My Life with the Chimpanzees

Jane Goodall’s approach to studying chimpanzees was a radical departure from the norm. Many researchers conducted studies in controlled environments rather than the animals’ natural habitats, often subjecting animals to tests and experiments. Instead, she immersed herself in their environments. While other ethologists also took this immersive approach, Goodall deviated from the norm by naming her research subjects rather than simply referring to them by numbers, which was an almost universal standard. This methodology challenged the prevailing scientific norms that prioritized detachment and supposed objectivity, allowing her to observe the chimpanzee’s natural behaviors more intimately and build personal connections with them. Instead of viewing the animals as mere subjects for study, she saw them as sentient beings with their own emotions and social lives. While many of her peers criticized her approach (and there is still some debate among practices like feeding wild animals in the ethology field), Goodall’s methods were a proven success. In building trust with the chimpanzees she studied, she observed things that no other researcher had, such as social structures and tool use.

Goodall began working in the 1960s, during a time when field research was dominated by men, making her achievements a significant milestone for women in the sciences.