🔗 Share this article

Earth could be under strain, but optimism persists. A new award originating at the science, music and arts festival the Starmus festival aims to motivate the public to make a difference.

This new Earth medal bearing Jane Goodall's name will honor in honour of the celebrated scientist and conservationist who died this year. It seeks to acknowledge individuals and groups that advocate for the natural world.

The Medal's Framework

The inaugural winners are expected to be announced at the Starmus VIII festival in Tenerife and La Palma, scheduled from 17–22 October the coming year.

It was shared that Goodall, a former Starmus advisory board member, had endorsed the award’s creation. “The vision of having this medal, and the festival being tasked with organising it, was Jane's wish,” a representative said. “She said that she wanted this to happen. This is likely due to the close bond she shared with us.”

“The Starmus Jane Goodall Earth medal will acknowledge sustainable programmes undertaken to create a planet a better place for people, animals and the environment and provide encouragement to continue such efforts,” commented a relative.

Format and Inspiration

A co-founder of the festival stated that the medal – unveiled at a prestigious venue – would probably include several divisions.

“It’s going to be inspired by the Stephen Hawking medal for science communication that we created a decade past,” he explained. Jane Goodall was a recipient of that very medal.

Sharing thoughts about the future for Earth, one figure stated, “To be truthful, it is difficult to feel hopeful. The current political climate globally represents a dismissal of evidence. So this significantly hampers the world’s efforts.”

“To be honest, the prospects aren't very good which means we need to begin to reconsidering, more deeply about the consequences of our actions. And that’s not just climate change, but also the entire manner in which we interact with the natural world.”

Following an Example

As a result, it was noted it was a good time to emulate Jane Goodall's legacy. “I think that when we’re awarding this medal, we will be considering this core philosophy of Jane’s – that was her foremost concern, to change the way we treat the other animals with which we share the planet.”

A pressing concern currently involves the spread of disinformation. The central topic of next year’s festival is set as “the search for truth”.

“There is a recognition that factual reality has become a subject of discussion where political interests is involved. This is an alarming trend,” it was said. “The science of climate remains a scientific discipline; it is impossible to have any influence by political agendas in climate science.”

Hope and Determination

The goal remains that this honor will inspire positive change. “It focuses on motivating others to engage and to show concern and to work toward these goals, really. Regardless of if we’re optimistic, we have to look at working the best we can,” a statement concluded. “Be prepared for failure, but you still have to work toward success.”

A descendant engaged in conservation work shared confidence that “given direction and once enabled, humanity are capable of being responsible caretakers of Earth”, pointing to the work of a foundation that, in addition to its projects, empowers the youth get involved locally, animals, and the natural world.

“As Jane Goodall repeatedly reminded us, our daily actions have an impact and the responsibility lies with us what type of impact we choose to create,” he said. “There is still time and the Starmus Jane Goodall Earth medal will give encouragement and increase understanding about the positive actions that are being undertaken.”