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The world is facing challenges, however a sense of hope remains. A fresh honor from the interdisciplinary festival the Starmus festival aims to encourage people to act.

This new Earth medal bearing Jane Goodall's name is to be awarded in honour of the celebrated British primatologist who passed away this year. It seeks to acknowledge those who champion life on Earth.

Award Details

The inaugural winners are slated for announcement during the upcoming Starmus event in Tenerife and La Palma, which will run from 17–22 October next year.

It was shared that Goodall, a former Starmus advisory board member, had backed the medal's establishment. “The idea behind this medal, and Starmus being entrusted to oversee it, was Jane's wish,” a statement said. “She expressed she would like this to happen. This is likely due to the unique relationship she shared with us.”

“This medal aims to highlight enduring projects undertaken to create a planet improved for all living beings and ecosystems and foster motivation to continue that work,” commented a relative.

Format and Inspiration

A co-founder of the festival stated that the medal – which was announced at a scientific institution – would probably encompass various fields.

“It will be modeled after the Stephen Hawking medal honoring scientific outreach established a decade past,” he explained. Goodall was a recipient of that very medal.

Expressing concern on the outlook for Earth, one figure said, “Honestly, it's challenging to feel hopeful. Present governance globally represents an assault on knowledge. So this significantly hampers the world’s efforts.”

“To be honest, the prospects aren't very good so we have to begin to thinking again, much more seriously about the consequences of human activity. And that’s not just global warming, but also the entire manner that we treat nature.”

Inspiring Change

Therefore, it was noted this is a good time to follow her guiding principles. “It is believed that in bestowing the prize, the focus will be on this essential spirit of Jane’s – that was her foremost concern, to change the way we treat wildlife around us.”

Another key issue currently involves the spread of disinformation. The theme of the upcoming Starmus festival is set as “the pursuit of factual understanding”.

“There is a recognition that truth has become contested when politics is involved. And it’s a perilous development,” he commented. “The climate science is a science; you cannot allow interference from politics in this field.”

Hope and Determination

The aspiration remains that this honor will inspire concrete steps. “It focuses on motivating others to get involved and to care and to strive in that direction, really. Regardless of if we’re optimistic, we must focus on working all that is possible,” it was added. “Be prepared for setbacks, but you still continue striving towards succeeding.”

A family member engaged in environmental protection shared confidence that “with guidance and when empowered, humans can be responsible caretakers of our planet”, pointing to the initiatives of a foundation which, among its other activities, helps young people become engaged with their community, wildlife, and environment.

“As my late grandmother repeatedly told everyone, our daily actions are significant and it is up to us what type of impact we make,” he said. “It is not too late and the Starmus Jane Goodall Earth medal will give encouragement and increase understanding about the positive actions that are being undertaken.”