Dubai Future Academy hosted the renowned primatologist and anthropologist Dr. Jane Goodall, Founder of the Jane Goodall Institute and a United Nations Messenger of Peace in a session titled “Reasons for Hope”. First time in Dubai, this talk kick starts her worldwide “Reasons for Hope” tour.
During her session, Dr. Goodall highlighted many of her unique experiences throughout her career, her purpose in life and urged her audiences to recognize their personal responsibilities to preserve the environment and create a positive change; this in spite of the increasing threats in the world.
Goodall is one of the most famous environmentalists of our time and has devoted her life to studying and protecting chimpanzees in the Gombe, Tanzania.
During this session, Goodall talked about her experience and hardships she had to overcome to defend the future of wild animals and the threats they face because of loss of their basic habitat, as well as the importance of protecting wildlife and fighting illegal trade. She also stressed the importance of promoting global collaboration with local communities to introduce effective environmental protection programs and initiatives to ensure a better future for generations to come.
Dr. Jane Goodall also highlighted that her reasons for hope is a result of several aspects including the power of social media, human brain, resilience of nature, technology and determined ambitious youth. She stated, “harnessing technology for the greater good of humanity is vital in this day and age as well as empowering youth to share their voice, concerns and take actions for a more promising future is key in order to create positive change”
She further added, “Every single individual matters. Every single individual has a role to play, every single one of us makes an impact on the planet every day; and we are in a position that we can choose the kind of impact that we want to make”
She began her study of chimpanzees in Africa in 1960. Her work in the Gombe recontributed to the development of her scientific knowledge and in-depth research on the study and identification of human and animal relationships. This encouraged her to establish the Jane Goodall Institute, a specialized institute in the protection of chimpanzees and their native habitat, as well as recognized to produce community-centered conservation and development programs in Africa.
In 1991, Goodall founded “Roots and Shoots” with a group of students in Tanzania, which now brings together hundreds of thousands of young people in more than 130 countries with the sole purpose of making the world a better place for people, animals and the environment. She spends most of her time traveling around the world to study chimpanzee and other environmental threats, in hopes that humanity will find solutions to these tough problems. Country wide, Goodall managed to establish “Roots and Shoots” – seen as part of her ongoing legacy, in over 100 schools across the UAE, including Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Al Ain.
Saeed Al Gergawi, Director of Dubai Future Academy, stressed the importance of highlighting the positive role of science and technology in protecting and preventing environmental and climate change that is effecting our world today; this is seen through joint collaboration between individuals, organizations and government entities”
Al Gergawi added, “Dubai Future Academy aims to host inspiring local and global speakers to share knowledge and best practices as well as provide an opportunity and a platform where individuals can openly discuss their views and enhance their knowledge.”
Part of the Dubai Future Foundation, the Dubai Future Academy is seen as a knowledge hub to prepare generations of leaders with the skills and tools to understand and adopt emerging technology as well as address future challenges that are facing our world today. Based out of the “Office of the Future”, which is seen as the first fully functional 3D printed office in world, the Academy will organize a number of events, workshops, seminars, talks and activities tackling key emerging issues and trends throughout the year.