Danforth Center Scientists Reflect on Inspiring Women Scientists

Elizabeth (Toby) Kellogg, PhD, Member and Robert E. King Distinguished Investigator, reflects on learning as a child about Jane Goodall’s work.

“I’ve recently thought about the influence of Jane Goodall on me growing up. I don’t remember ever deciding that I wanted to be a scientist; I think I may have believed that scientists did things that were far removed from what an ordinary person could do. Conversely, observation of nature seemed like a normal and unremarkable part of my daily life – watching birds, catching tadpoles, watching leaves emerge in the spring after a long cold winter. In the mid-60’s Jane Goodall’s work with wild chimpanzees in the Gombe National Park in Tanzania appeared and became widely known via articles in National Geographic, to which my family subscribed. In a photo on the cover, she was sitting in the forest and watching the animals around her. It was a new idea for me that one woman could make important contributions by careful observation, looking where no one had looked before. There was also something romantic about going into the forest and coming out with insights that changed our view of humanity and our relatives. For a while I toyed with the idea of making a career studying animal behavior (note that I didn’t say “pursued” – my efforts were decidedly casual). I ended up studying organisms that don’t move around so much, but I can still see her influence, providing a clear example of what women can do and become.”