Today (January 24), the Tang Prize Foundation, in partnership with the Jane Goodall Institute Taiwan, Chang Jung Christian University, and the National Taiwan Museum, hosted the premiere of From Gombe to Global: The Life's Calling of Jane Goodall at The White Hall, National Taiwan Museum Nanmen Branch. The documentary is the first comprehensive film chronicling the life and legacy of Dr. Jane Goodall, the 2020 Tang Prize Laureate in Sustainable Development, following her passing on October 1 (Pacific Time), 2025.
The premiere, hosted by Dr. Jenn-Chuan Chern, CEO of the Tang Prize Foundation, featured a post-screening panel discussion with Jessica Kung, the documentary interviewer and veteran international columnist; Kelly S.C. Kok, Executive Director of the Jane Goodall Institute Taiwan; Ching-Yi Horng, Dean of the International College of Practice and Education for the Environment at Chang Jung Christian University; and Shan-Shan Guo, Vice Chairman of the Delta Electronics Foundation. Nearly 100 attendees filled the venue, creating a warm, moving atmosphere. The film is now available on the Tang Prize YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vyB_7v-l598&list=PLFEjYkG4-nY-cUPwV1hvCH2GvIs-EvSoW&index=2).
Dr. Jenn-Chuan Chern, CEO of the Tang Prize Foundation, noted that the documentary took two years to produce and is available in both Chinese and English. The production team seized opportunities to conduct interviews during Dr. Goodall's speaking engagements around the world and received invaluable archival footage from the Jane Goodall Institute Taiwan and Chang Jung Christian University, enriching the film's content. Dr. Chern emphasized that the film serves not only as a tribute to Dr. Goodall but also as a means to document and pass on her vision and contributions to sustainability, her spirit of hope and perseverance, and the genuine connections and lasting impact she has cultivated in Taiwan since 1998.
During the panel discussion, Jessica Kung, the documentary interviewer and veteran international columnist, shared: "In my more than twenty years as an international correspondent, I have interviewed many prominent figures, but those who are genuinely authentic and sincere from the heart are exceedingly rare. Dr. Jane Goodall was one of them. What moved me most during our interview was her attitude toward death—she saw it as an adventure. To view death, which most people fear, in such a positive light is itself a form of spiritual comfort. Dr. Goodall lived her beliefs to the very end, achieving what she sought. Her very existence provides people living in turbulent times with a reason not to give up hope."
Kelly S.C. Kok, Executive Director of the Jane Goodall Institute Taiwan, reflected: "To see Jane in action on the screen makes my heart full. We are reminded again of the wonderful human that she was. I don't think there is anyone like Jane. She has gifted the world with her gentle yet tenacious strength—to act for all that is good, to never give up, and to always choose hope. You can see in the documentary that even at 91 she was most certainly not going to give up. By her deeds and words, she has inspired generations of young people to move through life differently, not to become famous or rich, but to be compassionate, kind and mindful of the natural world. I hope many people can experience her presence when watching this documentary, and be inspired as we have been."
Dean Ching-Yi Horng of Chang Jung Christian University added, "This film presents not only the life journey of Dr. Jane Goodall, but also a profound and enduring spirit of action that continues to inspire. Chang Jung Christian University is deeply honored to put the Roots & Shoots action-based education advocated by Dr. Goodall into practice on campus, gradually transforming it into a concrete organizational force within the university that engages deeply with local communities. Through collaboration with the Jane Goodall Institute, Roots & Shoots actions have been integrated into formal university education, expanding international sustainability initiatives. By establishing the 'Roots & Shoots Action Learning Classrooms,' faculty and students from CJCU and partner schools are guided to engage with community and environmental issues, transforming care into action and carrying forward the values of hope, responsibility, and change championed by Dr. Goodall."
About the Tang Prize
Since the advent of globalization, mankind has been able to enjoy the convenience brought forth by the advancement of human civilization and science. Yet a multitude of challenges, such as climate change, the emergence of new infectious diseases, the widening wealth gap, and moral degradation, have surfaced along the way. Against this backdrop, Dr. Samuel Yin established the Tang Prize in December 2012. It consists of four award categories, namely Sustainable Development, Biopharmaceutical Science, Sinology, and Rule of Law. Every other year, four independent and professional selection committees, comprising many internationally ren owned experts, scholars, and Nobel laureates, choose Tang Prize laureates who have made substantive contributions and a far-reaching impact on the world, regardless of ethnicity, nationality, or gender. A cash prize of NT$50 million (approx. US$1.7 million) is allocated to each category, with NT$10 million (approx. US$0.35 million) of it being a grant intended for research or educational outreach programs to encourage professionals in every field to examine mankind's most urgent needs in the 21st century, and become leading forces in the sustainable development of human society through their outstanding research outcomes and active civic engagement.
