Books by Louis Liebenberg
CyberTracker, 2021
In this book I will address one of the great mysteries of human evolution: How did the human mind... more In this book I will address one of the great mysteries of human evolution: How did the human mind evolve the ability to develop science?
The art of tracking may well be the origin of science. Science may have evolved more than a hundred thousand years ago with the evolution of modern hunter-gatherers. Scientific reasoning may therefore be an innate ability of the human mind. This may have far-reaching implications for self-education and tracking science.
The implication of this theory is that anyone, regardless of their level of education, whether or not they can read or write, regardless of their cultural background, can make a contribution to science. Kalahari trackers have been employed in modern scientific research using GPS-enabled handheld computers and have co-authored scientific papers. Tracking scientists have made fundamental contributions to science. From a simple observation of a bird captured on a smart phone through to a potential Einstein, some may be better than others, but everyone can participate in science.
Today humanity is becoming increasingly dependent on science and technology for survival, from our dependence on information technology through to solving problems related to energy production, food production, health, climate change and biodiversity conservation. Involving everyone in science may be crucial for the survival of humanity over the next hundred years.
Scientific reasoning was part of hunter-gatherer culture, along with music, storytelling and other aspects of their culture. Science and art should be an integral part of human culture, as it has been for more than a hundred thousand years.
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"In this book I will address one of the great mysteries of human evolution: How did the human min... more "In this book I will address one of the great mysteries of human evolution: How did the human mind evolve the ability to develop science?
The art of tracking may well be the origin of science. Science may have evolved more than a hundred thousand years ago with the evolution of modern hunter-gatherers. Scientific reasoning may therefore be an innate ability of the human mind. This may have far-reaching implications for self-education and citizen science.
The implication of this theory is that anyone, regardless of their level of education, whether or not they can read or write, regardless of their cultural background, can make a contribution to science. Kalahari Bushmen trackers have been employed in modern scientific research using GPS-enabled handheld computers and have co-authored scientific papers. Citizen scientists have made fundamental contributions to science. From a simple observation of a bird captured on a smart phone through to a potential Einstein, some may be better than others, but everyone can participate in science.
Today humanity is becoming increasingly dependent on science and technology for survival, from our dependence on information technology through to solving problems related to energy production, food production, health, climate change and biodiversity conservation. Involving citizens in science may be crucial for the survival of humanity over the next hundred years.
Scientific reasoning was part of hunter-gatherer culture, along with music, storytelling and other aspects of their culture. Science and art should be an integral part of human culture, as it has been for more than a hundred thousand years."
Endorsements
“This is an extraordinary book. Louis Liebenberg, our intrepid and erudite
guide, gives us a fascinating view of a people and a way of life that have much
to say about who we are, but which soon will vanish forever. His data are
precious, his stories are gripping, and his theory is a major insight into the
nature and origins of scientific thinking, and thus of what makes us unique as a
species.” Steven Pinker, Harvard College Professor of Psychology, Harvard
University, and author of How the Mind Works.
“Louis Liebenberg’s argument about the evolution of scientific thinking is
highly original and deeply important.” Daniel E. Lieberman, Professor of
Human Evolutionary Biology at Harvard University.
“Although many theories of human brain evolution have been offered over the
years, Louis Liebenberg’s is refreshingly straightforward.” PsycCRITIQUES.
“The Origin of Science is a stunningly wide-ranging, original, and important
book.” Peter Carruthers, Professor of Philosophy, University of Maryland,
and author of The Architecture of the Mind.
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Page 1. PRACTICAL PRACTICAL Louis Liebenberg Adriaan Louw & Mark Elbroch TRACKING TRACKIN... more Page 1. PRACTICAL PRACTICAL Louis Liebenberg Adriaan Louw & Mark Elbroch TRACKING TRACKING A Guide to Following Footprints & Finding Animals Page 2. PRACTICAL TRACKING A Guide to Following Footprints ...
