Jane Goodall Borrowed Text From Wikipedia

Author apologizes for verbatim passages in new book
By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff
Posted Mar 21, 2013 9:50 AM CDT
Jane Goodall Borrowed Text From Wikipedia
Jane Goodall, of England, famed for her work with chimpanzees in Africa and for her efforts on behalf of endangered species everywhere, is seen in Pasadena, Calif., Jan. 1, 2013.   (AP Photo/Reed Saxon)

Renowned chimp expert Jane Goodall took some passages in her upcoming co-written book almost directly from a range of Internet sources, including Wikipedia, the Washington Post reports. The author has apologized for the unattributed text. "I am distressed to discover that some of the excellent and valuable sources were not properly cited, and I want to express my sincere apologies," she says. "I hope it is obvious that my only objective was to learn as much as I could."

The book, Seeds of Hope, discusses botany—a subject Goodall notes she's "never studied ... as a scientist." The Post offers a few examples of borrowed text: Wikipedia, for example, reads, "Bartram’s Boxes as they then became known, were regularly sent to Peter Collinson every fall for distribution in England to a wide list of clients." Goodall's book: "'Bartram’s Boxes,' as they came to be known, were regularly sent to Peter Collinson for distribution to a wide list of European clients.'" She also lifts text from websites on organic tea, history, and astrology. Click through for the full Post piece. (More Jane Goodall stories.)

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