Leakey and Goodall: Scientists Who Changed How We Define ‘Human’
Dr. Jane Goodall’s journey to Gombe nearly 60 years ago to study wild chimpanzees may seem like a simple story, but it was the result of a lot of hard work and dedication. Many details of the path Jane took to get to Gombe are often eclipsed by her groundbreaking discoveries and subsequent activism, but they […]
When in Windsor: My Time With Global Change-Makers
I talk all day, every day, about Roots & Shoots and its impact on not just the beneficiaries of our youth-led projects, but also its impact on the individual. Knowing that you’re not out here alone trying to leave this planet better than you found it, but that you’re also part of a global movement […]
Dr. Goodall Remembers Frank Manthay, Devoted Conservationist
I only met Frank twice. We got together for the first time 4 years ago and right from the start it felt as though I had known him forever. And that was the first time I met a bilby, that beautiful little Australian nocturnal marsupial ( Macrotis lagotis). Frank had brought some very special ones with him – three young […]
Dr. Goodall Remembers Reginald Mengi, Longtime Friend & JGI Supporter
I still cannot believe that I shall never again see Dr. Reginald Mengi. I did not meet him very often, but the power of his personality, his charisma and his kindness was such that I soon felt I had known, admired and loved him for years. No wonder he inspired so many young people in Tanzania. We met for the […]
New Doc Special THE HOPE Tells Story of Jane’s Living Legacy
The documentary film ‘JANE’ is a phenomenon – but it’s only part of the story. The film covers the remarkable journey of 26 year old Jane Goodall as a young researcher immersing herself in the lives of wild chimpanzees, and her personal struggles and accomplishments as a trailblazing scientist, mother, wife and mentor. But today, […]
Prince Harry Meets Dr. Goodall and Roots & Shoots Change-Makers
In a royally excellent meeting of compassionate leaders, Prince Harry and Dr. Jane Goodall came together along with 26 young Roots & Shoots representatives from around the world for the Global Summit at Windsor Castle! The event included a speech from Prince Harry, a showcase of Roots & Shoots projects, brainstorming for current and future […]
How to Take Your Digital Activism to the Next Level
You pick up your phone, open a social media app, and what do you see? Maybe you scroll through images of friends hanging out, foodies sharing their meals, or a viral video. But beyond what seems like superficial content, what we observe on social media influences what we consider important and the way we act. As much as online spaces shape us, it’s clear that […]
Now we must redefine man, or accept chimpanzees as…humans?
When Jane Goodall first witnessed Gombe chimpanzee David Greybeard fishing for termites by manipulating blades of grass in 1960, the line between humans and other animals suddenly became blurry. Tool use was no longer uniquely human, leading Dr. Louis Leakey, Jane’s mentor, to famously say, “Now we must redefine tool, redefine man, or accept chimpanzees as human.” We know that chimpanzees are […]
Dr. Elizabeth Lonsdorf Is Taking Chimpanzee Research to the Next Level
Dr. Jane Goodall started research at Gombe Stream National Park in 1960, and the discoveries made by Jane and researchers who followed have redefined our understanding of and relationship to chimpanzees as our closest living relatives. The legacy she left at Gombe continues today through JGI and other institutions thanks to the efforts of scientists […]
World Chimpanzee Day Celebrates Our Closest Living Relatives
The Jane Goodall Institute global network of chapters and Roots & Shoots Offices celebrates World Chimpanzee Day, along with many other NGOs and individuals around the globe, in honor of the day in 1960 when our founder, Dr. Jane Goodall, first stepped foot in what is now Gombe Stream National Park to study wild chimpanzees. The […]
