Yesterday we mourned the loss of a truly remarkable woman. Jane Goodall was very interesting and influential figure, that changed the world. She was a novice scientist who became famous because of her groundbreaking studies of chimpanzees.
- Jane wasn’t afraid to challenge already-popular scientific ideas.
Some of her research proved existing theories on monkey behaviour to be inaccurate like how chimpanzees make and use their own tools, which was originally thought to be only a human behaviour. This really changed the way that science viewed animal behaviour. - She was one of the first to receive a PhD at Cambridge without first having a degree
In 1961, Cambridge allowed Jane Goodall to be the eighth person to study a PhD without a degree, and she earnt her doctorate in 1966. - Jane was an activist who advocated for animal rights, opposed animal testing and the exotic animal industry, and factory farming.
She also started the Jane Goodall Institute and Roots & Shoots to encourage children and young people to continue the wonderful work she started. - She was a prolific author, who wrote over 20 books, including memoirs, children’s books, and scientific works.
- United Nations Messenger of Peace: She was appointed this role in 2002, highlighting her influence beyond science. In 2025, Jane was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
- She appeared in The Far Side, and The Simpsons, with a great sense of humor!
After Gary Larson wrote a comic strip in the 90’s where a monkey calls Jane a ‘tramp’, The Jane Goodall Institute wrote and complained on her behalf. After hearing about this, Jane personally wrote to Gary Larson saying she was actually a fan of the cartoon, and had found it amusing.
Later on she would be referenced a few times on The Simpsons, and appeared in person in a Season 31 episode. - Her career spanned more than 60 years, even at 91, she was still travelling and giving talks.
Such an amazing woman who had achieved so much!
R.I.P Dame Valerie Jane Morris Goodall
3 April 1934 – 1 October 2025
Pictured: Frames from reels of film outtakes that were found in storage in 2015. They were shot in the early 1960s at Gombe Stream Game Reserve.
Jane Goodall disliked being photographed but would come to accept it as a way to gain support for her work.
Jane Goodall started as a young Englishwoman with no formal background in research and revolutionized primate science. She navigated the male-dominated worlds of both science and media to make enormous discoveries and became one of the most recognised faces of conservation.
