🔗 Share this article

Earth is under pressure, yet a sense of hope remains. A fresh honor originating at the science, music and arts festival the Starmus festival seeks to encourage the public to act.

The medal will honor in honour of the celebrated scientist and conservationist who passed away recently. It will recognise individuals and groups that champion our planet's biodiversity.

The Medal's Framework

Initial honorees are slated for announcement during the upcoming Starmus event in Tenerife and La Palma, scheduled from 17–22 October the coming year.

It was shared that Jane Goodall, who was a member of the festival's board, had backed the medal's establishment. “The vision behind this award, and Starmus being entrusted with organising it, is Jane’s,” a statement said. “Her desire was that she wanted for this to occur. And I think due to the unique bond she had with the festival.”

“The Starmus Jane Goodall Earth medal will recognize sustainable programmes undertaken to build an environment improved for all living beings and ecosystems and foster motivation for the continuation that work,” commented a relative.

Structure and Vision

One of the founders of Starmus noted that the medal – which was announced at a prestigious venue – will likely include several divisions.

“The intent is for it to be very much similar to the Stephen Hawking award honoring scientific outreach that we created a decade past,” it was explained. Goodall herself received of that award.

Expressing concern on the outlook for Earth, one figure stated, “Honestly, it’s very hard to maintain optimism. The current political climate globally is conducting a dismissal of evidence. This situation significantly hampers global initiatives.”

“Realistically, things don’t look particularly bright so we have to really start reconsidering, much more seriously regarding the impact of human activity. This concern encompasses not only climate change, but also the whole way in which we interact with nature.”

Inspiring Change

As a result, it was noted this is an opportune moment to honor Goodall’s example. “It is believed that when we’re awarding the prize, we will be considering this essential spirit of Jane’s – that was her foremost concern, to transform how we regard the other animals around us.”

A pressing concern today involves the spread of misinformation. The focus of next year’s Starmus festival is set as “the search for truth”.

“It has become apparent that factual reality has become a subject of discussion when politics is involved. And it’s an alarming trend,” it was said. “The climate science is a science; it is impossible to have any influence by political agendas in this field.”

Optimism and Resolve

The aspiration remains that the medal will spur positive change. “The purpose is encouraging people to participate and to care and to work in that direction, truly. Regardless of if we feel hopeful, we must focus on working all that is possible,” a statement concluded. “Accept the possibility of failure, but you still continue striving towards succeeding.”

A descendant engaged in conservation work expressed hope that “given direction and once enabled, humans are capable of being conscientious guardians of Earth”, highlighting the work of an institute that, among its other activities, assists the next generation get involved locally, animals, and environment.

“As Jane Goodall repeatedly emphasized, the choices we make each day are significant and it is up to us what type of impact we choose to create,” he said. “It is not too late and the Starmus Jane Goodall Earth medal will give encouragement and raise awareness regarding beneficial initiatives that people are making.”