We are deeply saddened by the news that the world-renowned primatologist, conservationist and Zoology alumna, Jane Goodall has died at the age of 91.

Prof Rebecca Kilner FRS, our Head of Department, said, ‘For years to come, Jane will be remembered for transforming scientific knowledge into a global force for conservation and hope, serving as an inspiration to us all.’

Jane was a PhD student in this Department in the 1960s, and had the rare distinction of being allowed to study for a PhD at Cambridge without first obtaining a Bachelor’s degree. She worked under the supervision of Robert Hinde, as one of a cohort of students who went on to become world-leading primatologists. Her PhD research described the first five years of her work on the chimpanzees at Gombe and laid the foundations for a lifetime dedicated to their study. 

Recognizing that scientific discovery alone cannot solve the environmental crisis, Jane evolved from a researcher to an advocate and demonstrated how rigorous science can inspire and inform action. At her peak, her global platform reached billions of people through traditional and social media and with over 5 million followers across social channels she became the most followed female scientist on Earth.

Jane worked tirelessly until her death to leverage this reach and communicate scientific knowledge and environmental urgency to global audiences.

Adapted from text by Prof Rebecca Kilner FRS

Further reading: Jane's recollections of Prof Robert Hinde her PhD supervisor at Cambridge.

Image: Jane Goodall at TEDGlobal 2007 in Arusha, Tanzania. Photo by Erik (HASH) Hersman