Jane Goodall Institute Internships: Inspiring Hope Through Action

Introduction

The Jane Goodall Institute (JGI), founded in 1977, is a global, community-led conservation organization that advances the vision and work of Dr. Jane Goodall. A key component of JGI's mission is to inspire and empower the next generation of conservationists through various programs, including internship opportunities. These internships provide invaluable experiences for students and young professionals passionate about wildlife research, community-led conservation, wildlife rehabilitation, and youth empowerment.

Roots & Shoots: A Foundation for Youth Empowerment

Jane Goodall’s Roots & Shoots is the global environmental and humanitarian youth program of the Jane Goodall Institute (JGI). Founded by Dr. Jane Goodall, DBE and a group of Tanzanian students, the Roots & Shoots program provides young people with the knowledge, tools and hopeful inspiration to improve the environment and the quality of life for people and animals.

Roots & Shoots began with a group of inspired young people in Tanzania. On a sunny day in 1991, Dr. Jane Goodall was sitting on the front porch of her house in Tanzania. A group of students approached her, seeking advice. Jane encouraged them to gather friends and focus on small, local actions they could take right then and there. From her front porch in Dar es Salaam, Dr. Jane began the journey. Roots & Shoots is carrying it forward.

Tomorrow, we are celebrating 35 years of Roots & Shoots, which has since grown into a global movement of changemakers of all ages. Jane often said that seeing what young people are doing through Roots & Shoots was her greatest reason for hope - and countless members have told her it changed their lives. Roots & Shoots is active around the world, in 75 countries and counting.

The Internship Experience at JGI

JGI staff strive to make internship experiences valuable and meaningful for both the student and the organization. Over the course of a semester-long experience, interns work independently and collaboratively on an array of projects that are set up to meet their personal goals, interests and strengths.

Core Areas of JGI's Work: Opportunities for Interns

Internships at JGI often align with the organization's core program areas:

Wildlife Research & Science

Continuing Jane’s groundbreaking research into animal behavior, especially chimpanzees, at Gombe Stream Research Center in Tanzania. Imagine sitting in the forest for hours at a time, watching your favorite primate species, and filling notebooks with your observations. This was the life of Jane Goodall during her years in Gombe, Tanzania, and her findings changed the world. She was a true pioneer in the field of Primatology (technically her degree is in Ethology, or animal behavior), inspiring people around the world to follow in her footsteps.

These little celebrations are only possible because of the dedicated researchers of JGI's Gombe Stream Research Center.

Community-Led Conservation

Working hand-in-hand with local communities to address the root causes of habitat loss and build sustainable futures, which is our signature Tacare approach. Most notably, the Tacare approach has helped local communities restore and protect much of the forest habitat surrounding Gombe in Western Tanzania, where Jane’s research began.

Wildlife Rehabilitation

Providing world-class care for rescued chimpanzees and other at-risk species at our Tchimpounga sanctuary in the Republic of the Congo. In the Republic of the Congo, our team at Tchimpounga sanctuary works hand-in-hand with local partners (including the Congolese government) to rescue, rehabilitate, and release pangolins back into the wild. This #WorldPangolinDay, join us in protecting pangolins and building a future where wildlife and communities thrive together.

Read also: Wells Scholarship Opportunities

Youth Empowerment

Inspiring young changemakers through our Roots & Shoots program, which equips youth everywhere to take action for people, animals, and the environment.

How to Thrive in Primatology Field Research

There are some essential prerequisites to thriving during primatology field research. One must love the outdoors, be adaptable to physically and mentally challenging conditions, comfortable with minimal contact to the outside world, and replete with patience. Passion is a must, because primate research is simply not the easiest field!

For aspiring primatologists, a graduate degree in biology, anthropology, psychology, or similar major is the typical path. There are always exceptions, so don’t be dissuaded if you have already received a degree in a different field! Though it was Dr. Goodall’s interest and self determination to learn more about wildlife that inspired Dr. Leakey to send her to Tanzania to study chimpanzees without any formal training, in most cases today, education is a necessary baseline. Jane was lucky and worked very hard initially, and she eventually went to Cambridge to obtain her PhD under the guidance of Dr.

