The University of Nebraska at Kearney welcomed one of the world’s most recognizable voices in science and conservation when Dr. Jane Goodall stepped onto the stage of the Miriam Drake Theatre on March 20.
Speaking to a packed house, the internationally acclaimed primatologist transported her audience into the forests of Gombe, where she began her groundbreaking chimpanzee research in 1960. With warmth and humor, Goodall shared stories of David Greybeard, the chimp she first observed using tools, and other moments that forever changed how we understand the line between humans and animals.
Her lecture, “Sowing the Seeds of Hope,” wove together her scientific discoveries with a message of resilience and responsibility. She spoke about the Jane Goodall Institute, founded in 1977, and its decades-long work protecting chimpanzees, supporting African communities, and inspiring young people worldwide through the Roots & Shoots program.
Goodall also revealed glimpses of the person behind the legend — a United Nations Messenger of Peace, Dame of the British Empire, and tireless traveler who still spends more than 300 days a year on the road advocating for the planet. At 79, she remains a voice of urgency but also of optimism, reminding listeners that change begins with individual choices made every day.
Following her lecture, Goodall greeted guests and signed books.
