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Earth is under strain, however optimism persists. A fresh honor originating at the interdisciplinary festival Starmus will motivate individuals to act.

The medal is to be awarded in memory of the celebrated scientist and conservationist who passed away this year. It is designed to celebrate those who advocate for life on Earth.

Award Details

The first recipients are expected to be announced during the upcoming Starmus event in Tenerife and La Palma, which will run from October 17th to 22nd the coming year.

Reports indicate that Jane Goodall, a former member of the festival's board, had supported the award’s creation. “The idea of having this medal, and the festival being tasked with organising it, was Jane's wish,” a statement said. “She expressed that she wanted this to happen. This is likely due to the close relationship she shared with us.”

“The Starmus Jane Goodall Earth medal aims to highlight sustainable programmes undertaken to make our world improved for people, animals and the environment and foster motivation to carry on such efforts,” commented a relative.

Format and Inspiration

A co-founder of Starmus indicated that the medal – unveiled at a scientific institution – would probably encompass various fields.

“It’s going to be very much similar to the Stephen Hawking medal honoring scientific outreach established exactly 10 years ago,” it was explained. Jane Goodall was a recipient of that award.

Expressing concern about the future of the planet, one figure remarked, “Honestly, it’s very hard to feel hopeful. The current political climate in one major nation represents an assault on knowledge. So this significantly hampers the world’s efforts.”

“To be honest, things don’t look particularly bright which means we need to begin to thinking again, with greater urgency regarding the impact of our actions. This concern encompasses not only climate change, that’s the whole way in which we interact with the natural world.”

A Call to Action

Consequently, it was noted it was a good time to emulate Goodall’s example. “I think that in bestowing the prize, we will be considering this essential spirit of Jane’s – that was her foremost concern, to change our relationship with wildlife with which we share the planet.”

Another key issue today involves the spread of false information. The focus of next year’s Starmus festival will be “the pursuit of factual understanding”.

“It has become apparent that factual reality is becoming contested when politics is involved. This is a perilous development,” he commented. “The climate science remains a scientific discipline; you cannot allow interference from politics in climate science.”

Optimism and Resolve

The goal remains that the medal will inspire positive change. “It’s about inspiring individuals to engage and to care and to work toward these goals, really. Whether or not we’re optimistic, we have to focus on doing our utmost,” a statement concluded. “Accept the possibility of setbacks, but you still continue striving toward success.”

A descendant engaged in conservation work expressed hope that “with guidance and once enabled, humanity can be responsible caretakers of Earth”, citing the work of a foundation which, among its other activities, assists the youth get involved locally, animals, and the natural world.

“As my late grandmother repeatedly emphasized, the choices we make each day are significant and it is up to us the kind of difference we choose to create,” he said. “There is still time and the Starmus Jane Goodall Earth medal will offer support and raise awareness about the positive actions that people are making.”