Turkana Basin Institute Turkwel Research Facility

The Turkana Basin Institute (TBI) is a privately funded, non-profit initiative, founded by Richard Leakey and Stony Brook University. It is a collaborative, international, multi-disciplinary enterprise that seeks to facilitate fieldwork within the Lake Turkana Basin by providing logistical support to researchers. The primary research focus is human prehistory and related earth and natural science studies. As the most important repository of fossil evidence for human evolution, a major commitment of TBI is to safeguard the extensive fossil deposits in the region through engagement with the local communities.

TBI-Turkwel is situated on the west side of Lake Turkana, near Nakechichok on the Turkwel River. Construction was started in April 2008. The mess, student accommodation and the first laboratory buildings were completed just in time for a conference held at TBI-Turkwel in August 2009. Subsequently, two buildings to accommodate staff, a large laboratory, six cottages for visiting senior scientists and a vehicle maintenance workshop were completed early in 2012. At full capacity, the camp can accommodate 60 to 70 people.