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Earth could be under pressure, but a sense of hope remains. A fresh honor originating at the interdisciplinary festival the Starmus festival aims to motivate individuals to act.

This new Earth medal bearing Jane Goodall's name will be given in honour of the esteemed scientist and conservationist who passed away recently. It is designed to celebrate individuals and groups that advocate for the natural world.

The Medal's Framework

Initial honorees are expected to be announced at the upcoming Starmus event in the Canary Islands, which will run from 17–22 October the coming year.

According to statements that Goodall, a former member of the festival's board, had supported the award’s creation. “The concept of having this award, and Starmus being entrusted to oversee it, was Jane's wish,” a representative said. “She expressed she would like this to happen. This is likely because of the very special bond she had with the festival.”

“This medal aims to highlight enduring projects undertaken to build an environment a better place for all living beings and ecosystems and offer support to carry on that work,” commented a relative.

Format and Inspiration

One of the founders of Starmus noted that the medal – which was announced at a scientific institution – will likely include several divisions.

“It’s going to be modeled after the Stephen Hawking award honoring scientific outreach established exactly 10 years ago,” it was explained. Goodall was an honoree of that very medal.

Sharing thoughts on the outlook of the planet, a prominent voice said, “Honestly, it's challenging to maintain optimism. Present governance globally is conducting an assault on knowledge. So this undermines collective action.”

“To be honest, the situation appears very good which means we need to really start reconsidering, much more seriously about the consequences of our actions. And that’s not only global warming, but also the entire manner that we treat the natural world.”

Following an Example

As a result, observers believe it was an opportune moment to honor Jane Goodall's legacy. “It is believed that in bestowing this medal, we will be considering this core philosophy of Jane’s – which made her foremost concern, to transform how we regard wildlife around us.”

Another key issue currently involves the spread of misinformation. The focus of the upcoming Starmus festival will be “the search for truth”.

“It has become apparent that factual reality is becoming a matter of debate when politics are involved. And it’s an alarming trend,” he commented. “Climate research remains a scientific discipline; it is impossible to allow interference from politics in this field.”

Optimism and Resolve

The aspiration is that this honor can motivate action. “The purpose is encouraging people to engage and to care and to strive toward these goals, truly. Regardless of if we feel hopeful, we must look at doing the best we can,” a statement concluded. “Accept the possibility of setbacks, but you still continue striving to achieve positive outcomes.”

A family member engaged in conservation work expressed confidence that “with guidance and when empowered, humanity can be conscientious guardians of our planet”, pointing to the initiatives of a foundation that, in addition to its projects, helps the next generation get involved with their community, animals, and environment.

“As my late grandmother constantly emphasized, our daily actions make a difference and it is up to us what type of impact we choose to create,” it was stated. “We still have an opportunity and the Starmus Jane Goodall Earth medal will give encouragement and increase understanding about beneficial initiatives that people are making.”