Richard Leakey

Paleoanthropologist Conservationist Activist


Curriculum Vitae

Email Print

EDUCATION

1949/56 Nairobi Primary School (Primary)

1957/60 Lenana (Duke of York) High School

 

HONORARY DEGREES

 

Doctor of Science, Wooster College (1978)

Doctor of Science, Rockford College (1983)

Doctor of Literature, University of Kent (1987)

Doctor of Humane Letters, Ohio University (1990)

Doctor of Science, University of Aberdeen (1994)

Doctor of Science, Washington Univ. St-Louis, Missouri (May 1994)

Doctor of Science, University of Bristrol (1996)

Doctor of Science, Bradley University (1997)

Doctor of Science, State University of New York, Stony Brook (1998)

        Doctor of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences, Wageningen University, Netherlands (2003)

        Doctor of Science, Alma College,  (April 2005)

        Doctor of Science, Cambridge University (2007)

 

Current Activities

 

Professor of Anthropology, State University of New York, Stony Brook

Convenor, World Environmental Forum, SUNY Stony Brook

Convenor, Human Evolution Workshop Series, SUNY Stony Brook

Chairman, African Conservation Fund

Advisor, Great Ape Survival Project (GRASP) UNEP

Director, Olchoro Onyoro Vineyard and Winery

Board Member, United States International University (USIU)

Board Member, Advisory Board of Strathmore Business School

Board Member, CFC Life Insurance Group

Founder Trustee, United World College of East Africa

Chairman, Turkana Basin Institute

 

FORMER POSITIONS

 

Permanent Secretary, Secretary to the Cabinet and Head of the Public Service, Office of the President, Government of Kenya (July 1999-March 2001)

Director of Kenya Wildlife Service (September 1998-July 1999)

A nominated member of Kenya’s Parliament (1998)

Secretary General, SAFINA (1995-September 1998)

Director, Kenya Wildlife Service (1989-1994)

Director, National Museums of Kenya (1970-1989)

Administrative Director, National Museums of Kenya (1968-1970)

Freelance Tour Guide (1965-1968)

Collector of Museum Specimens for Research (1961-1965)

 

AWARDS

 

1988 The Centennial Award of the National Geographic Society

1990 The James Smithson Medal of the Smithsonian Institute

1990 The Gold Medal of the Royal Geographical Society, UK

1990 Chevallier de L’ordre de Leopold II, Belgium

1991 The Companion of the Order of the Gold Ark, Holland

1993 The Order of the Burning Spear, Kenya

1994 The Hubbard Medal, National Geographic Society

1997 The World Ecology Medal, International Centre for Tropical Ecology, St. Louis

1998 Foreign Member, American Academy of Arts and Sciences

2002 The Joseph Wood Krutch Medal, Humane Society of the United States

2002 The Roger Tory Peterson Memorial Medal, Harvard Museum of Natural History

2002 The Gold Medal of the North of England Zoological Society

2003 The Chubb Fellow of Timothy Dwight College, Yale University

2007 Medalist, Academy of Achievement, USA

2007 Fellow, Royal Society, UK

 

POSITIONS (HONORARY)

 

Chairman Wildlife Clubs of Kenya (1969-1980)

Chairman Foundation for Research into the Origins of Man (1971-1985)

Chairman East African Wildlife Society (1984-1989)

Chairman Board of Council of Regents College, London (1985-1990)

Chairman Executive Committee Environmental Liaison Centre (1983-1987)

Chairman Board of Trustees of Kenya Wildlife Service (1990-1992)

Chairman Board of Trustees of National Museums of Kenya (1989-1994)

Chairman Wildlife Clubs of Kenya (1968-1980)

Chairman Kenya National Committee of the United World Colleges (1982-1994)

Chairman SAIDIA (1989-1994)

Vice-Chairman National Kidney Foundation, Kenya (1984-1990)

Vice-Chairman International Board Environmental Liaison Centre (1983-1987)

Life Trustee L.S.B. Leakey Foundation

Trustee Wildlife Clubs of Kenya (1980-1994)

Trustee Rockford College, Illinois, USA (1983-1989)

Trustee National Fund for the Disabled in Kenya (1980-1995)

Trustee National Kidney Foundation, Kenya (1981-1990)

Trustee Agricultural Research Foundation, Kenya (1986-1993)

Hon. Director Explorers Club (1985-1988)

Juror UNESCO’s Kalinga Prize (1985-1988)

 

RESEARCH ACTIVITY

 

1963/64 Co-leader of the Lake Natron Research Expedition

1966 Conducted Archaeological Excavation at Lake Baringo

1967  Co-leader of the International Omo River Expedition

1979-81 Leader Koobi Fora Research Project 

1978 Nakali/Suguta Valley Research

1981-82 Leader, West Turkana Research Project

1982 Leader, Buluk – Early Miocene Project

1984-89 Leader, West Turkana Research Project

 

 

World Bank Projects participated in

 

(1) Instigator, Co-ordinator of the World Bank funded PAWS (Protected Areas Wildlife Service in Kenya.

 

(2) Wildlife Conservation Specialist in Uganda:  Protected Areas Management and Sustainable Use (PAMSU) Project.

 

 

LECTURES

 

1968-todate More than 750 public and scholarly lectures given in Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Holland, Japan, Kenya, Mexico, New Zealand, South African, Sweden, U.K. and U.S.A.

 

 

TELEVISION

 

Bones of Contention 1975

One hour documentary on human origins.  Survival Anglia Ltd., U.K.

 

Making of Mankind 1981

Seven parts (50 min. Segments) documentary for BBC U.K. shown in   

England, Europe and other countries.

 

Earth Journal 1992

Presenter, NBC series of 27 half hour programmes

 

Participated in many science programmes, talk shows and new interviews 

since 1968.

 

BIBLIOGRAPHY

 

Popular Books

1977 Origins

1979 People of the Lake

1981 One Life

1982 Human Origins

1992 Origins reconsidered

1993 Man Ape-Ape Man

1995 6th Extinction

1995 Origins of Humankind

2001 Wildlife Wars

 

 

 



HOME   SPEAKERS   TOPICS  RESOURCES  FAQS   ABOUT   CONTACT US
Royce Carlton, Inc. • 866 United Nations Plaza - New York, NY 10017 • 212.355.7700