What did Choong aim to learn from an interdisciplinary human study?

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Choong Aimed to Understand the Essence of Being Human Through an Interdisciplinary Approach

Ron Choong's overarching objective was to explore what it fundamentally means to be human, employing an interdisciplinary methodology. This pursuit involved a lifelong commitment to study, extensive travel, and deep personal reflection. These combined efforts culminated in a series of field research projects that became a significant part of his adventurous life.
A Lifetime of Field Research and Exploration

Choong's journey into archaeology was somewhat serendipitous, beginning in the 1990s with a competition win to study in Israel, a country then inaccessible to Malaysians. He eventually gained special government dispensation to undertake this study in 1997, marking his entry into the field. His aim was to examine the human experience from multiple perspectives, integrating academic study with real-world exploration and introspection. This led him to undertake numerous field projects, which he described as a lifetime of adventures, spanning over 37 years and taking him to more than a hundred countries.
Integration of Diverse Academic Disciplines

His academic path involved simultaneously pursuing multiple graduate degrees, including a Master of Sacred Theology from Yale and a PhD from Princeton. He also supplemented his scientific training with intensive courses at Cambridge and Oxford during summer breaks, covering subjects from astronomy and particle physics to nano-biotechnology, microbiology, and chemistry. His research interests encompassed cosmogony, biogenesis, paleoanthropology, and neuroscience, reflecting a broad engagement with the origins and complexities of life and the universe.
Ground-Level Investigation in Archaeology and Anthropology

To gain a practical understanding of how early scientists interpreted human fossils, Choong conducted on-site research at archaeological locations in Africa, including Ethiopia, Morocco, Tanzania, and South Africa, as well as in Indonesia, specifically Java and Flores. This fieldwork was complemented by studying the religious beliefs of both the indigenous cultures and the researchers involved. His interest extended to studying humanity's closest genetic relatives, the great apes, leading him to visit Tanzania, Rwanda, and Kalimantan.
Tracing Human Civilisations and Cultural Exchange

Choong's exploration of ancient civilisations took him to regions such as Iran, Iraq, Syria, Jordan, Turkey, Lebanon, Greece, and Italy. Furthermore, his examination of the Chinese and Indian Silk Roads involved retracing the journeys of historical figures like Ibn Battuta, Marco Polo, and the Apostle Thomas. These extensive travels, often marked by mishaps and injuries, contributed to his public image as a "Malaysian Indiana Jones," though he notes his expeditions were not typically concluded within a 90-minute timeframe with a romantic subplot.

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What did Choong aim to learn from an interdisciplinary human study?

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