While championing the causes of wildlife and the environment, legendary primatologist Jane Goodall — who passed away Oct. 1 at the age of 91 — also transformed the lives of countless people around the world. They include many Emory students, postdoctoral researchers and faculty members who are carrying on Goodall’s core mission in Tanzania: to study and conserve the chimpanzees and ecosystem of Gombe Stream National Park, while supporting the health and wellbeing of people.
“Meeting Jane Goodall changed everything for me,” says Elizabeth Lonsdorf, Emory professor of anthropology. “She was an incredible inspiration and mentor.”
Lonsdorf is co-director of the Jane Goodall Institute’s Gombe Ecosystem Health Project, along with Thomas Gillespie, professor and chair of Emory’s Department of Environmental Sciences. The pioneering project developed a “One Health” approach to quantify illness and methods of disease transmission between humans, wildlife and domestic animals at Gombe, to design effective interventions.
Related:
Learning from our closest relatives
Disease poses risk to chimpanzee conservation
Valuing 'natural capital' key to avoid next pandemic, global experts warn
