Professor Higham Inspires Students

By Pru Casey | Posted: Thursday August 23, 2018

This week students were treated to a visit from Professor Tom Higham of Oxford University.

Dr. Higham is the Professor of Archaeological Science and Deputy Director of the Oxford Radiocarbon Accelerator Unit. He spoke to our students of Maths, Chemistry and Biology about his research into ancient humans and their place in Europe. Otago Girls' and Kavanagh College also took advantage of their invitation and the auditorium was full! Tom gave the appreciative audience a sneak preview of breaking news on a teenage girl who lived 50,000 years ago and had one parent who was a Neanderthal and one who was Denosovina Homo sapiens denisova, a unique and different species that lived in Russia.

https://sciblogs.co.nz/guestwork/2018/08/23/ancient-teenager-the-first-known-person-with-parents-of-two-different-species/

Tom Higham is an old boy of Otago Boys' and was treated to a tour of the school by his 6 nephews who currently attend our school. Several members of Tom's wider family were also at the lecture.Tom was happy to field questions and many questions revolved around Tom's path to success in academia. This truly inspiring alumna is an outstanding role model for our young men at school today. Tim finished with an invite - for our lads to apply to study in his Department at Oxford University.  An attractive proposition!