Renowned Naturalist Jane Goodall Visits John Cabot University

Dr. Jane Goodall with Professor Antonio Lòpez

On October 14, Jane Goodall and Boy Olmi were welcomed to John Cabot University for a private, first screening of Mr. Olmi’s documentary Jane & Payne, about Dr. Goodall and Roger Payne. The documentary, filmed in Patagonia and produced by Boy Olmi and Dylan Williams, provided an opportunity to listen to the reflections of these two great naturalists on the environment, global change, and the challenges the world faces today. Jane Goodall invited Professor Antonio Lòpez’s Media and Environment class to attend the showing.

Professor Antonio Lòpez’s students were honored to have the chance to be the first to watch the documentary, and speak in person with both Boy Olmi and Jane Goodall. Professor Lòpez, as advisor of Grassroots, JCU’s environmental club, introduced two of the members present in the room and gave examples of what JCU does to spread environmental awareness among students.

JCU students, staff and faculty had an opportunity to talk with Dr. Goodall after the documentary and learned about the Roots & Shoots project, which is the youth-led community action and learning program of the Jane Goodall Institute. From the Roots & Shoots website: “The program builds on the legacy and vision of Dr. Jane Goodall to place the power and responsibility for creating community-based solutions to big challenges in the hands of the young people. Through the program, young people map their community to identify specific challenges their neighborhoods face. From there, they prioritize the problems, develop a plan for a solution, and take action.”

Thank you Jane Goodall for an inspiring evening!