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... Page 6. INTRODUCTION: THE ART OF TRACKING Tracking may well be among the oldest of the scienc... more ... Page 6. INTRODUCTION: THE ART OF TRACKING Tracking may well be among the oldest of the sciences. ... Habits: An excellent swimmer. Food: Forages in freshwater pools for crabs and mussels, frogs, fish, birds and their eggs. ...
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Papers by Louis Liebenberg
... gardens where the spoor of animals in captivity have been studied: Bloemfontein Zoological Ga... more ... gardens where the spoor of animals in captivity have been studied: Bloemfontein Zoological Gardens; Johannesburg Zoological Gardens; National Zoological Gardens; Natal Zoological Gardens; Queens Park Zoological Gardens, East London; Hartebeespoortdam Snake and ...
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The South African Archaeological Bulletin, 1990
... The art of tracking: The origin of science. Post a Comment. CONTRIBUTORS: Author: Liebenberg,... more ... The art of tracking: The origin of science. Post a Comment. CONTRIBUTORS: Author: Liebenberg, Louis. PUBLISHER: D. Philip (Claremont, South Africa). SERIES TITLE: YEAR: 1990. PUB TYPE: Book (ISBN 0864861311 ). VOLUME/EDITION: PAGES (INTRO/BODY): x, 176 p. ...
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Louis Liebenberg discusses how CyberTracker software is helping a community in Botswana to monito... more Louis Liebenberg discusses how CyberTracker software is helping a community in Botswana to monitor and manage local wildlife resources
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Citizen Science: Theory and Practice, 2021
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Biological Conservation, 2016
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The art of tracking, as practised by San hunter-gatherers of the Kalahari, may well be the origin... more The art of tracking, as practised by San hunter-gatherers of the Kalahari, may well be the origin of science. Trackers gain a detailed understanding of animal behaviour through the interpretation of tracks and signs. In this way much information can be obtained that would otherwise remain unknown, especially on the behaviour of rare and nocturnal species that are not often seen. The best trackers, however, are found in hunter-gatherer communities with oral traditions and cannot read or write. The authors have developed a hand-held field computer with a user interface that enables trackers who cannot read or write to record all their observations. Computer visualisation allows scientists to analyse data collected by trackers. At a time when hunting with bows and arrows are declining, the art of tracking can be revitalised and developed into a new science with many practical applications in the conservation of biodiversity. The Art of Tracking: The Origin of Science The art of trackin...
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ABSTRACT A New Vision of Science In this book I will address one of the great mysteries of human ... more ABSTRACT A New Vision of Science In this book I will address one of the great mysteries of human evolution: How did the human mind evolve the ability to develop science? The art of tracking may well be the origin of science. Science may have evolved more than a hundred thousand years ago with the evolution of modern hunter-gatherers. Scientific reasoning may therefore be an innate ability of the human mind. This may have far-reaching implications for self-education and citizen science. The implication of this theory is that anyone, regardless of their level of education, whether or not they can read or write, regardless of their cultural background, can make a contribution to science. Kalahari Bushmen trackers have been employed in modern scientific research using GPS-enabled handheld computers and have co-authored scientific papers. Citizen scientists have made fundamental contributions to science. From a simple observation of a bird captured on a smart phone through to a potential Einstein, some may be better than others, but everyone can participate in science. Today humanity is becoming increasingly dependent on science and technology for survival, from our dependence on information technology through to solving problems related to energy production, food production, health, climate change and biodiversity conservation. Involving citizens in science may be crucial for the survival of humanity over the next hundred years. Scientific reasoning was part of hunter-gatherer culture, along with music, storytelling and other aspects of their culture. Science and art should be an integral part of human culture, as it has been for more than a hundred thousand years.
