William Harcourt-Smith is a paleoanthropologist and naturalist based at the American Museum of Natural History and the City University of New York. Will is an expert on human evolution and an experienced African safari tour leader. He will lecture and lead discussions on the importance of the fossil sites we visit (Oldupai Gorge and Engare Sero), the geology of the Great Rift Valley, the ecosystems of the Ngorongoro Crater and Serengeti plains and, lastly, the future of East African wildlife. Will has conducted paleontological and archaeological fieldwork across Africa, Eurasia, and North America for over 20 years, including projects in South Africa, Kenya, Israel, Sudan, and Tanzania. His work in Tanzania includes analysis of the iconic fossils from Oldupai (formerly Olduvai) Gorge and conducting fieldwork at the new human footprint site of Engare Sero, where he was part of the team that announced the footprints to the world in 2020.
Will was born in Great Britain and raised across Europe. He has extensively published his research in both scientific and popular formats, from the journal Nature to Natural History Magazine. His work has been highlighted in many popular formats, including National Geographic, the New York Times, and NOVA. Will regularly lectures to the public about human origins around the globe, and has helped curate numerous exhibits, including the current Hall of Human Origins at the world’s largest natural history museum, the American Museum of Natural History, located in New York City.
