Breaking new ground: from Gorongosa to global recognition
Dr. René Bobe, paleobiologist and evolutionary anthropologist, has been awarded the 2025 Gordon P. Getty Award for Multidisciplinary Research. The award honors extraordinary originality, dedication, and a multidisciplinary approach to human origins research.
Bobe’s work bridges fieldwork and theory, linking climate, ecology, and evolution. His research spans the iconic sites of eastern Africa, including Hadar, Dikika, the lower Omo Valley, and the Turkana Basin, as well as the lesser-explored southernmost East African Rift System at Gorongosa National Park in Mozambique.
From fossils to the big questions
Bobe studies fossil mammals to trace long-term ecological changes. His goal is not only to understand the past but also to illuminate current environmental challenges. “Understanding human evolution and related disciplines may become essential for our survival as a species. To learn about how we have been evolving, we need to know about past climate and geological processes.” he says. His approach combines paleontology, biology, geology, and ecology, making him a truly multidisciplinary scientist.
A decade in Gorongosa
Over the past ten years, Bobe has co-led field work in Gorongosa, uncovering fossils from ancient coastal forests that may reshape how we understand early hominin evolution. His team has discovered both new and relict species, showing how ecosystems responded to past climate changes, information that could guide modern conservation efforts.
A lifelong fascination with nature and evolution
Bobe grew up between the Andes and the Pacific Ocean, inspired by nature’s forces. This early curiosity evolved into a career in biological anthropology, combining outdoor fieldwork with intellectual exploration. Today, he balances roles as a researcher at the University of Algarve, Head Paleontologist at Gorongosa, and Research Associate at the University of Oxford.
Why it matters
The Gordon P. Getty Award recognizes Bobe’s ability to connect disciplines and think across scales, from individual fossils to continental biogeography. His work reminds us that understanding the past is essential for making sense of today’s environmental and evolutionary challenges.