Despite an undergraduate degree, it’s often internships, research experience, and volunteer work during and after your undergraduate degree that will enhance your curriculum vitae (academic resume). Diversify your experiences by applying to positions with other species besides primates. Shoot for the stars and put yourself out there. Contact experts working on projects you’re interested in - it may lead to valuable connections or advice. Also keep an eye out for networking events and conferences. Show your passion for the field - it will help you advance in the field of primatology.

Skills and Experiences to Enhance Your Application

Diversify your experiences by applying to positions with other species besides primates. Shoot for the stars and put yourself out there. Contact experts working on projects you’re interested in - it may lead to valuable connections or advice. Also keep an eye out for networking events and conferences. Show your passion for the field - it will help you advance in the field of primatology.

Read also: Empowering Women Leaders

Use your talents to advocate or fundraise for primates and other endangered species. Dr. Goodall realized that research is not the only important piece of work in this field, which led her to travel the world educating others about chimpanzees, other species and conservation. This in turn, led to the creation of the Jane Goodall Institute and JGI’s youth program, Roots & Shoots, which inspires youth to take action.

Read and research topics of interest as much as you can. Save money and invest in your future. Your first years as an aspiring primatologist are often an expensive endeavor. Don’t be discouraged if you must take time to work and save money to reach your goals.

Taking the Next Step: From Intern to Professional

After you have graduated from a university and equipped yourself with research experience or internships, it is time to seek a full-time job or graduate positions.

Understanding Chimpanzee Behavior: A Key to Conservation

When a chimpanzee shows their teeth, it might look like a smile-but it doesn’t mean they’re happy. In fact, one of the most commonly misunderstood chimpanzee expressions is the “fear grimace”-a tense, toothy display that often signals stress, fear, or submission, not joy.

Fear Grimace (slide 1) - Bared teeth, wide eyes. Beg/Pout face (slide 3) - Lips pushed out. Understanding these expressions is key to interpreting chimpanzee behavior accurately-and respecting them as the intelligent, emotionally rich beings they are.

JGI's Global Impact: Protecting Chimpanzees and Inspiring Conservation

The Jane Goodall Institute is a global community conservation organization that advances the vision and work of Dr. Jane Goodall. By protecting chimpanzees and inspiring people to conserve the natural world we all share, we improve the lives of people, animals and the environment.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in southwestern Uganda is well known for its mountain gorilla population. The Jane Goodall Institute Uganda just completed a landmark scientific census to better understand chimpanzee distribution in Bwindi, including providing the first comprehensive, evidence-based assessment of the species’ population, density, and spatial distribution within the park. Completed in partnership with Uganda Wildlife Authority, these new data matter because we now know that chimpanzees are an integral part of Bwindi's great ape population - so we are better positioned to strategically protect them.

“This census was undertaken to address critical knowledge gaps regarding chimpanzees in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park," explains James Byamukama, Executive Director of the Jane Goodall Institute Uganda. As our founder, Jane Goodall, said: "Only if we understand, can we care." Equipped with this new evidence, we can better care for our fellow great apes and protect the planet that we all call home.

Mr. H: A Symbol of Hope

Have you met Mr. H? On this day many years ago, Mr. H was given to Jane by a man named Gary Haun. Gary lost his eyesight at 21 years old, but pursued his dream of becoming a magician despite the challenges of working in a field built on sight. When Gary first gifted Mr. H, he thought he was handing Jane a chimpanzee plushy - until she had him feel the tail. Inspired by Gary’s story, Jane decided to carry Mr. H everywhere as a symbol of the indomitable human spirit - one of her four main reasons for hope.

Celebrating Milestones: Sheldon the Chimpanzee

Join us in celebrating a chimpanzee named Sheldon, who just broke a record at Gombe! As of this Monday, February 16, Sheldon took over as the oldest known-age male chimpanzee at Gombe National Park. Previously, the famous gentle leader Freud held this record, passing away at 42.72 years. According to the meticulous records kept by Gombe researchers, including Gombe Principal Investigator Dr. Elizabeth Lonsdorf, Sheldon is now 42.74 years old! When we say "oldest known-age male," we acknowledge that there may have been older males. The chimpanzee Rugongo, for example, was estimated to be about 43 years old at his death. However, since Gombe researchers did not observe and record his birth, we cannot be certain.

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