Turkana Basin Institute

What Turkana Basin Institute does

Turkana Basin Institute (TBI) is a U.S.-based non-profit research institute founded in 2008 by paleoanthropologist Richard Leakey and affiliated with Stony Brook University. It operates two permanent field research stations, Ileret on the east side of Lake Turkana and Turkwel on the west side, providing turnkey logistics, lodging, laboratories, and equipment for international scientists conducting paleontological, archaeological, geological, and ecological research in the Lake Turkana Basin of northern Kenya. Its underlying infrastructure includes sustainable systems such as solar photovoltaic power, wind turbines, reverse osmosis water purification, and hydroponic food production, which collectively enable continuous operations in one of the world's most remote research environments. Access to excavation sites is governed through a formal partnership with the National Museums of Kenya, which authorizes permits and specimen handling.

The institute serves three primary constituencies: university students from partner institutions (Stony Brook University, Harvard, University College London, University of Helsinki), international research scientists, and the local Daasanach and Turkana communities. Its educational product portfolio includes the Origins Field School, the Harvard Summer Program, the Global Innovation Field School, the Advanced Graduate Certificate in Human Origins, and the Geology Field Camp, all centered on hands-on field training. Revenue is generated through field school program fees, research grants from organizations including The Leakey Foundation, National Geographic Society, Max Planck Society, NIH, and the Mathers Foundation, as well as donations through the Richard E Leakey Endowed Fund. TBI has produced landmark scientific outputs, including the 2017 discovery and publication of the 13-million-year-old Alesi infant ape skull and research on ancient glycan markers published in PNAS. Leadership transitioned to Dr. Dino J. Martins as Director in September 2024, with Nigel Leakey appointed TBI Kenya CEO effective April 2026.

Name

Turkana Basin Institute

Legal name

Turkana Basin Institute

Website

https://turkanabasin.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Turkana Basin Institute is a non-profit research institute founded in 2008 by Richard Leakey, affiliated with Stony Brook University, operating field research stations at Ileret and Turkwel in northern Kenya to support international scientists, university students, and local communities conducting paleontological, archaeological, and geological research in the Lake Turkana Basin.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Scientific Research Services

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAHAAAJ

Public Research Universities with National Laboratories/Big Science Facilities

Education/Higher Education (Colleges & Universities)/Public Research Universities

SECONDARYEDAIAIAF

Research & Lab-Based Short-Term Programs (Undergraduate/Graduate)

Education/International Education & Study Abroad/International Summer/Winter Schools & Short-Term Academic Programs

SECONDARYEDAIABAC

Research Collaboration & Joint Labs (International Partnerships)

Education/International Education & Study Abroad/University/College Exchange Programs & Partnerships

Keywords

• Paleontological research services
• Field research facilities
• Human evolution education
• Archaeological field schools
• Scientific research logistics

Headquarters

HQ city

Nairobi

HQ country

Kenya

HQ region

Africa

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Field School Programs: Educational programs including Origins Field School, Harvard Summer Program, Global Innovation Field School that generate revenue through student tuition and program fees
2. Research Grants and Donations: Funding from academic institutions, foundations, and government agencies for scientific research expeditions and studies
3. Endowment and Giving: Richard E Leakey Endowed Fund for TBI and general donations to support the institute's mission

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Turkana Basin Institute facilitates scientific research in the Lake Turkana Basin in northern Kenya by providing researchers and students with logistical support, field stations, laboratories, and local expertise. It operates research campuses at Ileret and Turkwel that enable paleontological, archaeological, geological, and ecological fieldwork, and runs field school programs in partnership with universities worldwide.

Product overview

Turkana Basin Institute offers a portfolio of field-based educational programs centered around its research facilities in Kenya. The core offerings include the Origins Field School, Global Innovation Field School, Harvard Summer Program, and Geology Field Camp, all providing hands-on training in paleontology, archaeology, and geology. The institute operates two main research facilities (Ileret and Turkwel) that serve as bases for these educational programs and ongoing scientific research. TBI also hosts the Human Evolution Workshop series and supports community outreach initiatives.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Origins Field School A field school program offering courses in human origins, paleontology, and geology where students gain hands-on research experience in the Turkana Basin. Delivered in partnership with Stony Brook University, University College London, and other partner institutions.
• Global Innovation Field School An engineering and development-focused field school program where students work on short-term projects to improve daily lives of local communities, including water filtration, soap making, and infrastructure improvements.
• Harvard Summer Program A summer study abroad program run in collaboration with Harvard University, offering courses in geology, ecology, and human evolution at TBI facilities.
• Advanced Graduate Certificate in Human Origins A graduate-level certificate program focusing on human evolution and paleontology, offered through TBI's academic partnerships.
• Geology Field Camp Field-based geology training program teaching sediment analysis, paleoenvironment reconstruction, and geological research methods.
• TBI Ileret Research Facility Field research station on the eastern side of Lake Turkana providing accommodations, labs, and equipment for scientists and students, located near Sibiloi National Park.
• TBI Turkwel Research Facility Field research station on the western side of Lake Turkana serving as a base for paleontological and archaeological research.

