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Our planet is facing challenges, but a sense of hope remains. A fresh honor from the interdisciplinary festival Starmus will motivate the public to act.

The Starmus Jane Goodall Earth medal is to be awarded in honour of the esteemed British primatologist who passed away this year. It will recognise individuals and groups that protect the natural world.

The Medal's Framework

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

According to statements that Goodall, a former member of the festival's board, had endorsed the award’s creation. “The vision of having this award, and the festival being tasked with organising it, is Jane’s,” a representative said. “She expressed that she wanted this to happen. And I think because of the very special connection she shared with us.”

“The Starmus Jane Goodall Earth medal aims to highlight enduring projects undertaken to build an environment improved for people, animals and the environment and offer support to continue that work,” commented a relative.

Structure and Vision

One of the founders of Starmus noted that the medal – which was announced at a scientific institution – would probably have multiple categories.

“The intent is for it to be very much similar to the Stephen Hawking award for science communication that we created a decade past,” he explained. Goodall was a recipient of that award.

Expressing concern about the future for Earth, one figure said, “Frankly, it is difficult to be optimistic. Present governance globally represents a dismissal of evidence. So this significantly hampers global initiatives.”

“To be honest, things don’t look very good therefore we must commence reconsidering, with greater urgency regarding the impact of our actions. This concern encompasses not only global warming, but also the entire manner that we treat our environment.”

Following an Example

Therefore, it was noted this is a good time to honor Goodall’s example. “I think that when we’re awarding this medal, we will be considering this core philosophy that Jane embodied – that was her foremost concern, to change our relationship with wildlife with which we share the planet.”

A pressing concern today is the proliferation of disinformation. The central topic of the upcoming festival will be “the pursuit of factual understanding”.

“We realised that truth has become contested when politics are involved. And it’s a perilous development,” he commented. “The science of climate is a science; it is impossible to allow interference by political agendas in climate science.”

Optimism and Resolve

The aspiration remains that the medal can motivate action. “It’s about inspiring individuals to participate and to care and to work in that direction, truly. Regardless of if we feel hopeful, we must focus on doing all that is possible,” it was added. “Accept the possibility of failure, yet we must have to work toward success.”

A family member involved in environmental protection expressed hope that “given direction and when empowered, people can be responsible caretakers of Earth”, citing the initiatives of a foundation which, in addition to its projects, empowers the next generation become engaged locally, animals, and environment.

“As Jane Goodall often reminded us, our daily actions make a difference and the responsibility lies with us the kind of difference we make,” he said. “We still have an opportunity and this medal will give encouragement and raise awareness about beneficial initiatives that are being undertaken.”