As South Africa celebrates Heritage Month, the Palaeontological Scientific Trust (PAST) is encouraging communities to look to science for a reminder of what connects them.
Through its All From One campaign, PAST is using palaeontology and palaeoanthropology to highlight humanity’s shared origins and the role science can play in promoting social cohesion.
The organisation says research into human evolution shows that modern humans emerged in Africa before spreading across the globe. It also points to the high level of genetic similarity between humans as evidence of how closely connected people are.
“Humanity evolved in Africa 300,000 years ago and spread out across the world,” said PAST CEO Dianne van der Tuin. “Our shared origins in Africa demonstrate that diversity is our strength, not a dividing line.”
PAST describes palaeontology and palaeoanthropology, along with related fields that study the origins and history of life, as the “origin sciences”. Its work focuses on growing African leadership in these fields while making scientific discoveries accessible to the wider public.
The organisation believes these findings can help challenge the idea of “othering” people based on where they come from, particularly at a time when tensions around migration and national identity remain high.
For Heritage Month, PAST is inviting schools, communities and businesses to engage with the origin sciences through educational programmes and workshops.
The organisation says understanding where humanity comes from can provide a foundation for conversations around tolerance, unity, collaboration and conservation.
Its message is simple: although people may have different cultures, languages and traditions, science points to a much deeper connection — a shared human story that began in Africa.
PAST’s All From One campaign aims to turn that scientific understanding into a reason to celebrate both South Africa’s diversity and the shared heritage of humanity.
Main Image: IOL
