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Our planet is under pressure, however optimism persists. A fresh honor originating at the interdisciplinary festival Starmus will motivate the public to make a difference.

The Starmus Jane Goodall Earth medal will honor to pay tribute to the esteemed British primatologist who died recently. It will recognise those who advocate for the natural world.

Honoring a Legacy

The inaugural winners are expected to be announced during the upcoming Starmus event in Tenerife and La Palma, scheduled from 17–22 October next year.

It was shared that Goodall, who was a member of the festival's board, had supported the award’s creation. “The idea behind this medal, and Starmus being entrusted with organising it, is Jane’s,” a statement said. “She expressed she would like for this to occur. And I think because of the close relationship she shared with the festival.”

“This medal will acknowledge ongoing initiatives carried out to build an environment a better place for people, animals and the environment and provide encouragement to carry on such efforts,” said a family member.

Structure and Vision

A co-founder of Starmus noted that the medal – unveiled at a prestigious venue – will likely encompass various fields.

“It will be modeled after the Stephen Hawking award for science communication that we created a decade past,” he explained. Jane Goodall herself received of that award.

Sharing thoughts about the future for Earth, one figure stated, “To be truthful, it is difficult to feel hopeful. Present governance in one major nation represents a dismissal of evidence. This situation undermines global initiatives.”

“In truth, the prospects aren't very good which means we need to begin to reflecting, more deeply regarding the impact of human activity. And that’s not only global warming, but also the whole way in which we interact with nature.”

A Call to Action

Therefore, observers believe this is an opportune moment to honor her guiding principles. “It is believed that when we’re awarding this medal, we will be considering this core philosophy that Jane embodied – which made her priority, to change the way we treat wildlife around us.”

Another key issue today involves the spread of misinformation. The theme of next year’s festival will be “the search for truth”.

“There is a recognition that truth is becoming contested when politics is involved. And it’s a very dangerous thing,” he commented. “The climate science is a science; you cannot have any influence from politics in this field.”

Optimism and Resolve

The hope is that the medal will inspire positive change. “It focuses on encouraging people to engage and to show concern and to strive in that direction, really. Whether or not we’re optimistic, we have to look at doing our utmost,” a statement concluded. “Be prepared for failure, but you still continue striving to achieve positive outcomes.”

A family member involved in conservation work expressed hope that “with guidance and when empowered, people are capable of being diligent stewards of Earth”, pointing to the initiatives of a foundation which, in addition to its projects, assists young people get involved 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 make,” he said. “It is not too late and the Starmus Jane Goodall Earth medal will offer support and increase understanding about the positive actions that people are making.”