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The world might be facing challenges, but there is hope. A new award from the interdisciplinary festival the Starmus festival will inspire the public to make a difference.

The Starmus Jane Goodall Earth medal will be given in honour of the esteemed scientist and conservationist who passed away this year. It will recognise individuals and groups that advocate for the natural world.

Award Details

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

It was shared that Goodall, who was a Starmus advisory board member, had backed the medal's establishment. “The vision behind this medal, and the festival being tasked with organising it, originated with Jane,” a representative said. “She said that she wanted this to happen. And I think because of the close connection she shared with us.”

“The Starmus Jane Goodall Earth medal will acknowledge enduring projects carried out to build an environment improved for all living beings and ecosystems and provide encouragement for the continuation that work,” commented a relative.

Structure and Vision

A co-founder of the festival noted that the medal – which was announced at a scientific institution – will likely include several divisions.

“It’s going to be modeled after the Stephen Hawking award for science communication established a decade past,” he explained. Goodall was an honoree of that very medal.

Expressing concern on the outlook for Earth, a prominent voice said, “To be truthful, it’s very hard to be optimistic. Present governance in one major nation is conducting an assault on knowledge. So this undermines the world’s efforts.”

“Realistically, things don’t look very good therefore we must really start thinking again, more deeply about the consequences of our actions. And that’s not just global warming, that’s the whole way in which we interact with nature.”

Following an Example

Therefore, it was noted this is a good time to emulate her guiding principles. “It is believed that when we’re awarding the prize, we will be considering this core philosophy that Jane embodied – that was her foremost concern, to transform the way we treat fellow creatures around us.”

A pressing concern currently involves the spread of false information. The central topic of next year’s Starmus festival will be “the search for truth”.

“There is a recognition that truth is becoming a subject of discussion when politics is involved. This is a very dangerous thing,” he commented. “The science of climate is a science; it is impossible to allow interference by political agendas in climate science.”

Hope and Determination

The hope is that the medal can motivate positive change. “It focuses on motivating others to get involved and to show concern and to work toward these goals, really. Whether or not we feel hopeful, we have to look at working all that is possible,” it was added. “Be prepared for failure, yet we must continue striving towards succeeding.”

A descendant involved in environmental protection expressed optimism that “given direction and once enabled, people are capable of being conscientious guardians of our planet”, citing the work of a foundation which, among its other activities, empowers young people become engaged locally, animals, and the natural world.

“As Jane Goodall repeatedly emphasized, the choices we make each day make a difference and the responsibility lies with us what type of impact we make,” it was stated. “There is still time and this medal will offer support and raise awareness regarding the positive actions currently in progress.”