Jane Goodall

Honorary Doctor of Laws

Dr. Jane Goodall is a world-renowned pioneer in primatological research. Her findings in the 1960s at what is now the Gombe Stream Research Centre have changed the way we understand chimpanzees and primates more broadly, and how we think about tool-use within the animal kingdom.

Goodall broke new ground for women in science. In the 1960s, her field of study tended to marginalize women, but the influence of Goodall’s research has served to erode some of the obstacles that women have faced. Today, women dominate long-term primate behavioral studies worldwide.

Goodall is a long-time advocate of Indigenous rights and knowledge; she is a United Nations Messenger of Peace, and Dame of the British Empire. She is a past recipient of the coveted Kyoto Prize (for her contributions to the biological sciences) and dozens of other prestigious awards and recognitions. She has authored more than 20 books and has been featured in multiple films.

Her legacy includes a global network of Jane Goodall Institutes and their many programs. Goodall’s vision for sustainable living — founded on a symbiotic relationship between human animals, non-human animals, and the rest of the natural world — is an inspiration to many and, most especially, to youth. The Jane Goodall Institute protects great apes through sanctuaries, protects animal and human habitats through community-centered conservation, and educates and mobilizes students through the Roots & Shoots program.

In September 2015, Goodall was the second lecturer in the Axworthy Distinguished Lecture Series on Social Justice and the Public Good at The University of Winnipeg, delivering a powerful and moving address to a gathering of 2,500 people.

Her lifelong commitment to sustainable living, conservation, and to animal and human rights is unsurpassed. In recognition of her tremendous contributions to science, especially primatology, and her untiring dedication to education and youth, The University of Winnipeg proudly bestows upon Dr. Jane Goodall an Honorary Doctor of Laws.