Dr. Jane Goodall, DBE, founder of the Jane Goodall Institute and UN Messenger of Peace, is a world- renowned ethologist and conservationist inspiring greater understanding and action on behalf of the natural world. Through her tireless advocacy Dr. Goodall inspires millions of people with her message of hope through action. Her groundbreaking studies into the lives of wild chimpanzees in Gombe, Tanzania begun in 1960, continues today nearly 65 years later and is now the longest running wild chimpanzee study in the world.
Jane was born on April 3, 1934, in London, England. As a child she was fascinated by animals and the wildlife of Africa she discovered in the storybooks of Tarzan and Dr. Doolittle. In 1957, a school friend invited her to visit Kenya where she met the famed paleoanthropologist Dr. Louis Leakey. In 1960, at his invitation, Jane began her landmark study of chimpanzee behavior in what is now Gombe Stream National Park, Tanzania. Her research included the astounding observations that chimpanzees make and use tools, which revolutionized the world of primatology and redefined the relationship between humans and the rest of the animal kingdom.
In 1977, Dr. Goodall established the Jane Goodall Institutes (JGI). Now, there are 25 JGIs around the world working to support the core program inspired by Jane. These include the ongoing research into wild chimpanzees at Gombe Stream Research Centre, protecting chimpanzees and their habitats through community-led conservation in chimp range countries in Africa. JGI manages two sanctuaries for orphan chimpanzees in the Republic of the Congo and South Africa and seeks to improve the welfare of captive chimpanzees. In 1991, Dr. Goodall founded her environmental and humanitarian program Roots & Shoots in Dar es Salaam. Today Jane Goodall’s Roots & Shoots empowers young people of all ages (and an increasing number of adult/corporates) to become involved in hands-on projects of their choosing to benefit the community, animals and the environment. Active in all 50 United States and 75 countries worldwide Roots & Shoots is truly making a difference.
Dr. Goodall is the author of numerous books for adults and children. The latest ‘The Book of Hope; has been translated into more than 20 languages. Jane is the subject of numerous television documentaries and many feature films including 2002 film “Jane Goodall's Wild Chimpanzees,” the 2010 documentary “Jane's Journey,” and the 2017 National Geographic documentary “JANE,” and following title “Jane Goodall: The Hope.” Discovery Channel's Animal Planet has also produced several features. In 2023, Cosmic Picture and Science North released “Jane Goodall’s Reasons for Hope,” which is presently playing on IMAX ® and Giant Screens around the world. The second season of Apple TV’s award-winning children’s series “Jane” returned to screens in spring 2024.
Dr. Goodall is a global icon and the recipient of nearly 60 honorary degrees, countless honors, including Tanzania’s Medal of Mount Kilimanjaro, the National Geographic Society's Hubbard Medal, Japan's prestigious Kyoto Prize, the Benjamin Franklin Medal in Life Science, the UNESCO 60th Anniversary Medal, and the Gandhi/King Award for Nonviolence. In April 2002, Secretary General Kofi Annan named Dr. Goodall a United Nations Messenger of Peace. In a 2004 Jane became a Dame Commander of the British Empire. In 2006, she received France's highest recognition, Legion d’Honneur. In 2021, Jane received the Templeton Prize and the Tang Prize. In 2025, Jane received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor in the United States.