🔗 Share this article

Earth could be under strain, yet optimism persists. A fresh honor originating at the science, music and arts festival Starmus will inspire the public to take action.

The Starmus Jane Goodall Earth medal will honor in memory of the celebrated scientist and conservationist who passed away this year. It seeks to acknowledge those who protect life on Earth.

The Medal's Framework

Initial honorees are slated for announcement at the Starmus VIII festival in the Canary Islands, scheduled from 17–22 October next year.

Reports indicate that Goodall, who was a member of the festival's board, had supported the medal's establishment. “The concept of having this award, and Starmus being entrusted with organising it, was Jane's wish,” a statement said. “Her desire was she would like this to happen. And I think because of the very special bond she had with the festival.”

“The Starmus Jane Goodall Earth medal will recognize enduring projects carried out to build an environment a better place for all living beings and ecosystems and foster motivation for the continuation that work,” said a family member.

Format and Inspiration

A co-founder of Starmus stated that the medal – which was announced at a prestigious venue – will likely encompass various fields.

“It will be modeled after the Stephen Hawking medal honoring scientific outreach that we created a decade past,” he explained. Goodall was a recipient of that award.

Expressing concern about the future of the planet, a prominent voice remarked, “Honestly, it is difficult to feel hopeful. The current political climate globally represents a dismissal of evidence. This situation significantly hampers global initiatives.”

“In truth, the situation appears very good which means we need to commence reflecting, more deeply about the consequences of human activity. This concern encompasses not only global warming, but also the whole way in which we interact with our environment.”

A Call to Action

Consequently, it was noted it was an opportune moment to emulate Jane Goodall's legacy. “I think that in bestowing this medal, we will be considering this essential spirit of Jane’s – which made her foremost concern, to transform how we regard wildlife around us.”

A major topic at present is the proliferation of false information. The central topic of next year’s festival will be “the pursuit of factual understanding”.

“We realised that factual reality has become a matter of debate when politics are involved. And it’s a perilous development,” he commented. “Climate research is a science; it is impossible to have any influence by political agendas in climate science.”

Optimism and Resolve

The aspiration remains that this honor will inspire action. “It’s about encouraging people to get involved and to show concern and to work in that direction, really. Regardless of if we feel hopeful, we must focus on doing all that is possible,” a statement concluded. “Be prepared for setbacks, yet we must have to work to achieve positive outcomes.”

A descendant engaged in conservation work shared hope that “given direction and once enabled, people are capable of being diligent stewards of our planet”, highlighting the initiatives of an institute which, in addition to its projects, assists young people get involved with their community, wildlife, and environment.

“As Jane Goodall constantly reminded us, the choices we make each day have an impact and it is up to us what type of impact we choose to create,” it was stated. “We still have an opportunity and this medal will provide inspiration and increase understanding regarding the positive actions that are being undertaken.”