In 1998 (I think) I was working in the School of Education at CU Boulder and doing research in Manual HS, a Denver public school. I spent a good time at the school and one day Jane Goodall was there to deliver a speech to Denver public school children. I went to hear her talk and sat in the back row of the auditorium. When I took a seat I noticed a notebook filled with papers on the floor next to me. No one else was nearby, so I picked up the stack of folders and leafed through them. I quickly realized it was Jane Goodall's itinerary and that someone had apparently misplaced it. I then went to the nearest official-looking person not associated with Manual HS and showed him the materials. As soon as I did, he breathed quite a sigh of relief. So I credit myself with saving Jane Goodall's trip to Colorado and Denver. Or at least saving some travel funds. I should have held out for delivering the materials to her in-person. Missed that one, but I guess she's thanking me from Heaven.
I am an animal lover, and Jane Goodall is my all-time hero. I've never stood in line to get an autograph from a rock star, but I once stood in line for two hours just so I could thank that beautiful human being. I'm so grateful she walked this earth. I pray her legacy lives forever.
Beautiful tribute. Jane Goodall is also my hero and also the reason I studied evolutionary anthropology and psychology. I wrote my senior thesis in college comparing the facial expressions during play behavior of human and chimpanzee children.
I found that while both chimps and humans scream in all kinds of negative contexts, it's only the humans who have a "play scream," presumably because we could afford it and not risk our offspring calling too much attention to themselves with predators around. Listening to the almost silent chimp laugh is still contagious though.
Jane influenced my education and career decisions, my approach to motherhood, my philosophy of life and so much more. I've seen her speak live twice and even visited her research site in Gombe. That was an incredible experience. I'm devastated at the loss of this icon but a fuller life could not have been lived than hers.
Great tribute piece to a great person. I first came across the work of Jane Goodall when I was head of a humanities department in a large 2000 student UK high school. We used Jerome Bruner's MAN A COURSE OF STUDIES (MaCOS) with 8th graders which included a beautiful film by and about Jane's work.
I am touched by your comment and the way it geared your life and ambition to contribute to a more human world. Thank you Peter Gray to reach out to keep us conscious of the way we act in our daily life especially with children.
She was pioneering in many ways and what impressed me most was how she showed that a relational approach to science leads to results that a detached analytical way could not. Her book on Hope touched me deeply and I hold the premise that with hope we can overcome all adversity and change our circumstances. Regarding your question, "Will we ever learn how to enable our natural kindness and playfulness to quash our equally natural greed and aggressiveness?", I am hopeful that we will. It starts with asking the question. Thanks, Peter.
She was an amazing person but I can’t help think her approach is what Indigenous people have been doing since time immemorial and they don’t get the same attention or respect as one white woman does.
In 1998 (I think) I was working in the School of Education at CU Boulder and doing research in Manual HS, a Denver public school. I spent a good time at the school and one day Jane Goodall was there to deliver a speech to Denver public school children. I went to hear her talk and sat in the back row of the auditorium. When I took a seat I noticed a notebook filled with papers on the floor next to me. No one else was nearby, so I picked up the stack of folders and leafed through them. I quickly realized it was Jane Goodall's itinerary and that someone had apparently misplaced it. I then went to the nearest official-looking person not associated with Manual HS and showed him the materials. As soon as I did, he breathed quite a sigh of relief. So I credit myself with saving Jane Goodall's trip to Colorado and Denver. Or at least saving some travel funds. I should have held out for delivering the materials to her in-person. Missed that one, but I guess she's thanking me from Heaven.
I am an animal lover, and Jane Goodall is my all-time hero. I've never stood in line to get an autograph from a rock star, but I once stood in line for two hours just so I could thank that beautiful human being. I'm so grateful she walked this earth. I pray her legacy lives forever.
Beautiful tribute. Jane Goodall is also my hero and also the reason I studied evolutionary anthropology and psychology. I wrote my senior thesis in college comparing the facial expressions during play behavior of human and chimpanzee children.
I found that while both chimps and humans scream in all kinds of negative contexts, it's only the humans who have a "play scream," presumably because we could afford it and not risk our offspring calling too much attention to themselves with predators around. Listening to the almost silent chimp laugh is still contagious though.
Jane influenced my education and career decisions, my approach to motherhood, my philosophy of life and so much more. I've seen her speak live twice and even visited her research site in Gombe. That was an incredible experience. I'm devastated at the loss of this icon but a fuller life could not have been lived than hers.
Interesting detail about "play screams" thanks for sharing. It is quite prevalent in my program daily. It must be quite an outlet in some way.
Yes I found myself very saddened at her loss. She contributed so much to our understanding.
Great tribute piece to a great person. I first came across the work of Jane Goodall when I was head of a humanities department in a large 2000 student UK high school. We used Jerome Bruner's MAN A COURSE OF STUDIES (MaCOS) with 8th graders which included a beautiful film by and about Jane's work.
I am touched by your comment and the way it geared your life and ambition to contribute to a more human world. Thank you Peter Gray to reach out to keep us conscious of the way we act in our daily life especially with children.
She was pioneering in many ways and what impressed me most was how she showed that a relational approach to science leads to results that a detached analytical way could not. Her book on Hope touched me deeply and I hold the premise that with hope we can overcome all adversity and change our circumstances. Regarding your question, "Will we ever learn how to enable our natural kindness and playfulness to quash our equally natural greed and aggressiveness?", I am hopeful that we will. It starts with asking the question. Thanks, Peter.
She was an amazing person but I can’t help think her approach is what Indigenous people have been doing since time immemorial and they don’t get the same attention or respect as one white woman does.