A Sanctuary in the Wild: Using Chimp Research to Aid Education

Before she reached the age of six, Dr. Zarin Machanda had already figured out her perfect future career: astronaut veterinarian. Inspiration struck when she saw a documentary about chimpanzees in space that featured Jane Goodall, who was labeled a primatologist, as well as astronauts. "I didn't know what those things were, so I looked them up. Primatology sounded cool because you could live in the jungle, but being an astronaut sounded really cool, so I figured I could put them together," recalls Machanda. "My mom told me that an astronaut veterinarian wasn't a real job, but I figured if they were going to send animals to space, they would definitely need a vet."