Rae Natalie Prosser de Goodall facts for kids
Rae Natalie Prosser de Goodall (born April 13, 1935, in Lexington, Ohio, USA – died May 25, 2015, at Estancia Harberton, Tierra del Fuego Province, Argentina), also known as Natalie Goodall, was a biologist. She lived in Tierra del Fuego Province, Argentina and was famous for studying the plants (flora) and animals (fauna) of that area.
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Natalie Goodall's Life Story
Rae Natalie Prosser was born on a farm in Ohio. She won an art scholarship to Kent State University. There, she studied education, biology, and art, earning bachelor's degrees in all three. She also earned a master's degree in biology.
After college, Natalie worked as a teacher for Mobil in Venezuela. During this time, she traveled a lot in Venezuela, Colombia, and the Caribbean islands. She loved studying the local plants and wildlife.
On a trip to South America, Natalie visited Tierra del Fuego. She was inspired by a book called Uttermost Part of the Earth. On this trip, she met Thomas Goodall, who would become her husband. He was the manager of Estancia Harberton, the ranch featured in the book. They got married in the United States in 1963.
Natalie and Thomas lived and worked at Estancia Harberton for the rest of her life. They raised two daughters there and in the nearby city of Ushuaia. Natalie's family still manages the ranch today. Her husband, children, and grandchildren are direct descendants of Thomas Bridges. He built Estancia Harberton and was an important missionary in Tierra del Fuego.
Studying Nature and Helping Others
Natalie Goodall was very dedicated to studying nature. In 2001, she created the Acatushun Museum of Austral Birds and Mammals (Museo Acatushun). This museum is located at Estancia Harberton and displays items from her own collection.
She also worked with many important groups, like the National Geographic Society. These groups focus on nature research around the world. Natalie founded and led the RNP Foundation (Rae Natalie Prosser Foundation). This foundation helps students and professionals who want to study nature in Southern South America. It offers internships and scholarships.
Awards and Recognitions
Natalie Goodall received many awards for her important work. Here are some of them:
- Albatross Prize from the Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia San Juan Bosco in 1983.
- International guest member of The Society of Woman Geographers in 1984.
- The Lighthouse of the End of the World prize from the government of Tierra del Fuego in 1994.
- International guest member of the Explorers Club of New York in 1995.
- A Gold Medal from The Society of Woman Geographers in 1996. This was for her studies of plants and wildlife in Tierra del Fuego.
- She was added to the Ohio Women's Hall of Fame in 1996.
- She received an honorary doctorate degree in Sciences from Kent State University in 1997.
- The highest award from her sorority, Gamma Phi Beta, called the Pink Carnation Award, in 1998.
See also
In Spanish: Rae Natalie Prosser de Goodall para niños
