10/02/2025
Letter to
Dear Jane,
Today I write with a broken heart, yet filled with gratitude. Your passing leaves an immeasurable void in the world, but your presence will never fade. To me, you were always more than a scientist or an activist — you were a beacon, living proof that passion, courage, and kindness can truly change the planet.
During my Master’s studies, I had the privilege of delving into ethology, and as I came to know your work more deeply, I discovered a part of myself. I fell even more in love with science, with life in all its forms, and with the idea that understanding is the first step to protecting. You taught me that observation can be an act of love, and that science can walk hand in hand with compassion.
You lit in me the dream of changing the world. In a time when so many leaders seem far from what truly matters, you showed that it is possible to lead with humility, with humanity, and with hope. You were — and always will be — someone I aspire to follow, someone who gives me strength to keep believing that it is worth fighting for a fairer, greener, and more humane future.
Thank you for dedicating your life to teaching us about our closest relatives, the chimpanzees, but also about ourselves — about what it truly means to be human. Thank you for proving, every single day, that one person can make a difference.
I promise you that I will keep trying to be one of those people who do not give in, who do not settle, who plant seeds. I promise your legacy will live on not only in science, but in every gesture of care we leave for the world.
With eternal admiration and love, Dr Patricia Munoz