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ABSTRACT Background/Question/Methods Children in developed countries are spending more and more t... more ABSTRACT Background/Question/Methods Children in developed countries are spending more and more time indoors in front of televisions, playing computer games, or surfing the Internet. In a fundamental way technology is alienating children from nature. This is resulting in what has been termed an emerging “nature-deficit disorder”. This paper will look at how technology can be used to reverse this trend. Results/Conclusions Educational projects such as BioKIDS in Michigan have been using PDAs with GPS loaded with CyberTracker software to enable fifth-graders to record and identify animals in their schoolyard. In these inquiry-focusing activities technologies such as CyberTracker are used to promote conceptual understanding of science and scientific reasoning. In the BioKIDS activities CyberTracker is used to gather data, summarize data, and provide tangible evidence of species location and characteristics. With the launch of the Apple iPhone, Smart Phones are rapidly becoming mainstream – soon every kid will have a Smart Phone. Using Smart Phones to collect data in Citizen Science projects, the “Gameboy” factor can be used to bring children back in touch with nature.
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Pachyderm, Dec 1, 1999
To interpret animal tracks the tracker must have a sophisticated understanding of animal behaviou... more To interpret animal tracks the tracker must have a sophisticated understanding of animal behaviour. There is in principle no limit to the level of sophistication to which a tracker can develop his or her expertise (Liebenberg, 1990a,b). Apart from knowledge based on direct obser- ...
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Books by Louis Liebenberg
The art of tracking may well be the origin of science. Science may have evolved more than a hundred thousand years ago with the evolution of modern hunter-gatherers. Scientific reasoning may therefore be an innate ability of the human mind. This may have far-reaching implications for self-education and tracking science.
The implication of this theory is that anyone, regardless of their level of education, whether or not they can read or write, regardless of their cultural background, can make a contribution to science. Kalahari trackers have been employed in modern scientific research using GPS-enabled handheld computers and have co-authored scientific papers. Tracking scientists have made fundamental contributions to science. From a simple observation of a bird captured on a smart phone through to a potential Einstein, some may be better than others, but everyone can participate in science.
Today humanity is becoming increasingly dependent on science and technology for survival, from our dependence on information technology through to solving problems related to energy production, food production, health, climate change and biodiversity conservation. Involving everyone in science may be crucial for the survival of humanity over the next hundred years.
Scientific reasoning was part of hunter-gatherer culture, along with music, storytelling and other aspects of their culture. Science and art should be an integral part of human culture, as it has been for more than a hundred thousand years.
The art of tracking may well be the origin of science. Science may have evolved more than a hundred thousand years ago with the evolution of modern hunter-gatherers. Scientific reasoning may therefore be an innate ability of the human mind. This may have far-reaching implications for self-education and citizen science.
The implication of this theory is that anyone, regardless of their level of education, whether or not they can read or write, regardless of their cultural background, can make a contribution to science. Kalahari Bushmen trackers have been employed in modern scientific research using GPS-enabled handheld computers and have co-authored scientific papers. Citizen scientists have made fundamental contributions to science. From a simple observation of a bird captured on a smart phone through to a potential Einstein, some may be better than others, but everyone can participate in science.
Today humanity is becoming increasingly dependent on science and technology for survival, from our dependence on information technology through to solving problems related to energy production, food production, health, climate change and biodiversity conservation. Involving citizens in science may be crucial for the survival of humanity over the next hundred years.
Scientific reasoning was part of hunter-gatherer culture, along with music, storytelling and other aspects of their culture. Science and art should be an integral part of human culture, as it has been for more than a hundred thousand years."
Endorsements
“This is an extraordinary book. Louis Liebenberg, our intrepid and erudite
guide, gives us a fascinating view of a people and a way of life that have much
to say about who we are, but which soon will vanish forever. His data are
precious, his stories are gripping, and his theory is a major insight into the
nature and origins of scientific thinking, and thus of what makes us unique as a
species.” Steven Pinker, Harvard College Professor of Psychology, Harvard
University, and author of How the Mind Works.
“Louis Liebenberg’s argument about the evolution of scientific thinking is
highly original and deeply important.” Daniel E. Lieberman, Professor of
Human Evolutionary Biology at Harvard University.
“Although many theories of human brain evolution have been offered over the
years, Louis Liebenberg’s is refreshingly straightforward.” PsycCRITIQUES.
“The Origin of Science is a stunningly wide-ranging, original, and important
book.” Peter Carruthers, Professor of Philosophy, University of Maryland,
and author of The Architecture of the Mind.
