Dr. Jane Goodall delivers a message of hope at UM
Hundreds gathered on the University of Montana’s Oval on Sunday evening to hear famed conservationist, Dr. Jane Goodall, deliver a speech.
Goodall, 88, is best known for her groundbreaking research on wild chimpanzees in Africa. By living among and observing chimpanzees in the wild, she discovered that they built tools to complete everyday tasks just like humans.
UM hosted Goodall as part of its President’s Lecture Series where citizens of Montana are provided with the opportunity to gather, learn and discuss ideas and issues that animate the community.
Goodall is an icon for conservation around the world. She is the founder of the Jane Goodall Institute and a UN Messenger of Peace. She has also been the recipient of many distinguished awards including the Medal of Tanzania, the National Geographic Society’s Hubbard Medal, and Japan’s Kyoto Prize, among others.
Goodall began her lecture at UM by making chimpanzee noises to introduce herself. She discussed her career as a female scientist and some of the discoveries she made.
“Girls weren’t scientists in those days,” said Goodall. “Everybody laughed at me.”
Goodall also made a call to action on climate change. She said that humans are a part of the natural world, not separate from it, and that we are destroying our own home.
Her message was delivered with hope for the future and hope that new scientific breakthroughs will help ease the climate crisis the world is facing.
Goodall’s work paved the way for many young scientists to come after her, especially female, and she recognized that she couldn’t have done it without the people who helped her along the way.
“None of us can do anything on our own,” said Goodall. “You can choose what kind of difference you want to make in the world.”
It was a very special night at UM, according to President Seth Bodnar, as he dedicated the northern red oak tree in front of the main hall in Dr. Goodall’s honor.
“There is much that all of us can learn from Jane Goodall and her tireless efforts to protect not only the wildlife that inhabits our planet, but the people, too,” said Bodnar. “She has proven that the well-being of one does not have to come at the expense of the other.”