Nationality: South African
Institution: University of the Witwatersrand
Department: Palaeontology under the School of Geoscience in the Faculty of Science
PAST programme support: Degree support
Research title: Surface Fauna from the Cave of Hearths.
“My name is Lesedi Jasmine Mankgele. I am 22 years old and an aspiring palaeontologist and zooarchaeologist.
I was born in the year 2002, on the first of first of February. I come from a family of four, that includes me, my mother, father, and younger brother. I grew up in a supportive and loving home in the north of the vibrant city of Pretoria in the Gauteng province, South Africa. I attended Laerskool Theresapark for my primary education from 2009 to 2015. I completed my high school education in 2020 at Hoërskool Akasia.
Through the years I have always had an affinity for science and biology which led to me pursuing a BSc in biological science at the University of the Witwatersrand. In my third year, I took a palaeontology elective which sparked an undeniable interest in the field that I just could not pass up on. I completed my undergraduate degree in the year 2023. I am now pursuing an Honours degree in Palaeontology with the aid of the Palaeontological Science Trust (PAST). My aspiration in life as it stands is to be a contributing member to the field of palaeoscience and zooarchaeology.”