The Starmus Earth Medal in Honor of Jane Goodall to Celebrate Those Striving to Better the Planet.

Earth might be facing challenges, but a sense of hope remains. A new award from the interdisciplinary festival the Starmus festival aims to inspire the public to act.

This new Earth medal bearing Jane Goodall's name is to be awarded in memory of the renowned British primatologist who passed away this year. It seeks to acknowledge individuals and groups that champion our planet's biodiversity.

Award Details

Initial honorees are slated for announcement during the upcoming Starmus event in Tenerife and La Palma, which will run from October 17th to 22nd next year.

According to statements that Goodall, a former Starmus advisory board member, had backed the medal's establishment. “The vision behind this medal, and the festival being tasked to oversee it, was Jane's wish,” a representative said. “She said that she wanted for this to occur. This is likely due to the unique relationship she had with the festival.”

“The Starmus Jane Goodall Earth medal aims to highlight ongoing initiatives 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 the festival indicated that the medal – unveiled at a prestigious venue – would probably have multiple categories.

“It’s going to be inspired by the Stephen Hawking medal for science communication that we created exactly 10 years ago,” he explained. Jane Goodall herself received of that very medal.

Sharing thoughts about the future of the planet, a prominent voice remarked, “Frankly, it’s very hard to feel hopeful. Certain policies in one major nation is conducting a war on science. So this undermines the world’s efforts.”

“In truth, things don’t look very good therefore we must commence thinking again, much more seriously about the consequences of our actions. This concern encompasses not just global warming, that’s the whole way that we treat nature.”

A Call to Action

Consequently, observers believe it was an opportune moment to follow Jane Goodall's legacy. “I think that in bestowing this medal, we will be considering this essential spirit that Jane embodied – that was her foremost concern, to transform our relationship with fellow creatures with which we share the planet.”

Another key issue at present was highlighted of false information. The theme of the upcoming Starmus festival will be “the search for truth”.

“There is a recognition that truth is becoming a matter of debate where political interests are involved. This is a perilous development,” he commented. “The climate science remains a scientific discipline; it is impossible to have any influence from politics in this field.”

Hope and Determination

The aspiration is that the medal will inspire positive change. “It focuses on encouraging people to participate and to show concern and to strive in that direction, truly. Regardless of if we feel hopeful, we have to look at doing all that is possible,” it was added. “Be prepared for setbacks, yet we must have to work to achieve positive outcomes.”

A family member engaged in conservation work expressed optimism that “with guidance and when empowered, humans are capable of being diligent stewards of our planet”, highlighting the initiatives of a foundation which, in addition to its projects, helps the youth get involved locally, animals, and the natural world.

“As Jane Goodall repeatedly told everyone, the choices we make each day are significant and it is up to us the kind of difference we choose to create,” it was stated. “It is not too late and the Starmus Jane Goodall Earth medal will provide inspiration and raise awareness about beneficial initiatives that people are making.”