By Carolyn Holtzman
Renowned primatologist Jane Goodall will speak at Washington and Lee University tonight. But if you don’t already have a ticket, you might have trouble getting in.
Anticipating heavy interest in the free event, the student-run Contact Committee distributed tickets for it. They were gone by today, although the committee promises to have some available at the door.
The event will be live-streamed on the Washington and Lee website, and those who don’t get seats may watch the talk in Northen Auditorium, Leyburn Library. A book signing will follow the event in Evans Hall.
Goodall began her study of chimpanzees in 1960. She established the Jane Goodall Institute in 1977. The foundation’s mission is to preserve apes and their natural habitats and to educate the public about the treatment of apes globally.
Goodall plans to retire next year.
“Since this is Dr. Goodall’s last year of speaking we thought it was the perfect time to jump on the opportunity to invite her to Washington and Lee,” Contact Public Relations Co-Chair Caroline Morgan said.
Goodall’s talk, “Sowing the Seeds of Hope,” will take place at 7:30 p.m. in Lee Chapel.
She will also meet in a smaller group with students whose studies relate to her field.
Goodall has been honored with the French Legion of Honor, the medal of Tanzania and the Kyoto Prize. In 2002 she was awarded the United Nations Messenger of Peace by Secretary-General Kofi Annan for her “dedication to what is best in mankind.”