🔗 Share this article

Earth could be facing challenges, but there is hope. A fresh honor originating at the science, music and arts festival the Starmus festival will encourage individuals to make a difference.

The Starmus Jane Goodall Earth medal is to be awarded in honour of the esteemed scientist and conservationist who died this year. It seeks to acknowledge individuals and groups that advocate for the natural world.

Award Details

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

According to statements that Goodall, who was a member of the festival's board, had backed the award’s creation. “The concept of having this award, and the festival being tasked with organising it, originated with Jane,” a statement said. “Her desire was that she wanted for this to occur. This is likely due to the unique bond she shared with us.”

“This medal aims to highlight enduring projects carried out to build an environment a better place for people, animals and the environment and provide encouragement for the continuation such efforts,” commented a relative.

Structure and Vision

One of the founders of the festival indicated that the medal – unveiled at a prestigious venue – would probably include several divisions.

“It will be very much similar to the Stephen Hawking award honoring scientific outreach established a decade past,” it was explained. Goodall was an honoree of that very medal.

Sharing thoughts about the future for Earth, one figure remarked, “Honestly, it’s very hard to maintain optimism. The current political climate in one major nation is conducting a war on science. This situation really cripples the world’s efforts.”

“To be honest, the prospects aren't very good so we have to really start reconsidering, more deeply about the consequences of our actions. And that’s not only global warming, but also the entire manner that we treat our environment.”

Inspiring Change

Consequently, observers believe it was an opportune moment to follow Jane Goodall's legacy. “It is believed that when we’re awarding the prize, the focus will be on this core philosophy of Jane’s – that was her foremost concern, to transform the way we treat the other animals around us.”

A major topic today is the proliferation of disinformation. The focus of next year’s Starmus festival will be “the pursuit of factual understanding”.

“We realised that truth is becoming a matter of debate when politics are involved. And it’s an alarming trend,” he commented. “The climate science is a science; it is impossible to have any influence from politics in this field.”

Hope and Determination

The aspiration remains that the medal will inspire positive change. “The purpose is encouraging people to engage and to care and to strive in that direction, truly. Whether or not we feel hopeful, we must look at working our utmost,” it was added. “Be prepared for setbacks, but you still continue striving towards succeeding.”

A descendant involved in conservation work shared hope that “with guidance and once enabled, humans can be responsible caretakers of our planet”, citing the programs of a foundation which, among its other activities, assists the youth become engaged with their community, wildlife, and environment.

“As Jane Goodall repeatedly told everyone, our daily actions have an impact and the responsibility lies with us the kind of difference we make,” he said. “There is still time and this medal will offer support and raise awareness regarding the positive actions that are being undertaken.”