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Photo by Hugo van Lawick, National GeographicJane Goodall with binoculars climbs a tree to better view chimpanzees. Photo by Vanne Goodall, National GeographicJane Goodall and Hugo van Lawick observe a family of chimpanzees. Credit National GeographicJane Goodall’s first article was published in 1963 and a second article was featured on the December 1965 cover of National Geographic magazine. Learn more about the life and legacy of Jane Goodall at “Becoming Jane: The Evolution of Dr. Jane Goodall,” an exhibition organized by National Geographic and the Jane Goodall Institute.
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Dr. Jane Goodall, the world’s foremost expert on chimpanzees, will be celebrated in the West Coast premiere of “Becoming Jane: The Evolution of Dr. Jane Goodall,” a new exhibition opening at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, it was announced Thursday.
The exhibition will launch on Nov. 7.
Goodall, founder of the Jane Goodall Institute & UN Messenger of Peace, has created an indelible legacy in the fields of science and conservation. She is best known for her 60-year study of social and family interactions of wild chimpanzees since she first went to Gombe Stream National Park in Tanzania in 1960, where she witnessed human-like behaviours among chimpanzees, including armed conflict.
Produced in partnership with the National Geographic Society and the Jane Goodall Institute, the exhibition explores Goodall’s life from her early years as an intrepid young woman with a dream to learn about animals in Africa, to her years establishing herself as a renowned scientist in Gombe to her current role as an activist, mentor and advocate for creating a better world for all life on Earth.
The exhibition debuted at the National Geographic Museum in Washington, D.C. in November 2019 and has since traveled to the Field Museum in Chicago. The Chicago exhibit is set to close on September 6.
It will run at the NHM from Nov. 7 through April 17, 2022. Tickets will go on sale in early fall. Visit NHM.ORG/becoming-jane to sign up for updated information.
“We are honored to present this marvelous exhibition and share Jane Goodall’s journey with audiences from all over the world,” said Dr. Lori Bettison-Varga, president and director of the Natural History Museums of Los Angeles County. “As we emerge from the past year and continue on a path towards healing, Dr. Goodall’s life and work provide an unparalleled example of how curiosity can lead to environmental stewardship with tremendous impact.”
Widely known for her innovative approach to animal behavior research, Goodall’s work studying the lives of chimpanzees in the wild captured the imagination of the world. Rather than seeing the animals as subjects, she came to know them as individuals with personalities and emotions — a notion once rejected by the scientific world, yet now considered revolutionary.
Her story — one of fearless determination, curiosity, the pursuit of knowledge and a passionate love of the natural world — has resonated with generations of people around the globe.
“Jane Goodall has been inspiring National Geographic audiences, young and old, for over half a century,” said Kathryn Keane, vice president of public programming at the National Geographic Society. “This exhibition allows us to experience her amazing life story in a highly personal and powerful way. Through immersive media, authentic scenic and interactives, this exhibition takes visitors into the field and around the world with Jane, walking in her shoes and experiencing her powerful message of hope firsthand.”
Highlights from the exhibition include:
- A multiscreen experience introducing visitors to Dr. Goodall’s work, alongside surprising encounters with digitally rendered chimpanzees;
- A replica of Goodall’s research tent, offering a hands-on experience where visitors can envision themselves as scientists jotting down observations in their field journal;
- A hologram-like projection of Goodall who shares her memories in Gombe and recalls her thoughts, feelings, impressions and lessons learned while living among chimpanzees;
- A projection of Tanzania’s Gombe Stream National Park;
- Interactive immersive activities, including one in which visitors can test their skills at matching the pant-hoot vocalization of a chimpanzee;
- Updates on the current state of Gombe Stream National Park and the chimpanzee range in Africa, along with the work of the innovative scientists and conservationists who are following in Goodall’s footsteps;
- A call to action to visitors from Goodall to join her, the Jane Goodall Institute and National Geographic, in an effort to ensure a more sustainable future for us all; and
- A pledge station where visitors can share what actions they will take to help Goodall in her mission.
To sign up to be notified on any update on the Becoming Jane exhibit, use the Natural History Museum’s online subscription form.
