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Our planet could be under strain, yet a sense of hope remains. A new award from the interdisciplinary festival the Starmus festival aims to motivate the public to make a difference.

The Starmus Jane Goodall Earth medal will be given to pay tribute to the esteemed scientist and conservationist who passed away this year. It is designed to celebrate individuals and groups that advocate for the natural world.

The Medal's Framework

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

It was shared that Jane Goodall, who was a Starmus advisory board member, had supported the award’s creation. “The concept of having this award, and the festival being tasked with organising it, was Jane's wish,” a statement said. “She expressed she would like this to happen. And I think because of the close relationship she shared with us.”

“The Starmus Jane Goodall Earth medal aims to highlight ongoing initiatives undertaken to make our world a better place for people, animals and the environment and foster motivation for the continuation such efforts,” commented a relative.

Structure and Vision

A co-founder of Starmus indicated that the medal – which was announced at a scientific institution – will likely encompass various fields.

“The intent is for it to be modeled after the Stephen Hawking award for science communication that we created a decade past,” he explained. Goodall was an honoree of that award.

Expressing concern on the outlook for Earth, a prominent voice said, “To be truthful, it’s very hard to feel hopeful. The current political climate globally represents a war on science. So this really cripples the world’s efforts.”

“To be honest, the prospects aren't very good therefore we must begin to reflecting, much more seriously regarding the impact of our actions. This concern encompasses not only climate change, but also the whole way in which we interact with our environment.”

Following an Example

Consequently, it was noted it was a good time to honor Jane Goodall's legacy. “I think that when we’re awarding the prize, the focus will be on this core philosophy of Jane’s – that was her priority, to change the way we treat wildlife around us.”

Another key issue currently was highlighted of false information. The central topic of the upcoming festival will be “the pursuit of factual understanding”.

“We realised that factual reality has become a subject of discussion when politics are involved. This is a perilous development,” it was said. “The science of climate remains a scientific discipline; it is impossible to have any influence from politics in this field.”

Optimism and Resolve

The aspiration remains that the medal will inspire action. “The purpose is inspiring individuals to engage and to care and to strive in that direction, truly. Whether or not we feel hopeful, we must focus on working all that is possible,” it was added. “Be prepared for setbacks, yet we must have to work toward success.”

A descendant engaged in conservation work shared confidence that “with guidance and once enabled, people can be conscientious guardians of Earth”, highlighting the initiatives of an institute which, in addition to its projects, assists the youth get involved locally, animals, and the natural world.

“As Jane Goodall repeatedly reminded us, our daily actions make a difference and the responsibility lies with us the kind of difference we make,” it was stated. “There is still time and the Starmus Jane Goodall Earth medal will provide inspiration and increase understanding regarding constructive efforts that people are making.”