The world-renowned conservationist, Jane Goodall, passed away at 91, hours before she planned to meet hundreds of high schoolers in Pasadena, California.
Goodall, a British ethologist known for her knowledge and research on chimpanzees, was awarded a Ph.D at the age of 31, even without an A.B. degree, which is a prerequisite bachelor’s degree for a Ph.D.
When she began her studies in Tanzania at 26, she observed chimpanzees in their natural habitat and collected data that helped the world understand chimpanzees and their behavior. Her efforts showed the emotional and social behaviors of chimpanzees and challenged ideas of animals and their behaviors.
“The least I can do is speak out for those who cannot speak for themselves,” Goodall said, according to National Geographic.
She founded the Jane Goodall Institute in 1977, which uses science, technology and local communities to monitor habitats and wildlife. Her other foundation, Roots and Shoots, is a youth organization with bases in over 100 countries that spreads compassion and the importance of health for all wildlife. Both of her organizations promote the awareness of conservation and inspire all ages to make simple changes that make a large difference for the environment.
“You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. What you do makes a difference,” Goodall said, according to Harvest for Hope.
After her foundations were founded, Goodall published books and went on speaking tours where she addressed regular audiences and government officials alike to spread awareness for the environment. She had just begun a U.S. speaking tour at the time of her death, with her final appearance in New York, where she emphasized the importance of young people’s actions in their communities and their positive changes for the Earth.
“Our ecosystems are under threat, but hope is not lost. Collective action has the power to create lasting change,” Goodall said, according to Bloomberg Philanthropies Global Forum.
