1. Dian Fossey Scientist Jennifer Leader

2. Why Dian Fossey deserves to be in the Hall of Fame.  Dian Fossey studied animal behavior – particularly of mountain gorillas in Africa.  Through her work Dian showed that gorillas were not as bad as people thought and this helped save them from being killed and from becoming extinct.  Dian Fossey got closer to gorillas than anyone had previously ever done.  She learned how to communicate with the gorillas and when to be aggressive and when to be nice to the gorillas so she wouldn’t frighten them.  With her developing these methods other scientists are able to get closer to gorillas and study how they relate to humans.  Dian’s work also promoted preservation of animals’ natural habitats, instead of housing animals in artificial habitats like zoos.

3. Dian Fossey’s childhood  Born: San Francisco, California in 1932 on January 16th  Passion: Dian loved animals. Growing up she had a goldfish but, then when the goldfish died she never got another pet.

4. Getting Started On Dian’s first trip to Africa she met a man named Louis Leaky. On Dian’s first trip to Africa she met a man named Louis Leaky. After spending some time in Africa with the gorillas Dian moved back to Louisville, Kentucky. After spending some time in Africa with the gorillas Dian moved back to Louisville, Kentucky. Three years later Louis came to town to lecture. At his lecture he said he wanted a single woman with no scientific training to work with gorillas in Africa. Louis believed that “Women are stronger and more observant than men.“ Three years later Louis came to town to lecture. At his lecture he said he wanted a single woman with no scientific training to work with gorillas in Africa. Louis believed that “Women are stronger and more observant than men.“ After meeting with Louis, Dian got the job. After meeting with Louis, Dian got the job.

5. Other Interesting Info on Dian One day Dian found Digit, her favorite gorilla, killed by a poacher! One day Dian found Digit, her favorite gorilla, killed by a poacher! After that she started a campaign against gorilla poaching. After that she started a campaign against gorilla poaching. Even though Dian is no longer living, her campaign is still helping gorillas in Africa today. Even though Dian is no longer living, her campaign is still helping gorillas in Africa today.

6. Dian Fossey Dian loved animals dearly and she took that love and decided to help gorillas. Dian will always be remembered by animal lovers so I hope that you, National Inventors Hall of Fame, will see that too and put Dian Fossey, my scientist, in the hall of fame as well.

7. Bibliography Website “Dr. Dian Fossey Biography”. The Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund. 1999-2009. The Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International. 15 Oct. 2009 http://www.gorillafund.org/dian_fossey/dian_fossey_life.php http://www.gorillafund.org/dian_fossey/dian_fossey_life.php Book Dian Fossey. Gorillas in the Mist. Boston : Houghton Mifflin Company, 1976