In July 1960, at the age of 26, Jane Goodall travelled from England to Gombe, Tanzania and ventured into the little-known world of wild chimpanzees. Equipped with little more than a notebook, binoculars and her fascination with wildlife, she braved a realm of unknowns to give the world a remarkable window into humankind’s closest living relatives. In her landmark study, Jane immersed herself in the chimpanzees’ habitat as a neighbor rather than a distant observer. Her discovery in 1960 that they make and use tools rocked the scientific world and redefined the relationship between humans and animals. 

In 1977, she established the Jane Goodall Institute (JGI) to advance her work around the world and for generations to come. JGI continues the field research at Gombe and builds on Dr. Goodall’s innovative approach to conservation, which recognizes the central role that people play in the well-being of animals and the environment. In 1991, she founded Roots & Shoots, a global program that empowers young people in over 100 countries to act as informed conservation leaders.

Through more than 50 years of groundbreaking work, Dr. Jane Goodall has not only shown us the urgent need to protect chimpanzees from extinction; she has also redefined species conservation to include the needs of local people and the environment. Today she travels the world, speaking about the threats facing chimpanzees, environmental crises and her reasons for hope. She emphasizes the interconnectedness of all living things and the collective power of individual action. 

Featured in: KEYNOTE—Dr. Jane Goodall on finding hope in dark days