🔗 Share this article

Earth might be facing challenges, however a sense of hope remains. A new award originating at the interdisciplinary festival the Starmus festival aims to motivate people to take action.

The medal is to be awarded in honour of the celebrated scientist and conservationist who passed away recently. It seeks to acknowledge those who advocate for the natural world.

Award Details

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

Reports indicate that Goodall, who was a member of the festival's board, had backed the medal's establishment. “The idea of having this medal, and the festival being tasked with organising it, was Jane's wish,” a representative said. “She said that she wanted this to happen. This is likely because of the close connection she shared with us.”

“The Starmus Jane Goodall Earth medal will acknowledge sustainable programmes undertaken to create a planet improved for people, animals and the environment and offer support to carry on such efforts,” said a family member.

Structure and Vision

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

“It will be modeled after the Stephen Hawking medal honoring scientific outreach established a decade past,” it was explained. Goodall was a recipient of that very medal.

Sharing thoughts about the future for Earth, a prominent voice remarked, “To be truthful, it is difficult to feel hopeful. The current political climate in one major nation represents an assault on knowledge. This situation really cripples collective action.”

“In truth, the situation appears particularly bright which means we need to really start reconsidering, more deeply about the consequences of human activity. And that’s not just climate change, that’s the whole way that we treat our environment.”

Following an Example

Consequently, observers believe it was a good time to follow Jane Goodall's legacy. “It is believed that in bestowing the prize, we will be considering this essential spirit that Jane embodied – that was her foremost concern, to change the way we treat fellow creatures with which we share the planet.”

Another key issue currently was highlighted of false information. The focus of the upcoming Starmus festival is set as “the search for truth”.

“It has become apparent that factual reality has become contested when politics is involved. This is an alarming trend,” it was said. “The climate science is a science; you cannot allow interference by political agendas in climate science.”

Hope and Determination

The hope is that the medal can motivate concrete steps. “It focuses on encouraging people to get involved and to care and to strive toward these goals, truly. Whether or not we feel hopeful, we must focus on doing the best we can,” it was added. “Accept the possibility of setbacks, but you still have to work towards succeeding.”

A descendant engaged in environmental protection shared hope that “with guidance and when empowered, people are capable of being responsible caretakers of our planet”, citing the work of an institute which, among its other activities, empowers young people become engaged with their community, animals, and the natural world.

“As Jane Goodall repeatedly emphasized, the choices we make each day make a difference and it is up to us what type of impact we make,” he said. “We still have an opportunity and this medal will give encouragement and raise awareness about beneficial initiatives currently in progress.”