Jane Goodall, world-renowned primatologist, conservationist, and beacon of hope for the planet, has died at the age of 91. She passed away of natural causes on October 1, 2025, while on a speaking tour in California.
Her passing has sparked a global outpouring of tributes. Environmental groups, world leaders, scientific institutions, and countless individuals have honored her life, legacy, and extraordinary impact on how we think about nature and our place within it. Her death marks the end of a remarkable chapter in Earth’s story, but her mission lives on. Her spirit, ideas, and institutions will continue shaping science, conservation, and youth activism for generations to come.
From her early days, Goodall defied convention. Born in London in 1934, she nurtured a fascination with animals from a young age. With no formal scientific training at the outset, she journeyed to Africa and, in 1960, began her landmark field study in Tanzania’s Gombe Stream National Park under the mentorship of paleoanthropologist Louis Leakey.
Her observations of chimpanzees revealed that they possessed intelligence, emotional lives, social structures, and even the capacity to use tools in the wild with no formal training. It forced science to reconsider the boundary between humans and other primates. Pure passion and curiosity fueled her pursuit of knowledge, and most experts initially refused to take her seriously.
Over six decades, Goodall evolved from groundbreaking researcher to global advocate. In 1977 she founded the Jane Goodall Institute, which supports conservation, habitat protection, and community engagement across Africa and beyond. She also launched the Roots & Shoots youth program, inspiring millions of young people to take action for animals, the environment, and communities.
In recent years, even as she aged, Goodall remained vibrantly active. She delivered talks, engaging in media, while advocating for climate action, biodiversity protection, and a more compassionate relationship between humans and the rest of life on Earth. One dimension of her influence lies in the intersection of science, technology, and education. Our history of covering her work reflects an acknowledgment of how technology, media, and innovation can amplify environmental voices.
For a retrospective look at how much she impacted everyone around the world and how excited we at Innovation & Tech Today always were to chat with Jane, watch our video from the premiere of her documentary, Jane.
