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A striking photograph of groundbreaking research by a Teesside University lecturer and her team will feature on the front of National Geographic’s 'Pictures of the Year' edition. The image, taken by renowned cave photographer and project partner Robbie Shone, will be the cover photo for the December issue. The photograph was taken during a caving expedition to Gabon in June 2024.
It shows Dr Lisa Baldini’s colleagues exploring a cave passage, illuminated by a backlight. In a moment of perfect timing, a large Egyptian fruit bat is silhouetted in flight in front of them. The 2024 National Geographic Pictures of the Year magazine showing the Teesside University-led research team on its front cover (Image: ROBBIE SHONE) Dr Baldini said: "This is an iconic image featuring our Nigerian project partners, Professor Ndukauba Egesi and Dr Mike Agbebia, alongside my Teesside University PhD student, Fatai Ilesanmi.
"It perfectly captures the spirit of our work in West and Central Africa." Funded in 2022 by a National Geographic Society Explorer grant, Dr Baldini and her local collaborators have been leading a wider research team on expeditions across the region. They have been focusing on identifying stalagmites that hold clues about ancient rainfall patterns.
The research aims to understand the factors driving shifts in Africa's tropical rainfall belt over millennia, both before and after the onset of human-induced climate change. Teesside University's Dr Lisa Baldini and her local collaborators have been leading a wider research team on expeditions in Gabon (Image: TEESSIDE UNIVERSITY) Gabonese palaeoclimatologist and project collaborator, Professor Makaya M’voubou from the University of Masuku, has previously used lake sediments to reconstruct Gabon’s climate history. He said: "Our records show much drier conditions around 2,500 years ago, followed by a shift to wetter conditions over the past millennium.
"The new stalagmite data will provide higher-resolution, more precisely dated insights into the timing and causes of these climate transitions." During the 2023 and 2024 caving expeditions to Gabon, the team recovered stalagmite samples that will reveal the region's detailed paleoclimate history. Dr Baldini said: "These samples are now undergoing analysis at Durham University and Northumbria University in the UK, as well as in US and Chinese institutions.
" Durham University project partner, Professor James Baldini, has researched the tropical rainfall belt in Belize since 2010. He said: "Our research in both Africa and Belize shows just how sensitive these rainfall systems are to human activity. "This data will be crucial for refining climate models and helping African nations make informed decisions to build resilience against future climate change.
" In addition to their scientific goals, Dr Baldini is focused on raising awareness of the importance of caves, both as ecosystems housing unique species like the Egyptian fruit bat, and as data sources for climate research. The cement industry is actively mining karst landscapes across Africa. She said: "We’re hoping to raise awareness that African caves are not only rich in biodiversity but also essential for understanding the continent’s sensitivity to climate change – and should be protected.
"Southern Gabon is home to many caves like this one which lie beneath some of the world’s most biodiverse and pristine rainforests." Previous Objects of the Week: Get a full year of the Northern Echo for only £25 or try six months for just £6. Support local journalism and stay informed about what matters most In June 2024, Dr Baldini and her Masuku University colleagues presented their research to Gabonese government officials and local stakeholders.
A key outcome of the meeting was a shared recognition of the region’s ecotourism potential, which could provide essential funding to support conservation efforts and help reduce pressures on Gabon’s rich natural resources. Dr Baldini and her team’s work promises to contribute vital data to global climate science, helping to predict and mitigate the impacts of climate change in some of the world’s most vulnerable regions..
