Renowned conservationist and scientist Jane Goodall, who earned acclaim for her research while living among chimpanzees in Africa, will deliver an address titled “Reason for Hope” during Elon’s annual Convocation for Honors at 4 p.m., Thursday, April 4 in Koury Center. The convocation offers special recognition to President’s List and Dean’s List students as well as members of the Elon Society, the premier donor organization at Elon.
Goodall has conducted more than 40 years of research on chimpanzee behavior in the Gombe preserve in Tanzania. She worked closely with famed paleontologist Louis Leakey to establish a study of wild chimpanzees on the shores of Lake Tanganyika. Her work has dispelled long held myths about chimpanzees, revealing that the animals make and use tools, hunt for meat and have diverse personalities. The study continues today, mostly by a trained team of Tanzanians, making it the longest field study of any animal species in their natural surroundings.
In 1977, she founded the Jane Goodall Institute with the goal of creating a more caring, sustainable world. Her environmental education program for children, Roots & Shoots, teaches care for the environment, non-human animals and humans.
Goodall’s books include “My Life with the Chimpanzees” and “Through a Window: My Thirty Years with the Chimpanzees of Gombe.” Her bestseller, “Reason For Hope,” is an insightful memoir that explores the spiritual and scientific experiences which have shaped her life. The book was also the subject of a PBS television portrait.
Tickets for the convocation are $15, or free for those displaying valid Elon identification. Tickets may be purchased by calling the McCrary Theatre box office at (336) 278-5610.