At PAST, we are honoured to have a distinguished group of scientists on our Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC). These visionary individuals have not only made significant contributions to the field of palaeosciences but also continue to inspire, educate, and lead groundbreaking research that deepens our understanding of life on earth.
We are delighted to introduce three esteemed members joining our SAC: Prof. Emese Bordy, Prof. Anusuya Chinsamy-Turan, and Dr. Fredrick Manthi. Each brings a wealth of expertise, passion, and a unique perspective to our mission.
“Together, these exceptional scientists bring unparalleled expertise, vision, and passion to our organisation. Their contributions guide PAST’s mission to advance palaeosciences, educate future leaders, and engage the global community in understanding our shared origins.”
– Dr Kimberleigh Tommy, PAST CEO.
We extend our deepest gratitude to these outstanding individuals for their continued support and dedication. Their involvement ensures that PAST remains at the forefront of the palaeosciences, fostering a greater appreciation for our evolutionary heritage.

Prof Emese Bordy
Prof Emese Bordy is a Professor of Geology at the University of Cape Town, South Africa. She earned her PhD from Rhodes University and an MSc from Eötvös University, Hungary. After postdoctoral research at the Evolutionary Studies Institute in Johannesburg, she lectured at Rhodes University until 2011. Her research in clastic sedimentology focuses on biogeographic and palaeoecological processes in the Palaeozoic and Mesozoic depositional records of southern Africa.
Passionate about mentoring, she has supervised over 50 postgraduate students, including PhDs and postdocs, and enjoys her editorial work at academic journals.

Prof Anusuya Chinsamy-Turan
Professor Anusuya Chinsamy-Turan is an NRF A- rated, world-renowned palaeo-biologist based at the University of Cape Town. Her research on the microscopic structure of mineralised tissues has led to a better understanding of the biology of a variety of extinct animals, such as, dinosaurs (including birds), the flying reptiles, and the mammal-like reptiles (therapsids). She has been awarded numerous accolades including the South African Woman of the Year award for excellence in science and for her efforts in communicating science to the wider public. She is also the winner of the Department of Science and Innovation’s Distinguished Women in Science and has been awarded gold medal from Academy of Science of South Africa and the Royal Society of South Africa.
Prof. Chinsamy-Turan is currently the Honorary President of BirdLife South Africa and is former President of the Palaeontological Society of South Africa, and she is the former President of the Association of South African Women in Science and Engineering (SA WISE), former Deputy President of the Academy of Science of South Africa and has served as Director of Iziko Museums Natural History Collections. She has published extensively in high-ranking international scientific journals, and she has an H-index of 50. In addition, she has authored two academic books, The Microstructure of Dinosaur Bone (Johns Hopkins University Press, USA, 2005) and “The Forerunners of Mammals: Radiation. Histology. Biology” (Indiana University Press, USA, 2012). Beyond her remarkable scientific contributions, Professor Chinsamy-Turan is a celebrated science communicator, bringing the wonders of palaeosciences to the public through her extensive authorship of books and public engagements. Besides her academic works, she has four popular level books: “Famous Dinosaurs of Africa” (RandomHouseStruik, SA, 2008); “Fossils for Africa” (Cambridge University Press, 2014); Dinosaurs of Africa (RandomHouseStruik, 2021); Dinosaurs and other Prehistoric Life (Dorling Kindersley, UK, 2021).

Dr. Fredrick Manthi
Dr Fredrick Manthi is a senior research scientist, founding director of the West Turkana Paleo Project and Director of Antiquities, Sites, and Monuments at the National Museums of Kenya. His research focuses on the Plio-Pleistocene period, a crucial epoch in human evolutionary history, and he has been involved in the discovery of several important fossil specimens, including early Homo and Australopithecus species. Dr. Manthi has collaborated with leading international researchers, contributing to publications that explore human origins and the ecological contexts in which early humans evolved. In addition to his scientific contributions, Dr. Manthi is an advocate for science education and public engagement, particularly within Africa. He is passionate about promoting palaeosciences among young African researchers and has been instrumental in fostering local talent in this field.