Standing on the Shoulders of Others

Tue, 01/31/2012
Meyvn Group

I knew who Jane Goodall was before I went to her presentation at SmartTalk last night.

  • I knew that she lived with and documented the lives of chimpanzees.
  • I knew that she was an acclaimed author.
  • I knew that some stuffy scientists criticized her work and implied that she “got too emotionally attached” to her subjects.
  • And I remember the stir she caused when she shared with the world that chimps made and used tools.

Heck – I was so enamored of Jane’s work that one Halloween I dressed up as her – and topped off my outfit with a purple stuffed chimpanzee.  So I knew I was going to LOVE the kickoff to the SmartTalk series!  And of course – Jane did not disappoint me.

Jane opened her presentation by welcoming us with a true chimpanzee “good-morning-sun” vocalization.  Then she shared stories about some of the specific chimpanzees she watched grow from an infant to adult.  And we learned that they have unique personalities and experience emotions — empathy, anger, love and embarrassment – just like us.  And then we heard about her personal journey where her understanding grew from a primatologist perspective to a conservationist perspective.

Jane Goodall is quite a woman.  And yet – the lesson that struck me last night was not about her many accomplishments.  It was about humbleness.   Sometimes I think many of us forget that we are blessed to stand on a foundation that was built by others.

Not Jane Goodall.   She readily shared that the only reason she was able to accomplish anything in her life was due to the amazing people (and animals) that helped her on her journey like Margaret Myfanwe Joseph, Rusty, and Louis Leakey.

Margaret Myfanwe Joseph was Jane’s mother.  And yes – we often assume that moms will support us.  But from what I’ve read and heard – Jane Goodall’s mom went above and beyond.

  • At three years old when Jane brought earthworms to bed – she wasn’t scolded.  Instead Margaret explained that the worms needed the earth to live – and off they went to return the worms to the garden.
  •  When Jane had everyone in a panic – including the police – because she was hiding (ie. lost) for hours in the hen house trying to learn how eggs were laid.  She wasn’t punished.  Instead her mother listened as Jane shared her first ethological discovery.
  • And when Jane needed an escort to begin her work at Gombe Stream National Park – Jane’s mother subjected herself to malaria, wild animals, isolation and countless nights sleeping in a tent – all to support her daughter’s dream.

Okay – Rusty was a dog.  And why was a dog important?  Well, Jane began her work in 1960 – and at that time traditional scientific study asserted that animals did not have emotions nor did animal have unique personalities.  Yet as Jane observed the chimpanzees at Gombe she could immediately could distinquish one animal from the other.  Not simply because they looked different – but also because they acted differently.

  • David Greybeard was the first chimpanzee to accept Jane
  • Mike was a strategist and through cunning and improvisation became an alpha male
  • Gigi was the nurturing aunt
  • Frodo was simply mean and aggressive

And even though Jane was challenging current scientific belief she never doubted what she was observing – because of Rusty.  Rusty – the dog – had taught Jane years earlier that animals are capable of emotion, intelligence and family and social relationships – just like humans.

When Jane went to Africa on vacation she called Louis Leakey  – who was well established in the scientific community for his famous work at Olduvai Gorge.  Jane was simply hoping to meet him.  But after taking a job as his secretary and accompanying him on numerous excursions to hunt for fossils – Leakey asked her to take on a project he’d long had in mind: a field study of chimpanzees.

Leakey’s mentoring allowed Jane to “live her dream.”  And when she made her first major discovery – that man was not the only being that could make and use tools – Leakey’s response bolstered her reputation in the scientific community.

“We must now redefine man, redefine tool, or accept chimpanzees as human!”

Yes – Jane changed the way the world views animals.  She’s lived a life beyond most of our imaginations.  And through her conservation work she helps make the planet a better place – every day.  You’d think she might be a little proud.  But you can tell through everything she says and does – that she knows that she stands on the shoulders of others.