Conference on BRAIN Evolution: Palaeosciences, Neuroscience and Artificial Intelligence

The Knowledge Advancement and Support (KAS) directorate of the National Research Foundation (NRF) participated in the international conference hosted by the French Institute of South Africa (IFAS) in Johannesburg on 22-23 November. Themed BRAIN Evolution: Palaeosciences, neuroscience and artificial intelligence, the conference, through the EndoMap project which is currently supported by the France-South Africa (PROTEA) programme, brought together research teams from the University of the Witwatersrand and the Brain and Cognition Research Center (CerCo) in Toulouse to reconstruct the brains of fossil hominids using an interdisciplinary approach that combines neuroscience, scientific computing, and paleontology. Its was to discuss advancements in cerebral reconstruction and its significance in understanding human evolution. The highlight of the conference was the diverse participants, especially involvement of postgraduate students and post-doctoral Fellows. Other key participants included the UK’s University of Cambridge and the French Embassy.

In the photo from left to right are IFAS Research Director, Annael Le Poullennec, French Embassy’s Counsellor and Head of Cooperation Ludovic COCOGNE, Wits’ Director of Research Development, Rob Drennan, NRF’s Teuns Phahlamohlaka, PROTEA funded project PI,  Amélie Beaudet and CNRS Research Director, Caroline Fonta.