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
