Fossils as windows into the past | Anneke van Heteren | TEDxTUM

Anneke explores how fossils serve as windows into our distant past, offering profound insights into the evolution of life on Earth. Through vivid examples and intriguing comparisons, the talk reveals the surprising similarities we share with extinct relatives and underscores the importance of preserving our diverse mammalian family. Meet Dr. Anneke van Heteren: Palaeozoologist, Mammalogy curator, and lifelong knowledge seeker. From her childhood inquisitiveness to her remarkable academic journey, Anneke's love for exploration led her to a PhD at the University of Roehampton, postdoc in Paris, and a prestigious Humboldt Foundation fellowship.
As the curator at the Bavarian State Collection of Zoology and a dedicated teacher at Ludwig-Maximilians-University, she's a force to reckon with in her field. Anneke's research spans the captivating world of the Cenozoic era, from cave bears to dodos, all driven by her unrelenting curiosity and her favorite word, "Why."
Her philosophy? "The past is the key to the future." Anneke's passion extends beyond academia; she finds kinship with Dr. Sattler from Jurassic Park, a character enthralled by ancient life. In addition to her scholarly feats, she once briefly held the women's world record for a 100 km single scull row and also does partner aerobics! This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx