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The Concept behind the medal

The content of the concept is based within the shape of a complete circle due to its sense of purity and continuity. It contains the three following elements based on the life and work of Phillip Vallentine Tobias:

The Flint (Philip Tobias the person)
The Central Core (the focus of his work)
The Outer Ring (the evolution timeline)
1. The Flint (Phillip Tobias the person)

On the flint are tools shaped to represent the letters P, V, T which are Phillip Vallentine Tobias' initials. This refers to the tooling equipment used in the excavations of hominid fossils and preserved bones and also symbolises Prof Tobias' intense involvement and hands-on approach in getting to solutions. Prof Tobias' second name, Vallentine (which may not generally be known), is fused here with the converging feature of the new South African flag in the shape of the letter V. This symbolic aspect represents Prof Tobias' personal struggle for human rights and equality, dating back to the days in the 1940s when he was one of the students' representative leaders at the University of the Witwatersrand. This is one of the many aspects that shaped his outlook on life. The presence of the flag affirms the human rights ideals Prof Tobias wished for before the dawn of the new South Africa. It also represents the patriotism which he always had for this country as well as his love for the African continent. The letters are positioned in a dynamic way that directs attention to the focus of his work in the central core.

2. Central Core (The focus of his work)

The image of Little Foot is embedded in rock. Little Foot, found by Dr Ron Clarke and his two assistants, Stephen Motsumi and Nkwane Molefe, ranks as the most significant hominid fossil find in recent times since the discovery of the Taung skull by Prof Raymond Dart in 1925. The discovery of Little Foot led to most of the work at the Sterkfontein Caves. This site was recently declared a world heritage site. More than 600 finds of fossil and bone were made at Sterkfontein and there has been continuous activity of excavations there since 1966. The importance of Little Foot is highlighted by its position in the centre of the central core and also by the excavating equipment pointing to its brain area. This will reflect Prof Tobias's enthusiasm for specialised analyses of the brain's evolution in all creatures, including man. The heavily sand blast textured areas of the central core represent the rough terrains of the natural dwellings of hominids.

3. Outer Ring (The Evolution Timeline)

The DNA strand at the 2 o'clock area of the outer ring represents the beginning of Prof Tobias' career as a geneticist when he contradicted some research done regarding the genes of some races being superior to others. His career progressed with the studies of anatomy to paeleonthropology and this is also represented on the outer ring with some anatomical symbols such as muscle tissue cells and the popular sequential visuals of hominid evolution in silhouettes. There is also strips illustrating the evolution timeline within the recessed parameter of the outer ring. The overall progression of Prof Tobias' career is thus paralleled with his passion for evolution on the outer ring.

The motivation for the content of the design are credited to the following people, some of whom have worked or are still working with the now retired Prof Tobias in the Anatomical Sciences Faculty at the University of the Witwatersrand:
1. Prof Tim Patridge
2. Prof Beverley Kramer
3. Dr Kevin Kuykendall
4. Prof John Mania (Acting Head of School)
5. Mrs Heather White (Prof Tobias' secretary)

Department: Science and Technology, South Africa

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