Quantifiable outcome

• Numerous landmark hominin fossil discoveries including the Nariokotome boy and 13 million-year-old Alesi infant ape skull
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered major and core.

• University of California San Diego School of MedicinemajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 September 2017Collaborative research on ancient glycans in fossil analysis. Researchers discovered new glycan markers that survive in fossils older than DNA can persist.
• European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF)majorTechnology or Integration · 10 August 2017Provided high-resolution 3D X-ray imaging capabilities for analyzing the Alesi infant ape skull fossil. The synchrotron facility in Grenoble, France enabled visualization of internal structures including brain cavity and unerupted teeth.
• Stony Brook UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding academic partner; TBI was established through Stony Brook University affiliation. The university provides institutional support, faculty involvement, and administrative infrastructure. Current director Dr. Dino J. Martins serves as director of TBI while maintaining Stony Brook affiliation.
• National Museums of KenyacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEssential partner for research permits, fossil excavation authorization, and specimen handling. All major discoveries are conducted with NMK permission and collaboration.
• Harvard UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner institution for Harvard Summer Program in Kenya, providing field school opportunities for Harvard students in Turkana Basin.
• University College LondonmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner institution for Origins Field School, with students participating in paleontology and archaeology modules.
• University of HelsinkimajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner institution with students and researchers participating in field school and research programs. Global Change and Conservation Lab conducts wildlife biology studies.
• Simons STEM Scholars ProgrammajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Stony Brook University bringing STEM scholars for hands-on research experiences at TBI facilities.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Mpala Research Centre: A multi-disciplinary research facility in Laikipia, Kenya supporting ecological, wildlife, and conservation research with resident scientists and student programs. Highly comparable as a Kenyan field research station hosting international researchers and field courses in a similar remote setting.
• Koobi Fora Field School: A field training program in the same Lake Turkana region offering geological and paleoanthropological training. Operated under the Koobi Fora Research Project, it directly overlaps TBI's field school activities in identical geography and subject matter.
• Organization for Tropical Studies: A consortium of universities operating field stations (e.g., La Selva Biological Station) for tropical research and graduate training. Comparable as a multi-university field station network offering research logistics, graduate courses, and student field schools.
• Gorongosa Research Project: A field research and education initiative in Mozambique's Gorongosa National Park combining biodiversity research, scientific training, and community programs. Comparable in combining remote-area field research, university partnerships, and educational programming in Africa.
• Southwest Research Station (American Museum of Natural History): A residential field station in Arizona operated by AMNH supporting biodiversity, archaeological, and geological research with student programs. Comparable as a museum-affiliated remote field station offering research logistics and field courses.

Broad incumbents

• Centre for Human Evolution Research (Natural History Museum, UK): A research center within London's Natural History Museum conducting human origins and paleoanthropology research. Comparable in scientific focus on human evolution, with global research collaborations and educational outreach.
• Senckenberg Nature Research Society: A large German research organization operating natural history museums, research institutes, and field stations with global research programs. Comparable as a major scientific research institution with field operations, high-profile publications, and educational programs.
• Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute: A globally recognized research institute operating field stations in Panama for tropical biology, ecology, and evolutionary research. Comparable as a large, established institute providing research logistics, residential labs, and student training in remote locations.

Regional players

• Instituto Nacional de Biodiversidad (INBio): A Costa Rica-based biodiversity research institute combining scientific research, education, and visitor programs. Comparable as a national non-profit research institute focused on natural sciences with educational and conservation programming in Latin America.

Others

• National Museums of Kenya: Kenya's national museum authority and a key TBI partner that issues research permits, authorizes fossil excavation, and curates specimens. Adjacent as the principal regulator and co-collaborator enabling TBI's research mission in Kenya.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/turkanabasin
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/turkanabasinvideo
• Facebookfacebook.com/turkanabasin
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/turkanabasin
• Instagraminstagram.com/turkanabasin

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Turkana Basin Institute