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Our planet is under pressure, but there is hope. A new award from the science, music and arts festival Starmus seeks to inspire the public to make a difference.

The Starmus Jane Goodall Earth medal will honor in honour of the renowned scientist and conservationist who passed away recently. It is designed to celebrate those who advocate for our planet's biodiversity.

Award Details

The first recipients will be revealed at the upcoming Starmus event in the Canary Islands, which will run from 17–22 October next year.

According to statements that Jane Goodall, who was a Starmus advisory board member, had supported the medal's establishment. “The idea behind this medal, and the festival being tasked with organising it, originated with Jane,” a representative said. “Her desire was that she wanted for this to occur. And I think due to the unique relationship she shared with the festival.”

“The Starmus Jane Goodall Earth medal aims to highlight sustainable programmes undertaken to make our world improved for people, animals and the environment and offer support to carry on that work,” commented a relative.

Format and Inspiration

A co-founder of Starmus indicated that the medal – which was announced at a scientific institution – will likely have multiple categories.

“It will be very much similar to the Stephen Hawking medal honoring scientific outreach that we created a decade past,” he explained. Goodall was a recipient of that very medal.

Sharing thoughts on the outlook for Earth, a prominent voice remarked, “To be truthful, it is difficult to be optimistic. Present governance globally represents a dismissal of evidence. So this undermines collective action.”

“In truth, things don’t look very good so we have to begin to reflecting, with greater urgency about the consequences of human activity. And that’s not only global warming, that’s the entire manner that we treat the natural world.”

Inspiring Change

Consequently, observers believe this is a good time to follow Jane Goodall's legacy. “It is believed that in bestowing this medal, the focus will be on this essential spirit of Jane’s – which made her foremost concern, to transform the way we treat wildlife around us.”

A pressing concern today was highlighted of false information. The theme of next year’s Starmus festival is set as “the pursuit of factual understanding”.

“It has become apparent that factual reality is becoming a subject of discussion where political interests are involved. This is an alarming trend,” he commented. “The climate science remains a scientific discipline; it is impossible to have any influence by political agendas in climate science.”

Hope and Determination

The aspiration is that this honor will spur positive change. “It focuses on encouraging people to participate and to show concern and to strive in that direction, really. Regardless of if we feel hopeful, we must look at doing our utmost,” it was added. “Accept the possibility of failure, yet we must have to work towards succeeding.”

A descendant engaged in conservation work shared optimism that “with guidance and when empowered, humanity are capable of being responsible caretakers of Earth”, pointing to the initiatives of an institute that, in addition to its projects, helps young people get involved locally, animals, and environment.

“As Jane Goodall often emphasized, the choices we make each day make a difference and the responsibility lies with us the kind of difference we make,” he said. “We still have an opportunity and the Starmus Jane Goodall Earth medal will offer support and increase understanding about beneficial initiatives that are being undertaken.”