
10/02/2025
A Legacy of Wonder, Compassion & Courage
From a young girl captivated by Africa and its creatures, Jane grew into a pioneer in science not by following the rules, but by redefining them. She journeyed to the forests of Gombe with little more than a notebook, binoculars, and a boundless curiosity. And in doing so, showed humanity that we are not separate from nature, but deeply connected to it.
Her bold approach naming individual chimpanzees, observing them tenderly and patiently revealed that apes have emotions, personalities, and social bonds. Through her work, she softened the line between “us” and “them.”
She was more than a scientist—she was a voice for the voiceless, founding the Jane Goodall Institute and the Roots & Shoots youth program to empower people around the world to care for our planet and all its beings.