MEET THE TEAM
Who We Are
Karoo Origins – The Fossil Centre is more than a collection of fossils and exciting displays. The centre employs people who are passionate about palaeontology and the Karoo. A visit to Karoo Origins will provide visitors the opportunity to interact with the centre staff who collectively have a wealth of experience.
The staff employed at the centre are available to conduct guided tours through the centre. Anyone interested in a guided tour can send a query via the website.
Our Team
Prof Bruce Rubidge
Director
Professor Bruce Rubidge, who was born and raised in Graaff-Reinet, has palaeontology in his blood and has gone on to become a highly respected expert in his field locally and internationally. During his career he has worked in Bloemfontein and Johannesburg in various academic pursuits. Following completion of his B.Sc., B.Sc. (Hons) cum laude at Stellenbosch University he was appointed to the Karoo Palaeontology Department at the National Museum in Bloemfontein in 1980, becoming Head of the Department in 1982. He achieved his PhD in Geology through the University of Port Elizabeth in 1988. In 1990 he was appointed Director of the Bernard Price Institute for Palaeontological Research (BPI) and Head of the Palaeontology Department at the University of the Witwatersrand. In 2013 he became Director of the Evolutionary Studies Institute at Wits and at the same time Director of the newly established National DSI/NRF Centre of Excellence for Palaeosciences, a position he held for ten years until December 2022. He has an ‘A rating’ from the National Research Foundation (NRF) and has published more than 200 research publications in internationally accredited journals. 36 MSc and PhD students have achieved their degrees under his supervision. His passion to expose the palaeoheritage of South Africa to the public has seen him instrumental in setting up a palaeoscience museum at Wits which forms the core of an active palaeoscience outreach programme. He was also involved in the development of the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage site, the Golden Gate Dinosaur exhibition Centre, and setting up the Kitching Fossil Exploration Centre in Nieu Bethesda as a sustainable palaeotourism business. He is currently Director of Karoo Origins in Graaff-Reinet.
Marc Johan Van den Brandt
Post Doctoral Fellow
Doctor Marc Van den Brandt, is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow with Karoo Origins, Graaff-Reinet, and the Evolutionary Studies Institute (ESI) at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. Whilst researching and publishing scientific papers on the anatomy of fossilized
Marc completed his BCom and BCom (Hons) distinction in Information Systems at Rhodes University and initially had a successful career as a Business Analyst at Nedbank, Absa, Standard Bank and BarclayCard UK, directly or as a Consultant, over a 10 year period in the Gauteng Province.
In his early thirties, Marc left the corporate world to pursue his dream of studying science at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, completing a B.Sc (Hons) distinction, M.Sc distinction, and Ph.D in Palaeontology in 2020. Over 2022-2024 Marc functioned as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow specialising in the anatomy of the large and successful Pareiasaurian herbivores from Permian-aged deposits world-wide, since South Africa preserves the most diversity and abundance of these fossils of any country. As an early career scientist, Marc has published 12 scientific papers, written numerous popular science articles, consulted to television/radio shows, presented papers at local and international conferences and is internationaly recognised for research excellence in his palaeontological speciality. The pareiasaur exhibit at Karoo Origins was designed by Marc and his collaborators.
Viktor Josef Radermacher
Post Doctoral Fellow
Doctor Viktor Radermacher completed his B.Sc., majoring in Zoology and Geology, B.Sc. Honours cum laude, and M.Sc. cum laude at the University of Witwatersrand, and then moved to the USA to earn his Ph.D. at the University of Minnesota. He recently returned to South Africa as a Postdoctoral
Viktor Radermacher was born in George, Western Cape where he developed a deep love of nature and the origins of life. Understanding the interplay between life and changing landscapes through time is something only palaeontology can do. Viktor’s research has focused on untangling the forces that shaped aspects of dinosaur biology like their breathing anatomy, family-tree relationships, and unique dental systems.
Being passionate to make science available to the public, Viktor has produced outreach materials and workshops that bridge the gap between public and science. His artwork has been used in internationally produced documentaries and news headlines in NatGeo, CNN, FOX, and SABC. Whether it be artwork that gives life back to bones, popular science talks that entertain and inform audiences, or workshops that use tactile and artistic means to inspire young and old, Viktor finds it critical that people learn about the wonderful stories of life hiding under their feet.
Justin Arnols
Technician
Justin Arnols, who was born and raised in the Graaff-Reinet district, completed his matric at Spandau Secondary School in 2021. Before joining Karoo Origins in 2022, he briefly worked as a casual worker at Mount Camdeboo Private Game Reserve. In his current role, Justin leads the Technical Division at Karoo Origins,
Justin actively participates in the Karoo Origins research programme and coordinates logistics for field trips. His remarkable ability to identify fossils from even the tiniest fragments of exposed bone makes him an invaluable and productive member of the team. Notably, many of the fossils he prepares for research originate from the lowest rocks of the Beaufort Group, which lack a distinct separation between the bone and matrix. Consequently, Justin has developed a specialised technique for acid preparation, a time-consuming process that involves extended periods of fossil washing between acid immersions.
Marina Rubidge
Office Administrator
After completion of a BLib and Higher Education Diploma at the University of the Orange Free State in 1982, Marina worked as a Regional Librarian at the Provincial Library Services until 1988. In 1994 she was appointed librarian at the Commercial law firm, Glyn Marais Inc where she remained for 18 years.
In January 2012 she was appointed as manager of the Firstrand Legal, Knowledge Centre and Electronic Portal until November 2019. It was here that she established an electronic library portal that serviced all Legal Departments within the Firstrand Group.
Marina is a creative person who has a great passion for research. She is currently extensively
involved with the undertaking of administrative tasks at the Karoo Origins – The Fossil Centre.
Kristin Wilkens
Reception & Commercial Space
Kristin Wilckens was born and raised in Johannesburg. Mother of three children and of German descent she decided to raise her children in Germany. For eighteen years Kristin ran her own Nail and Sunbed Salon, before returning to South Africa she managed a Bakery in Landsberg.
She also was manager of a Restaurant. Her interest in history and the beautiful surroundings made the choice of Graaff-Reinet easy. Kristin will be at the reception and in charge of the coffee shop.
Maraai Arnolds
Receptionist
Maraai Arnolds was born in Graaff-Reinet and matriculated at Spandau Secondary High School. Having spent time working at the Drostdy Hotel, Maria’s Coffee, and the Graaff Reinet Museum makes her ideal for her role at the centre. Her personable nature and keen interest
Ursula Meintjies
Receptionist
Ursula Meintjies was born and raised in Graaff- Reinet and matriculated at Spandau Secondary High School. She received training in hospitality services at the Drostdy Hotel, Our Yard and Frontiers Restaurant. This hard working lady is always up for a new challenge