Papers by Louis Liebenberg
The art of tracking may well be the origin of science. Science may have evolved more than a hundred thousand years ago with the evolution of modern hunter-gatherers. Scientific reasoning may therefore be an innate ability of the human mind. This may have far-reaching implications for self-education and tracking science.
The implication of this theory is that anyone, regardless of their level of education, whether or not they can read or write, regardless of their cultural background, can make a contribution to science. Kalahari trackers have been employed in modern scientific research using GPS-enabled handheld computers and have co-authored scientific papers. Tracking scientists have made fundamental contributions to science. From a simple observation of a bird captured on a smart phone through to a potential Einstein, some may be better than others, but everyone can participate in science.
Today humanity is becoming increasingly dependent on science and technology for survival, from our dependence on information technology through to solving problems related to energy production, food production, health, climate change and biodiversity conservation. Involving everyone in science may be crucial for the survival of humanity over the next hundred years.
Scientific reasoning was part of hunter-gatherer culture, along with music, storytelling and other aspects of their culture. Science and art should be an integral part of human culture, as it has been for more than a hundred thousand years.
The art of tracking may well be the origin of science. Science may have evolved more than a hundred thousand years ago with the evolution of modern hunter-gatherers. Scientific reasoning may therefore be an innate ability of the human mind. This may have far-reaching implications for self-education and citizen science.
The implication of this theory is that anyone, regardless of their level of education, whether or not they can read or write, regardless of their cultural background, can make a contribution to science. Kalahari Bushmen trackers have been employed in modern scientific research using GPS-enabled handheld computers and have co-authored scientific papers. Citizen scientists have made fundamental contributions to science. From a simple observation of a bird captured on a smart phone through to a potential Einstein, some may be better than others, but everyone can participate in science.
Today humanity is becoming increasingly dependent on science and technology for survival, from our dependence on information technology through to solving problems related to energy production, food production, health, climate change and biodiversity conservation. Involving citizens in science may be crucial for the survival of humanity over the next hundred years.
Scientific reasoning was part of hunter-gatherer culture, along with music, storytelling and other aspects of their culture. Science and art should be an integral part of human culture, as it has been for more than a hundred thousand years."
Endorsements
“This is an extraordinary book. Louis Liebenberg, our intrepid and erudite
guide, gives us a fascinating view of a people and a way of life that have much
to say about who we are, but which soon will vanish forever. His data are
precious, his stories are gripping, and his theory is a major insight into the
nature and origins of scientific thinking, and thus of what makes us unique as a
species.” Steven Pinker, Harvard College Professor of Psychology, Harvard
University, and author of How the Mind Works.
“Louis Liebenberg’s argument about the evolution of scientific thinking is
highly original and deeply important.” Daniel E. Lieberman, Professor of
Human Evolutionary Biology at Harvard University.
“Although many theories of human brain evolution have been offered over the
years, Louis Liebenberg’s is refreshingly straightforward.” PsycCRITIQUES.
“The Origin of Science is a stunningly wide-ranging, original, and important
book.” Peter Carruthers, Professor of Philosophy, University of Maryland,
and author of The Architecture of the Mind.
works at a university or a government agency or in a laboratory. In other words, many of us tend to think of
scientists as professionals who have been academically trained and conduct research through the auspices
of a research institution, agency, nonprofit organization, or academic institution. Historically, though,
individuals from outside this circle of professionals have been instrumental in shaping and contributing
to science. In fact, some of the most renowned scientists and ecologists could be considered citizen
scientists (e.g., Charles Darwin, Harold Mayfield, Alexander Skutch). But the view that the public could
actively contribute to science faded greatly over the course of the 20th century (particularly in the United
States) to such an extent that we were left with the view that only someone who was professionally trained
could be a scientist. Recently, however, we have witnessed an increase in the extent and acceptability of
public participation and engagement in science. In particular, over the past decade we have seen a marked
increase in such “citizen science” (Fig. 1). Although explanations of citizen science vary slightly, they
converge on this definition: the involvement of citizens from the nonscientific community in academic
research (Trumbull et al. 2000, Lee et al. 2006).