In 1960, at the age of 26, Jane Goodall stepped onto a beach in western Tanzania to observe the little-known world of wild chimpanzees. Her work at Gombe Stream would become the foundation of future primatological research and redefine the relationship between humans and animals.
As part of the Distinguished Speaker Series, Goodall visited Georgia State University Oct. 8 and brought her audience into the world of the chimpanzees and shared her work with the Jane Goodall Institute, a global leader in innovative conservation, environmental and humanitarian programs.
“The mission of the institute has always been research, education, conservation and making the world a better place.” Goodall said.
In 1977, Goodall established the institute, which continues the Gombe research and is a global leader in the effort to protect chimpanzees and their habitats. The institute is widely recognized for community-centered conservation and development programs in Africa, as well as for the Roots and Shoots, the global environmental and humanitarian youth program.
Goodall founded Roots and Shoots with a group of Tanzanian students in 1991. Today, Roots and Shoots connects hundreds of thousands of youth in more than 131 countries who take action to make the world a better place for people, animals and the environment.
“Every individual makes a difference every day,” Goodall said. “And [Roots and Shoots] main goal is to help young people choose to help people, other animals and the environment we all share.”
For more information about Goodall and the work of the Jane Goodall Institute, please visit www.janegoodall.org.