Zeray Alemseged met with President Barack Obama in July 2015 while the President was on a state visit to east Africa, including the first visit to Ethiopia by a sitting US president. On a business trip to Ethiopia himself, Prof. Alemseged discussed the importance of hominin fossils such as “Selam” and “Lucy,” with those iconic skeletons present as their guides. As a preeminent expert in human evolution and a native of Ethiopia, he was perfectly positioned to sum up the fossils’ importance to the President of the United States.
See additional coverage of this historic meeting below.
Online Articles:
Reuters | Obama meets Lucy, an ancient ‘ancestor,’ in Ethiopia, July 27th 2015 [online article]
NBC News | ‘That’s Amazing’: Obama Meets Ancient Ancestor ‘Lucy’ on Ethiopia Trip, July 27th, 2015 [online article]
The Telegraph | Barack Obama touches bones of humankind’s ancient ancestor ‘Lucy’, July 27th, 2015 [online article]
Mashable/the Associated Press (AP) | Obama meets Lucy, a 3.2 million-year-old human ancestor, July 27th 2015 [online article]
The Guardian | Obama meets Lucy, ‘the grandmother of humanity,’ during Ethiopia visit, July 27th 2015 [online article]
Washington Post | In Ethiopia, both Obama and ancient fossils get a motorcade, July 27th, 2015 [online article]
The Washington Times | Obama meets ‘Lucy,’ mankind’s fossilized ancestor, July 27 2015 [online article]
The Slate | Obama Meets 3-Million-Year-Old Ancestor, Misses Chance to Troll Trump With Ultimate Birther Joke, July 27th 2015 [online article]
The Sydney Morning Herald | Obama meets Lucy, an ancient ‘ancestor’, in Ethiopia, July 28th 2015 [online article]
Raw Story | Obama meets 3.2-million-year-old ‘grandmother of humanity’ during Ethiopia visit, July 28th 2015 [online article]
Standard Digital | Obama meets Lucy, an ancient ‘ancestor,’ in Ethiopia, July 28th, 2015 [online article]
The New York Times | Traveling With the President, and Meeting Lucy, in Africa, July 31st, 2015 [online article]
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