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Jayne Wilkins Excavating at a Cave Site - Jayne Wilkins

I am a PhD student at the University of Toronto. My thesis research focuses on human origins and the archaeology of the African Stone Age, about 500-200 thousand years ago. I am interested in the origins of modern humans, and the technological, social, and behavioural changes that characterize the evolution of our own species.

Why I Write for Suite 101

I write for Suite 101 for several reasons. First, my discipline is underrepresented on the internet. I want to amplify the online visibility of precise and accurate human origins research. Second, I think my own research benefits from investigating and writing about current topics in human origins research, encouraging me to keep up to date on debates and new discoveries in my field. Third, writing for Suite 101 will hone my writing skills and help me develop a personal library of topical reviews that I can use in the future for teaching purposes.

Other Passions

The best part about my research is that it brings me to southern Africa every year. I spend my summers either excavating in remote places of the African continent, or exploring dusty, but precious museum collections.

Outside my research interests, I am a traveller, yogi, scuba diver, snowboarder, and fiction reader. I also volunteer for the G.R.O. Foundation, which funds social enterprise projects in African communities affected by the HIV/AIDS pandemic.