054 - Becca Peixotto, Ph.D.

Dr. Becca Peixotto is the Curator of the Origins: Fossils From The Cradle of Humankind exhibit at the Perot Museum of Nature and Science.

Located in the heart of Dallas, TX, the Perot Museum of Nature and Science delivers exciting, engaging and innovative visitor and outreach experiences through its education, exhibition, and research and collections programming for children, students, teachers, families and life-long learners.

The Perot Museum of Nature and Science, in partnership with the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits University) and the National Geographic Society, proudly announces that fossils of not one but two recently discovered ancient human relatives (Australopithecus sediba and Homo naledi) are currently on display in the U.S. from South Africa for the first, and likely only, time to be featured in the limited-run exhibition – Origins: Fossils From The Cradle of Humankind.

The exhibit brings to life years of scientific research tied to the Perot Museum's recently launched Center for the Exploration of the Human Journey, a global hub for education, communication and research in the study of human origins.

With Dr. Peixotto, we discuss what lead her to become an archeologist, the exhibit that is currently on display through March 22, 2020 and so much more on episode 54 of the Avert Your Eyes Podcast. Consider yourself warned.

About the Perot Museum of Nature and Science. The top cultural attraction in Dallas/Fort Worth and a Michelin Green Guide three-star destination, the Perot Museum of Nature and Science is a nonprofit educational organization located in the heart of Dallas, Texas. With a mission to inspire minds through nature and science, the Perot Museum delivers exciting, engaging and innovative visitor and outreach experiences through its education, exhibition, and research and collections programming for children, students, teachers, families and life-long learners. The 180,000-square-foot facility in Victory Park opened in December 2012 and is now recognized as the symbolic gateway to the Dallas Arts District. Future scientists, mathematicians and engineers will find inspiration and enlightenment through 11 permanent exhibit halls on five floors of public space; a children's museum; a state-of-the art traveling exhibition hall; and The Hoglund Foundation Theater. Designed by 2005 Pritzker Architecture Prize Laureate Thom Mayne and his firm Morphosis Architects, the Victory Park museum has been lauded for its artistry and sustainability. To learn more, please visit perotmuseum.org.

About the National Geographic Society. The National Geographic Society is a global nonprofit organization that uses the power of science, exploration, education and storytelling to illuminate the wonder of the world, define critical challenges and catalyze action to protect our planet. Since 1888, National Geographic has pushed the boundaries of exploration, investing in bold people and transformative ideas, providing more than 14,000 grants for work across all seven continents, reaching 3 million students each year through education offerings, and engaging audiences around the globe through signature convenings and content. To learn more, visit nationalgeographic.org.

About the University of the Witwatersrand. Wits University is a research-intensive University, one of the leading institutions on the African continent that produces world-class research that is locally relevant and globally competitive. Wits is a global leader in the paleosciences, one of its key research areas. Wits' research output has increased by over 45% in the last four years with more than 85% of its research published in international journals. Wits offers a free space for the exchange of ideas and a vibrant intellectual community that fosters debate and knowledge transfer both within and beyond our lecture halls. Wits' latest research available at wits.ac.za/research.