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Earth could be under pressure, but optimism persists. A new award originating at the interdisciplinary festival the Starmus festival aims to inspire people to take action.

The Starmus Jane Goodall Earth medal will honor to pay tribute to the renowned scientist and conservationist who passed away this year. It is designed to celebrate those who champion the natural world.

Award Details

The first recipients will be revealed at the upcoming Starmus event in Tenerife and La Palma, scheduled from October 17th to 22nd next year.

According to statements that Goodall, who was a member of the festival's board, had backed the award’s creation. “The idea of having this award, and Starmus being entrusted to oversee it, is Jane’s,” a statement said. “Her desire was that she wanted this to happen. And I think because of the close relationship she had with the festival.”

“The Starmus Jane Goodall Earth medal will acknowledge ongoing initiatives undertaken to make our world improved for people, animals and the environment and foster motivation to continue such efforts,” said a family member.

Structure and Vision

A co-founder of Starmus noted that the medal – unveiled at a prestigious venue – would probably include several divisions.

“It will be inspired by the Stephen Hawking medal honoring scientific outreach that we created a decade past,” he explained. Jane Goodall was an honoree of that very medal.

Expressing concern on the outlook for Earth, one figure stated, “Frankly, it's challenging to maintain optimism. The current political climate globally is conducting an assault on knowledge. This situation significantly hampers the world’s efforts.”

“In truth, things don’t look very good which means we need to really start thinking again, with greater urgency regarding the impact of our actions. And that’s not only global warming, that’s the whole way in which we interact with our environment.”

Following an Example

Consequently, observers believe it was an opportune moment to follow her guiding principles. “I think that when we’re awarding the prize, the focus will be on this essential spirit of Jane’s – that was her priority, to transform our relationship with the other animals with which we share the planet.”

Another key issue currently involves the spread of false information. The focus of the upcoming Starmus festival is set as “the pursuit of factual understanding”.

“It has become apparent that factual reality is becoming a matter of debate where political interests are involved. This is an alarming trend,” he commented. “The science of climate remains a scientific discipline; you cannot allow interference from politics in climate science.”

Optimism and Resolve

The hope is that this honor can motivate action. “It’s about encouraging people to engage and to show concern and to strive toward these goals, really. Whether or not we feel hopeful, we must look at doing all that is possible,” it was added. “Accept the possibility of failure, but you still have to work toward success.”

A descendant engaged in environmental protection shared hope that “given direction and once enabled, humans can be responsible caretakers of our planet”, pointing to the work of a foundation that, among its other activities, helps young people get involved with their community, animals, and the natural world.

“As Jane Goodall repeatedly reminded us, the choices we make each day have an impact and it is up to us what type of impact we make,” he said. “It is not too late and this medal will provide inspiration and increase understanding about beneficial initiatives that people are making.”