Cave Women: Jill Heinerth and Elen Feuerriegel
Going underground with two women who calmly squeeze themselves through tight passageways in the dark, deep down in the earth, all in the pursuit of new knowledge.
Jill Heinerth is the world's top underwater cave explorer. More people have walked on the moon than have ventured to some of the places she has dived. Originally from Canada, and now living in Florida in the US, Jill has broken records mapping whole water courses underground, and once had a narrow escape from cave-diving in an Antarctic iceberg. She takes photographs and video whilst underground, and says that she would never attempt a dangerous dive just for the thrill of it - there has to be a new discovery to pursue.
Elen Feuerriegel is a PhD student from Australia who was catapulted into one of the most exciting scientific discoveries of our time, when her caving experience and slim build led to her joining the Rising Star Expedition. This all-women team excavated over a thousand fossils from a deep cave system in South Africa, which at its narrowest point measures just 18 cm. It was announced in September 2015 that these bones were from a previously unknown species of human ancestor, Homo Naledi.
(Photo: (L) Jill Heinerth in diving gear, Credit: Wes Skiles. (R) Elen Feuerriegel holding MH1)
Last on
Clips
-
An extremely tight squeeze
Duration: 01:17
-
Escape from an iceberg
Duration: 01:13
Broadcasts
- Mon 25 Jan 2016 00:32GMT成人快手 World Service except News Internet
- Mon 25 Jan 2016 03:32GMT成人快手 World Service Americas and the Caribbean
- Mon 25 Jan 2016 05:32GMT成人快手 World Service Online, East Asia, Europe and the Middle East, South Asia & UK DAB/Freeview only
- Mon 25 Jan 2016 07:32GMT成人快手 World Service Australasia
- Mon 25 Jan 2016 18:32GMT成人快手 World Service Australasia
- Mon 25 Jan 2016 19:32GMT成人快手 World Service except Australasia & News Internet
- Sun 31 Jan 2016 01:32GMT成人快手 World Service Australasia
The best of The Conversation
Enlightening, inspiring, revealing: Some of our favourite Conversations so far
100 Women
Global experience on image, work, relationships, equality, migration and working lives
Podcast
-
The Conversation
Two women from different parts of the world share the stories of their lives