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The world could be facing challenges, but there is hope. A fresh honor originating at the interdisciplinary festival the Starmus festival aims to encourage individuals to act.

The Starmus Jane Goodall Earth medal will be given in honour of the celebrated British primatologist who died recently. It will recognise those who champion life on Earth.

The Medal's Framework

Initial honorees will be revealed during the Starmus VIII festival in the Canary Islands, scheduled from October 17th to 22nd next year.

It was shared that Jane Goodall, a former Starmus advisory board member, had endorsed the medal's establishment. “The vision behind this award, and the festival being tasked to oversee it, originated with Jane,” a representative said. “She expressed that she wanted for this to occur. And I think because of the very special bond she shared with us.”

“This medal will acknowledge enduring projects carried out to build an environment improved for all living beings and ecosystems and offer support to carry on such efforts,” commented a relative.

Format and Inspiration

A co-founder of the festival noted that the medal – unveiled at a scientific institution – will likely have multiple categories.

“It will be modeled after the Stephen Hawking award for science communication that we created a decade past,” it was explained. Jane Goodall was a recipient of that very medal.

Expressing concern about the future of the planet, a prominent voice stated, “Frankly, it is difficult to feel hopeful. Certain policies globally is conducting an assault on knowledge. This situation really cripples the world’s efforts.”

“Realistically, things don’t look very good so we have to really start thinking again, with greater urgency about the consequences of human activity. And that’s not only global warming, that’s the entire manner in which we interact with the natural world.”

Inspiring Change

As a result, it was noted this is a good time to honor Jane Goodall's legacy. “I think that when we’re awarding the prize, we will be considering this essential spirit that Jane embodied – which made her priority, to change our relationship with fellow creatures around us.”

A major topic currently was highlighted of disinformation. The central topic of the upcoming Starmus festival will be “the search for truth”.

“It has become apparent that factual reality has become contested where political interests are involved. This is a perilous development,” he commented. “The climate science is a science; you cannot allow interference from politics in this field.”

Hope and Determination

The goal is that the medal will spur action. “The purpose is inspiring individuals to participate and to care and to work in that direction, really. Regardless of if we’re optimistic, we have to focus on doing our utmost,” a statement concluded. “Be prepared for failure, yet we must have to work towards succeeding.”

A descendant involved in conservation work shared confidence that “with guidance and once enabled, humanity are capable of being responsible caretakers of our planet”, pointing to the initiatives of a foundation which, among its other activities, empowers the youth become engaged with their community, animals, and the natural world.

“As my late grandmother often told everyone, the choices we make each day have an impact and the responsibility lies with us what type of impact we choose to create,” it was stated. “There is still time and the Starmus Jane Goodall Earth medal will provide inspiration and increase understanding about beneficial initiatives that are being undertaken.”