Palesa Madupe’s initial curiosity spanned everything from paleoanthropology to medicine, but one constant remained: her love for science and research. Today, the 32-year-old is at the cutting edge of human origins studies as a postdoctoral candidate at the University of Copenhagen. Palesa’s work focuses on extracting proteins from fossilised specimens, some dating back nearly two million years. Her role blends lab work with data analysis, stakeholder collaboration and scientific writing — all contributing to Africa’s central role in unravelling the story of human evolution. The most thrilling days, she says, are spent in the clean lab, donning layers of protective gear to conduct protein extractions in controlled environments. Her proudest projects include work on Australopithecus africanus, a species pivotal to understanding South Africa’s place in human origins research. The publication, featured in the South African Journal of Science, was translated into Setswana, reflecting Madupe’s belief that scientific discoveries should be accessible and relevant to local communities.