Log items, thanks to Michael Manyak, Exporers Club, Washington Group

 

• Lee Berger PhD FI’13 announced the discovery in South Africa of a new early human-like species Homo naledi. The treasure trove of fossils from at least 15 skeletons around 2 million years old is the cover story for the October 2015 National Geographic Magazine and will be the subject of a 60 Minutes This exciting discovery and collaboration with many international scientists appeared as a feature story around the world including the front page of the Washington Post and Wall Street Journal.
• Rick Potts MED’95 was featured in the Smithsonian Magazine elaborating on the evolution of lighter pigmented skin as man moved away from Africa and farther from the equator. Dr. Potts also was quoted in the Wall Street Journal regarding Dr. Berger’s new discoveries.
• Michael Manyak MED’92 conducted the most highly attended course at the National Order of the Arrow national conference with over 15,000 Boy Scouts. The enrollment response to How To Become An Explorer was expanded to three separate days at the largest venue on Michigan State University campus where over 1200 were exposed to exploration and learned about The Explorers Club. Dr. Manyak also was master of ceremonies for an event at TEC headquarters about funding exploration for Eagle Scouts which featured long time National Geographic television journalist Boyd Matson MN ’03 and reality show host Creek Stewart from Fat Guys In The Woods. Dr. Manyak was the keynote speaker and shared his expedition medicine and exploration experiences for the Bluewater Yacht national sales convention in St. Michael’s, MD, and for the Florida Airports Council national meeting in Boca Raton, FL, where he joined airship expert Ron Hochstetler FN’94. Dr. Manyak’s book Lizard Bites and Street Riots was featured at signings at both events. In addition, Mike spent a week with Dr. Berger at the South African dig sites of his spectacular findings.