From an early age we wonder where we come from; evolution explains that for

us. From the amazing array of fossils that have been found in Africa, Asia, and Europe

we can piece together our evolutionary lineage from Australopithecus to early Homo

sapiens and explore the different species that branched off in between. By studying the

fossil record we can understand when we began walking upright, by noting all the huge

morphological changes that distinguish us from other great apes, such as our wide bowl-

shaped pelvis, big toes in line with the rest of our feet and shorter arms. We can see when

our brain size increased (when Homo erectus came about) and the subsequent huge

change in our technology. As they say, the rest is history.

Tapping into our intrinsic curiosity about our history and origins is a great way to

get excited about science. Who does not want to know why we do the things we do and

look the way we do? Learning about our own evolution helps us, students, feel linked to

science. Researching about the evolution of man is a lens through we can see how we are

connected to the world. We are mammals, just like the living animals we call apes and

monkeys, though our own evolutionary road rewarded walking on two legs and having a

really big brain.

We have a duty to explain to the next generation where they come from,

evolutionarily speaking, and to come against the idea that we are somehow invulnerable

and absolute. We should understand our biological place in the world. This research will

give us more opportunities for moments like this that can shift our perspective and open

up a whole new way of thinking. It is only when that happens that our generation will see

how delicate our place in this world is.