Scientists present Homo Luzonesis at Australian National University

July 5, 2019

University of the Philippines-Archaeological Studies Program professor Armand Mijares and Australian National University-School of Archaeology professor Philip Piper presented the discovery of a new hominin species. Homo Luzonensis, in the Philippines during a public lecture at the Cultural Centre Kambri in Australian National University last Monday.

The lecture was supported by the Philippine Embassy in Canberra, the Department of Foreign Affairs said in a press statement Friday.

More than 90 people including students, professors, scientists and researchers of the Australian National University and members of the Filipino-Australian community attended the lecture.

They learned about the significance of this discovery in understanding hominin evolution in Southeast Asia.

Mijares and Piper co-authored this study which was featured in international media and was on the cover of the scientific journal Nature. The discovery placed the Philippines in the global archaeological map.

In her remarks, Ambassador to Australia Ma. Hellen De La Vega said, “We recognize that we need to cultivate greater interest in science and innovation and to support our Filipino researchers in their endeavors. I hope this event will generate awareness on the great strides of our research institutions and the contributions of Filipinos to the world’s body of knowledge.” DMS