by Ryan Reed

Jane Goodall

This past October, the world lost famous primatologist and conservation hero, Jane Goodall. Passing away at the age of 91, she left this earth having accumulated honors and awards almost too numerous to name here.

Although her most acclaimed impact was probably advancement of our understanding of primate behavior (especially in chimpanzees of Africa), a compelling argument could be made for the considerable legacy she left in empowering women in science.

Jane was said to be fond of animals from an early age, but a stuffed toy chimpanzee—a gift from her father, likely helped set her course for decades of study of primates. Her ascent in the world of primatology began at a time when women were not accepted in scientific fields. Beginning as a secretary to renowned researcher Louis Leakey in Tanzania, Goodall boldly shared research ideas, made astute observations, and generally impressed him enough that he recommended her to participate in further study, culminating in earning a Ph.D. in ethology from Cambridge. Her thesis was titled “Behavior of Free-living Chimpanzees”, which detailed five years of her work at the Gombe Stream National Park. Several decades later, Goodall would note that when she began her research career, women represented a small fraction of primatologists. Today, the proportion of women to men in the field is roughly equal.

Sculpture of Jane with “David Graybeard”, Chicago, Illinois

Jane Goodall’s work through her half-century plus career spanned everything from conservation biology to human and animal rights, to reforestation, climate change, endangered species, and so much more. She challenged long-held beliefs about the differences between humans and chimps, providing new evidence that changed scientific understanding of primate behavior. Along the way, and perhaps unknowingly, she also challenged the notion that science and field research were fields to which females shouldn’t aspire.

Authoring 40 books and founding centers and programs like the Jane Goodall Institute and Roots and Shoots (a youth program), she led a life of extraordinary accomplishment and legacy, inspiring generations of young women.

“If we get together, if we roll up our sleeves and take action, each of us doing what we feel is important, then there is hope for the future of our planet.” -Jane Goodall

Obituary & Remembrances