March 2, 2004
Contact: George Yatchisin
(805) 893-3494
e-mail: yatchisin-g@ sa.ucsb.edu
UCSB Arts & Lectures presents Jane Goodall—one of the world’s most respected scientists—at the Arlington Theatre
Summary Facts:
- Jane Goodall
- Jane Goodall is known worldwide for her groundbreaking study of chimpanzees at Gombe National Park in Tanzania
- Goodall is one of the leading spokespeople for the preservation of wildlife habitats and the environment
- Wednesday, April 7
- 8 pm / Arlington Theatre, 1317 State Street, Santa Barbara
- General public: $30 / UCSB students: $15
- Tickets & Information: UCSB Arts & Lectures at (805) 893-3535 or the Arlington Ticket Agency at (805) 963-4408
Legendary scientist and humanitarian Dr. Jane Goodall will give an inspiring lecture about her years studying chimpanzees, the pressing need for conservation, and each individual’s ability to effect change on Wednesday, April 7 at 8 pm at the Arlington Theatre, 1317 State Street, Santa Barbara. Jane Goodall is celebrated worldwide for her pioneering study of chimpanzees in Gombe National Park, Tanzania. Currently a United Nations Messenger of Peace, she is one of the leading spokespeople for the preservation of wildlife habitats and the environment. A recent article in the Guardian (London) concluded with her quote: “We have to stop leaving all the decisions to the so-called decision makers, but take matters into our own hands, realize that each one of us makes a difference, and that if everyone who cares acts in a way that is ethical, thinks about buying ethical things...then the world would be changed very fast.”
Dr. Goodall’s scores of honors include the Medal of Tanzania, the National Geographic Society’s Hubbard Medal, Japan’s prestigious Kyoto Prize, the Prince of Asturias Award for Technical and Scientific Research 2003, the Benjamin Franklin Medal in Life Science, and the Gandhi/King Award for Nonviolence. In 2003 Dr. Goodall was named a Dame of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II, the female equivalent of knighthood, and she was recently invested with that honor by Prince Charles at Buckingham Palace.
Jane Goodall began her landmark study of chimpanzees in Tanzania in June 1960, under the mentorship of anthropologist and paleontologist Dr. Louis Leakey. Her work would become the foundation of future primatological research and redefine the relationship between humans and animals. One of Goodall’s most significant discoveries came in her first year at Gombe, when she saw chimps stripping leaves off stems to make the stems useful for fishing termites out of nearby mounds. This and subsequent observations of Gombe chimps making and using tools would force science to rethink the notion that tool-making separated humans from other animals. She also observed chimps hunting and eating bush pigs and other animals, disproving the widely held belief that chimpanzees were primarily vegetarians.
Goodall defied scientific convention by giving the chimpanzees names instead of numbers, and insisted on the validity of her observations that the chimps had distinct personalities, minds and emotions. She wrote of lasting chimpanzee family bonds. Through the years her work continued to yield surprising insights such as the discovery that chimpanzees engage in a primitive sort of warfare.
Goodall established the Gombe Stream Research Center in 1964. Under the stewardship of Tanzanian field staff and other researchers, the Center continues her work today, making it one of the longest uninterrupted wildlife studies in existence.
In 1977, Goodall established the Jane Goodall Institute (JGI), which supports the Gombe work and other research, education and conservation and development programs. These include community-centered conservation efforts in Africa that empower villagers to build sustainable livelihoods while promoting regional conservation goals such as reforestation and an end to the illegal commercial bushmeat trade.
For more information on Jane Goodall, see the Jane Goodall Institute website at www.janegoodall.org
For area schoolchildren Jane Goodall will discuss her acclaimed Roots & Shoots program on Thursday, April 8 at 10 am at the Arlington Theatre. Roots & Shoots is the Jane Goodall Institute’s international environmental and humanitarian program for young people. Its mission is to foster respect and compassion for all living things, to promote understanding of all cultures and beliefs and to inspire each individual to take action to make the world a better place for animals and the human community. This event is co-presented with the Children’s Creative Project, Santa Barbara County Education Office, William J. Cirone, Superintendent, and the Santa Barbara Bowl Foundation SAGE program.
Books by Jane Goodall will be available for purchase and signing at the event.
Jane Goodall is presented by UCSB Arts & Lectures in association with the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History and sponsored by Patagonia, the Santa Barbara Independent and KCBX Public Radio.
For tickets or more information,
call UCSB Arts & Lectures at (805) 893-3535.
Tickets are also on sale at the Arlington Ticket Agency (805) 963-4408.
Editor: For photos, please call
George Yatchisin at (805) 893-3494.