The 18th annual Stander Symposium celebrated the theme of academic excellence. But what do chimpanzees have to do with academia?

Dr. Jane Goodall, chimpanzee expert and conservationist, presented her research and its value to society in the keynote address Wednesday morning entitled 'Reason for Hope.' At 9:30 a.m., Thomas J. Frerick's Convocation Center was full of attendees, eager to hear the renowned researcher speak of her reasons for hope in the human race.

Amber Rose, academic events coordinator, explained the basis for choosing Goodall as the keynote speaker.

'Dr. Goodall is an exemplar in both engaging in research and in educating the public,' she said.'??She provides a model for all of us.'

As 'a wonderful, motivating speaker with a powerful message,' Rose believes that Goodall's role as a conservation activist is of particular interest to the UD community.

'The Symposium provides a forum for academic endeavor across disciplines on campus,' Rose said. 'A number of faculty and students are interested in conservation and it is a topic sure to be presented.'

Dr. Curran gave the opening address, commending Goodall on her achievements.

'She was an extraordinary woman who demonstrated courage,' he said. 'Dr. Goodall exemplifies the achievement of excellence.' He also called her a 'person of persistence.'

Following Dr. Curran's introduction, Goodall took the podium with an attention-grabber. Goodall thought it fitting to greet the crowd with an imitation of a typical chimpanzee morning greeting. From this moment on, Goodall engaged the audience with her charm and amiable quality.

Despite being recognized and distinguished with numerous awards, Goodall remains a humble a woman. She expressed how she prefers that all the pomp and circumstance not be included in introductions.

'I find it [being recognized] boring,' she told the audience. However, she expressed how the honors have created opportunities for her, 'opening doors,' as she described it.

Goodall attributed her success to the unflinching support if her mother. As a young girl, he mother instilled a spirit of wonder and discovery that would carry on into her adult years. Her childhood years were 'the making of a little scientist.'

At 23, the young, naive Goodall left for the jungles of Tanzania. Her experiences were an 'amazing adventure, daring and slightly crazy.' It was there in the wild jungles of Africa that Goodall learned so much about the animal world that she became determined to see the world through 'the eyes of a chimp.'

Despite obstacles like funding and getting permission from the government, the determined activist managed to realize her goal. Goodall is best known for her observational work of chimpanzees, which she called a 'fascinating experience.' Her first eye-opening experience was when she observed how a chimp was using leaves as a tool to fish for termites. This was enough proof for her of their high level of intelligence.

Through her research work, Goodall became convinced that chimpanzees are very similar to humans.

'We really are like them after all,' she said.

In the era Goodall performed her research, her views on animal behavior were met with skepticism. According to her, all animals have personalities, minds and feelings.

'We have a more sophisticated spoken language,' Goodall said of the small differences between humans and chimps.

Conservation issues were later addressed. Goodall hopes that we as humans will 'understand our place in nature.' She said that we are not good stewards and are 'destroying our planet.' Goodall warned that our carelessness could one day lead to a chain reaction that could dramatically affect our eating habits.

'It's happening every day,' she said, referring to the startling rate of extinction among the animal population.

Moreover, in her book, 'Harvest for Hope', Goodall argues that we're destroying our food and thus we need to take proper action to move into the 'right direction.'

To move in the 'right direction,' people need to change their mindsets.

'You can't separate social issues from environmental ones,' she said. 'They go hand in hand.'

The only way to remedy these harms, Goodall said, is by 'each of us making a difference each day.'