Presentation by Dr Bob Scholes

The Value and Philosophy of Long-term Earth Observation Science

It was on the 29 March 2006 at Leriba Lodge Centurion. The gathering was on SAEON Graduate Student Network Workshop. The students were from various in institutions ranging from different Universities to different Organizations. Students were firstly, introduced to student network by Bernard Coetzee who was charing the gathering. Secondly, students were welcomed to SAEON by its head Johan Pauw. Lastly, the students were addressed by the dynamic speaker or speaker of the day by the name of Dr Bob Scholes.

Dr Bob Scholes addressed students in some of the most sensitive issues that students are faced with in their research papers. These issues include the use of public money in their research and refencing their work so that in future they can be acknowledge by other people using their work. For example: if a student use an excel in his/her research paper he/she must put his/her name and the date on top of the paper.

Coming to research, Bob addressed the students that there must be a link between the students and the public in which they serve, this is because the public contributed the money towards their research. Therefore the public must also get the value of their money from the young researchers through the positive feedback.

Bob further continued by addressing students about the methods in which most of the Universities are still using such as doing research within the laboratories. He further continued by saying that it is time to our Universities to change their style of doing research to the style of assessment. In this style of assessment, Bob encouraged the students to maintain the links with the publ

Report of the Cradle of humankind
By Peter Muvhali

Introduction

It was on the 23 of March 2006 at 8am early in the morning when we took off from the CSIR to Krugersdorp. The aim of the journey was to visit the Cradle of the humankind site in Sterkfontein to see the cave and the species discovered to that cave. At about 11am we arrived at the site. While still waiting, the instructor who was assigned to our group arrived. After his arrival he introduced himself to us and also told us the rules which need to be followed while in the caves. One of the rules which made us more scary was that in some places within the caves we are going to walk in the caves using our knees. Fortunately, we managed to walk within the cave uninjured.

Discussion

The Cradle of the Humankind is the one of the world heritage site which consists of the remains of the ancient plants, animals and hominids which are all fossilised. It is declared the world heritage site after 1994. The type of the rock in which the cave is formed is dolomite. The Cradle of humankind is found in the Province of Gauteng, even though the small part is in the North-West province.

It covers an area of approximately 47000ha of the land which is privately owned. The Cradle of humankind is also open to public, where the public can view the excavation. The one part of the excavation is natural, while the other part of the excavation is man-made. Within the cave there is also a water table. Small museum which contained both the plants and animal is also found in the area and also a tea room is available.

It is also thought that the first hominid, adult Australopithecine was found in the site. This was followed by the discovery of the skull of nearly completed adult female Australopithecus africanus. The above mentioned discovery was made by the former Witwatersrand University Professor Raymond Dart. The skull was nicknamed Mrs Ples, because was found near Transvaal. While moving along the path leading to the cave, one is greeted with different species with their years of discovery and the name of the person who discovered that species attached to the type of the rock called Gabbro.

Inside the cave there is a path which the people use to walk while inside but alongside the cave there is still some fossilised bones embedded in the rocks. When asked what the bones were of which species, the instructor responded by saying that it is not easy to identify the bones when they are still embedded in the rock. In the museum, all fossil remains are found ranging from the early Australopithecus to the modern Homo sapiens.

Conclusion

The Cradle of humankind is one of the world heritage site. This was named the world heritage site post 1994 by the state president. The site is also open to public to view its beauty and both the animal and plants remains.

Report of the Cradle of humankind
By Peter Muvhali

Introduction

It was on the 23 of March 2006 at 8am early in the morning when we took off from the CSIR to Krugersdorp. The aim of the journey was to visit the Cradle of the humankind site in Sterkfontein to see the cave and the species discovered to that cave. At about 11am we arrived at the site. While still waiting, the instructor who was assigned to our group arrived. After his arrival he introduced himself to us and also told us the rules which need to be followed while in the caves. One of the rules which made us more scary was that in some places within the caves we are going to walk in the caves using our knees. Fortunately, we managed to walk within the cave uninjured.

Discussion

The Cradle of the Humankind is one of the world heritage site which consists of the remains of the ancient plants, animals and hominids which are all fossilised. It is declared the world heritage site after 1994. The type of the rock in which the cave is formed is dolomite. The Cradle of humankind is found in the Province of Gauteng, even though the small part is in the North-West province.

It covers an area of approximately 47000ha of the land which is privately owned. The Cradle of humankind is also open to public, where the public can view the excavation. The one part of the excavation is natural, while the other part of the excavation is man-made. Within the cave there is also a water table. Small museum which contained both the plants and animal is also found in the area and also a tea room is available.

It is also thought that the first hominid, adult Australopithecine was found in the site. This was followed by the discovery of the skull of nearly completed adult female Australopithecus africanus. The above mentioned discovery was made by the former Witwatersrand University Professor Raymond Dart. The skull was nicknamed Mrs Ples, because was found near Transvaal. While moving along the path leading to the cave, one is greeted with different species with their years of discovery and the name of the person who discovered that species attached to the type of the rock called Gabbro.

Inside the cave there is a path which the people use to walk while inside but alongside the cave there is still some fossilised bones embedded in the rocks. When asked what the bones were of which species, the instructor responded by saying that it is not easy to identify the bones when they are still embedded in the rock. In the museum, all fossil remains are found ranging from the early Australopithecus to the modern Homo sapiens.

Conclusion

The Cradle of humankind is one of the world heritage site. This was named the world heritage site post 1994 by the state president. The site is also open to public to view its beauty and both the animal and plants remains.