By Torben Heinbockel ’26
As I prepare to leave behind St. Paul’s School, at the edge of college and all the potential paths ahead, I think about the best ways to have the most significant journey in my life. For many people, this will be a traditional route in college or career; however, this is not the case in science. When I found out recently that Dr. Jane Goodall passed away at the age of 91, I had time to reflect on who I am as someone interested in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics), and what drew me to STEAM. This was a time for me to reflect on how curiosity, perseverance, and creativity are combined in research.
Jane Goodall, the renowned conservationist and primatologist who revolutionized the study of chimpanzees through close, affectionate observation, has died at the age of 91. She passed away of natural causes in California while on a U.S. speaking tour, the Jane Goodall Institute confirmed Wednesday. (AP Photo by Aya Diab)
I grew up thinking that scientists had to follow a linear progression of good grades, lab internships, a Ph.D., and published papers. However, Goodall took a completely different route. At a young age of twenty-something, Goodall heard through a friend that researchers were studying animals in Africa. Goodall was invited to meet the famous anthropologist Louis Leakey, and traveled to Kenya and later to Tanzania to begin her studies of chimpanzees.
Researchers studying animals in the wild typically use a detached method of observing animals from a safe distance, minimizing contact between humans and animals, and avoiding attributing human qualities to animals. Goodall broke with this tradition. She treated the chimpanzees as individuals and with respect. Instead of assigning numbers to each animal, she assigned names. She documented their social interactions and individual behaviors. Her unorthodox way of empathizing with the chimpanzees resulted in significant discoveries regarding our understanding of primates and ultimately ourselves.
Goodall’s journey speaks to me because in STEAM fields, creativity is equally important as data; empathy and curiosity can also drive innovation. Goodall’s life illustrates that science is not simply about following procedures and controlling variables. It is also about finding new questions to ask, embracing uncertainty, and dedicating oneself to the pursuit of knowledge over an extended period of time.
Additionally, Goodall was not the only scientist who studied animals in Africa. Two additional prominent scientists were also behind the scenes of primate research. Dian Fossey studied gorillas, and Biruté Mary Galdikas studied orangutans. Collectively, they were known as “Leakey’s Angels.” It is fitting that these three major primate researchers were women. While their work does not necessarily represent the majority of female scientists, it is clear that their work exemplifies the idea that the caring perspective that women are often stereotyped as having is a strong tool for scientific inquiry: attentiveness, care, and determination lead to insight.
Goodall’s experience also provides several takeaways for students such as myself, trying to determine which college and career options may be right for me:
1. Pursue your passion regardless of where it leads you.
2. There is no need to seek recognition immediately. Long-term hands-on dedication may result in deeper insights into the subject matter.
3. Both analytical precision and observational human-centeredness are rewarded in STEAM fields.
4. Science is a process and not merely a list of tasks: connection, empathy, reflection. These are valuable tools as well.
With Goodall’s passing, the world lost a giant; however, the impact she left on the world lives on wherever researchers treat animals, the environment, and other researchers with respect. As I move forward pursuing science in college and beyond, I hope that I will remember her lesson that one’s purpose is not defined by luck, but rather by showing up, being curious, and putting in the work even when no one is watching.
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