The Senckenberg Society for Nature Research, the Werner Reimers Foundation, and the Daimler and Benz Foundation are jointly launching a new grant project. Under the management of Prof. Dr. Ottmar Kullmer from the Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum in Frankfurt, scientists are studying the biocultural evolution of humans in South East Asia.

The study of paleoanthropology at the Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum in Frankfurt was initiated by Gustav Heinrich Ralph von Koenigswald (1902-1982). In addition to his research into the evolution of our human ancestors, his scientific legacy includes an important paleontological and cultural collection comprising hominid fossils and stone tools from the Pleistocene, animal remains from an Indonesian site on the island of Java, along with letters, manuscripts, and many further documents. The new research project, which focuses on early human evolution and paleodiversity, builds on this knowledge. It should also be seen against the background of the “shared culture” discussion. Although the collection is located in Frankfurt, it will be made accessible to the international world of academia.

The participating organizations provide funding for a scientist from a South East Asian country to undertake a research sojourn of up to three years’ duration. The position at the Senckenberg Research Institute in Frankfurt is currently being advertised: (Link).The new research project is building on the experience and success achieved by a scientist on an earlier research sojourn: (Link).

Cooperating foundation: