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Our planet might be under pressure, however a sense of hope remains. A fresh honor from the interdisciplinary festival Starmus seeks to inspire individuals to act.

The medal is to be awarded in memory of the celebrated British primatologist who passed away recently. It is designed to celebrate individuals and groups that champion our planet's biodiversity.

Award Details

The inaugural winners are expected to be announced during the Starmus VIII festival in Tenerife and La Palma, which will run from October 17th to 22nd the coming year.

Reports indicate that Goodall, a former Starmus advisory board member, had supported the medal's establishment. “The idea behind this award, and Starmus being entrusted to oversee it, originated with Jane,” a statement said. “She said she would like this to happen. And I think because of the very special bond she shared with the festival.”

“The Starmus Jane Goodall Earth medal will acknowledge enduring projects undertaken to make our world improved for people, animals and the environment and offer support to carry on such efforts,” commented a relative.

Format and Inspiration

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

Sharing thoughts on the outlook for Earth, one figure remarked, “Honestly, it's challenging to feel hopeful. Certain policies globally is conducting an assault on knowledge. So this undermines collective action.”

“To be honest, the prospects aren't particularly bright which means we need to commence reconsidering, much more seriously about the consequences of human activity. And that’s not only global warming, but also the whole way in which we interact with our environment.”

Inspiring Change

Therefore, it was noted it was a good time to follow her guiding principles. “It is believed that when we’re awarding this medal, the focus will be on this essential spirit that Jane embodied – that was her foremost concern, to change the way we treat fellow creatures with which we share the planet.”

Another key issue at present 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 is becoming contested where political interests is involved. And it’s an alarming trend,” it was said. “The climate science remains a scientific discipline; you cannot allow interference by political agendas in climate science.”

Hope and Determination

The hope remains that the medal will inspire concrete steps. “The purpose is inspiring individuals to get involved and to show concern and to strive toward these goals, truly. Whether or not we’re optimistic, we must focus on doing all that is possible,” it was added. “Be prepared for failure, yet we must continue striving towards succeeding.”

A descendant involved in environmental protection shared hope that “with guidance and once enabled, people are capable of being responsible caretakers of our planet”, pointing to the programs of a foundation which, in addition to its projects, assists the next generation get involved locally, wildlife, and environment.

“As my late grandmother constantly reminded us, the choices we make each day are significant and the responsibility lies with us what type of impact we make,” it was stated. “There is still time and this medal will give encouragement and raise awareness about the positive actions that people are making.”