The Starmus Earth Medal in Honor of Jane Goodall to Recognise Those Striving to Improve the Planet.

The world could be under strain, but there is hope. A new award originating at the interdisciplinary festival the Starmus festival aims to inspire the public to act.

The medal is to be awarded to pay tribute to the renowned British primatologist who died recently. It seeks to acknowledge those who champion life on Earth.

The Medal's Framework

The first recipients are slated for announcement during the upcoming Starmus event in Tenerife and La Palma, scheduled from October 17th to 22nd the coming year.

According to statements that Goodall, a former member of the festival's board, had backed the medal's establishment. “The idea of having this medal, and the festival being tasked to oversee it, originated with Jane,” a representative said. “Her desire was she would like this to happen. This is likely because of the unique bond she shared with the festival.”

“This medal will acknowledge ongoing initiatives carried out to make our world improved for all living beings and ecosystems and offer support to carry on such efforts,” said a family member.

Format and Inspiration

A co-founder of Starmus indicated that the medal – unveiled at a scientific institution – would probably include several divisions.

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

Expressing concern on the outlook for Earth, one figure remarked, “Honestly, it's challenging to be optimistic. Present governance globally is conducting an assault on knowledge. This situation undermines global initiatives.”

“To be honest, the situation appears very good which means we need to commence thinking again, with greater urgency about the consequences of our actions. This concern encompasses not only climate change, that’s the entire manner in which we interact with our environment.”

Inspiring Change

Consequently, it was noted this is a good time to follow her guiding principles. “I think that when we’re awarding this medal, we will be considering this essential spirit of Jane’s – which made her foremost concern, to transform our relationship with wildlife around us.”

A major topic today was highlighted of misinformation. The theme of next year’s festival will be “the pursuit of factual understanding”.

“We realised that truth is becoming contested where political interests is involved. This is a perilous development,” it was said. “Climate research is a science; you cannot have any influence from politics in climate science.”

Hope and Determination

The hope remains that the medal will inspire concrete steps. “It focuses on encouraging people to get involved and to care and to work in that direction, really. Regardless of if we feel hopeful, we must look at working all that is possible,” it was added. “Be prepared for failure, but you still continue striving to achieve positive outcomes.”

A descendant involved in environmental protection shared confidence that “with guidance and when empowered, people are capable of being responsible caretakers of our planet”, highlighting the programs of an institute that, in addition to its projects, helps the youth become engaged locally, wildlife, and the natural world.

“As my late grandmother constantly emphasized, our daily actions are significant and the responsibility lies with us what type of impact we make,” it was stated. “We still have an opportunity and the Starmus Jane Goodall Earth medal will provide inspiration and raise awareness regarding the positive actions that people are making.”