Nationality: South African

Institution:  University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg

Department:  Evolutionary Studies Institute

PAST programme support: Degree support

Project title: Palaeoclimate signature from Permian and Triassic fossil woods of southern Africa.

Simoné Kock is a PhD student at the Evolutionary Studies Institute, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa. Her ongoing thesis project focuses on the palaeoclimate signatures of the Permian-Triassic fossil woods of southern Africa. These palaeoclimate signatures may supply information on the climate conditions for the Permian-Triassic period of southern Africa and supplement the existing palaeoenvironmental interpretations for the Southern Hemisphere. Simoné has presented her academic work at the bi-annual PSSA (Palaeontological Society of Southern Africa) Conference and Genus (DSI-NRF) Lecture Series for students. Simoné’s thesis research is supported by: The Palaeontological Scientific Trust (PAST), Johannesburg, South Africa; and Genus: DSI-NRF Centre of Excellence in Palaeoscience.

Simoné has a MSc in palaeontology (with distinction) from the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa. Her Master’s dissertation focussed on the palaeoclimate signatures of the Permian-Triassic aged fossil woods of the Main Karoo Basin of South Africa and confirmed the palaeoclimate significance of the fossil woods. Before pursuing her PhD degree in palaeontology, Simoné took a few years to pursue other avenues of interest. This included working for the Evolutionary Studies Institute Outreach Programme at the University of the Witwatersrand; and completing a one-year course in Economics (with distinction) through Wits Plus at the University of the Witwatersrand.