Emmanuel Kimuma Ndiema

The East African Association for Paleoanthropology and Paleontology (EAAPP) proposes to hold its 8th biennial conference in Nairobi, Kenya from 1st to 4th August, 2019. The EAAPP objective is to provide a platform in which East Africans, international researchers, and cultural heritage managers can share their research findings. This forum provides a unique opportunity for scholars and policy makers to hold collegial discussions on the status of paleoanthropological research in the region. The requested WGF grant will support travel, hotel rooms, and meals for approximately 25 scholars, students and cultural resource managers from Ethiopia, Eritrea, Tanzania, Uganda, who don’t have other means of travel support. The funds will enable them to present their work, enhance international exposure, provide opportunities to share experiences and forge cross-institutional collaborations with scientists from other institutions abroad. At the core of this conference is raising public awareness and interest in science and conservation paleoanthropological resources. In the last sixteen years we have rotated the conference in three countries that have captivated strong public interest and inspired students’ participation in the region. EAAPP conferences have proved instrumental in promoting cooperation among research groups in paleoanthropological hot-spots in East Africa hence EAAPP membership has tripled in the last sixteen years. We have successfully engaged and inspired young Africans to further their studies in anthropological disciplines.