🔗 Share this article

Earth could be under strain, however a sense of hope remains. A new award originating at the interdisciplinary festival the Starmus festival aims to encourage people to make a difference.

The Starmus Jane Goodall Earth medal will honor in honour of the celebrated British primatologist who died this year. It seeks to acknowledge individuals and groups that champion the natural world.

Award Details

Initial honorees are expected to be announced at the upcoming Starmus event in Tenerife and La Palma, scheduled from 17–22 October next year.

It was shared that Jane Goodall, a former member of the festival's board, had supported the award’s creation. “The concept behind this award, and the festival being tasked with organising it, is Jane’s,” a statement said. “She expressed that she wanted this to happen. This is likely because of the close bond she shared with us.”

“This medal aims to highlight enduring projects undertaken to build an environment improved for people, animals and the environment and foster motivation for the continuation that work,” commented a relative.

Format and Inspiration

One of the founders of Starmus stated that the medal – unveiled at a prestigious venue – will likely include several divisions.

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

Sharing thoughts on the outlook for Earth, a prominent voice remarked, “Frankly, it is difficult to feel hopeful. The current political climate in one major nation is conducting a war on science. This situation really cripples collective action.”

“In truth, the prospects aren't particularly bright so we have to really start thinking again, more deeply about the consequences of our actions. And that’s not only climate change, that’s the whole way in which we interact with nature.”

Inspiring Change

Therefore, it was noted this is an opportune moment to follow Goodall’s example. “It is believed that when we’re awarding this medal, the focus will be on this core philosophy of Jane’s – that was her priority, to transform the way we treat the other animals with which we share the planet.”

Another key issue today involves the spread of disinformation. The central topic of the upcoming Starmus festival will be “the pursuit of factual understanding”.

“It has become apparent that factual reality has become a subject of discussion where political interests is involved. This is a very dangerous thing,” he commented. “The climate science remains a scientific discipline; it is impossible to allow interference from politics in this field.”

Hope and Determination

The goal is that this honor will inspire positive change. “It focuses on motivating others to engage and to care and to work toward these goals, really. Regardless of if we feel hopeful, we have to focus on doing our utmost,” a statement concluded. “Be prepared for failure, yet we must continue striving toward success.”

A family member engaged in conservation work expressed confidence that “given direction and when empowered, people can be responsible caretakers of Earth”, highlighting the programs of an institute which, in addition to its projects, empowers the next generation become engaged with their community, animals, and the natural world.

“As my late grandmother often emphasized, our daily actions make a difference and the responsibility lies with us what type of impact we choose to create,” he said. “We still have an opportunity and this medal will give encouragement and raise awareness about beneficial initiatives that are being undertaken.”