mortal remains from often dangerous environments “to bring them to the surface and into the realm of the living.”
Born from the desire to help the youth get closer to science while showing them exciting stories and insights about this fascinating field, the SuperScientists platform that Keneiloe launched, is the go-to place for all those who want to draw scientists as superheroes. It makes learning hands-on and fun, while providing rich information about science and scientists to people young and old.
Her dream of becoming an archaeologist started when she was seven years old while watching the Adventures of Tintin. It got her hooked, intrigued by the adventures and mysteries surrounding ancient artefacts. Her family, her “original superheroes”, nurtured her adventurous side. Not surprisingly, she made her childhood wish come true.
She is now an archaeologist and biological anthropologist, serving as a Lecturer in Archaeology at the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa. Her excavations include Iron Age/early farming community sites, underwater archaeological sites and paleoanthropological sites from the Cradle of Humankind.
The most intriguing question that drives her to dive fearlessly into caves, oceans and the deepest places on Earth is: “Where do we come from?”
That’s what led her to join Dragon’s Back, a team of “underground astronauts” expedition, which excavated in the Rising Star cave system in South Africa in search of fossil remains that shed light on human evolution: “For as long as there's people around asking questions, exploration isn't dead. Once we accept that, new and exciting things will come to light that will add to the story of our deep human journey.”
Her “stubbornness disguised as tenacity” led her to become the first South African black woman to be the Principle Investigator for Gladyvslave Cave, a paleoanthropological site at the Greater Cradle Nature Reserve in the Cradle of Humankind, South Africa.
As the former curator of the Maropeng and Sterkfontein visitor centres and Hi-Tec’s Heritage Hero 2020, she was named one of the 15 National Geographic Society Emerging Explorers and is a member of The Explorers Club.
Discover Keneiloe’s answers for Inspirators and fearlessly pursue your inner SuperHero!
Thank you, Keneiloe, for being a Super Scientist!
Stay inspired and inspire!
#INSPIRATORS QUESTIONNAIRE
Name: Dr Keneiloe Molopyane
Company / Institution: School of Geography, Archaeology and Environmental Studies, University of the Witwatersrand
Title: Lecturer; Archaeologist & Biological Anthropologist; National Geographic Society Emerging Explorer
Website: https://explorer-directory.nationalgeographic.org/keneiloe-molopyane
LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keneiloe-molopyane/
Country of origin: South Africa
Country you currently live in: South Africa
Your personal definition of Regeneration:
Main business challenge you face: Being an Early Career Academic is tough in general, as the journey to establishing yourself as a reputable academic is a challenging one in itself!
Main driver that keeps you going: Archaeology has been my dream career since I was seven years old! I am not exactly going to walk away from this so easily.
The trait you are most proud of in yourself: I guess it would be my stubbornness disguised as tenacity.
The trait you most value in others: Honesty and Objectivity.
Passions & little things that bring you joy: I really enjoy eating, and also cooking good food!
The #inspirators who determined you to take the regenerative path: I actually got into the palaeosciences via Saturday morning cartoons!
A hint or starting point for companies or professionals that are taking the first steps in the regeneration journey: Just take that first leap of faith and trust the process! All whilst working hard and intentionally at achieving the goal.
An honest piece of advice for young people who lose hope: Trust the process, and if you don’t like it or it’s not working for you, change it. Be the change instead of waiting for change.
Movies or Documentaries you would watch all over again: One of my favourite movies is Aliens. I’m a huge Ripley fan, she’s such a badass!
Music that makes you (and your heart) sing: Florence + The Machine.
Places you travelled to that left a mark on you: Washington DC (National Geographic Society Explorers Festival).
Global Regenerative Voices you recommend us to follow: SuperScientists and the league of scientists reimagined as superheroes.
Trends in Regeneration we should keep an eye on: African Storytelling.
Events we should attend: National Geographic Society Explorers Festival.
Associations, business clubs, tribes you belong to – and why: National Geographic Society and the Explorers Club.
I love exploring and sharing my adventures with a wide and varied audience. Both National Geographic and the Explorer’s Club are supportive of facilitating the journey to reaching one’s potential.
Regenerative Leadership qualities much needed today: Patience and empathy.
The #inspirator you are endorsing for a future edition of the newsletter is:
Lee Berger
The quote that inspires you:
“As you rise, raise others with you!” (Prof. Lee Berger)
Your own quote that will inspire us:
And pop that champagne! :)
