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Earth could be under strain, however a sense of hope remains. A novel accolade originating at the interdisciplinary festival the Starmus festival aims to encourage individuals to act.

This new Earth medal bearing Jane Goodall's name is to be awarded in honour of the renowned scientist and conservationist who passed away this year. It is designed to celebrate individuals and groups that advocate for our planet's biodiversity.

The Medal's Framework

The inaugural winners are expected to be announced at the upcoming Starmus event in the Canary Islands, which will run from October 17th to 22nd next year.

It was shared that Goodall, a former Starmus advisory board member, had backed the medal's establishment. “The idea behind 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. This is likely because of the close connection she had with us.”

“This medal aims to highlight sustainable programmes undertaken to create a planet improved for all living beings and ecosystems and offer support for the continuation such efforts,” commented a relative.

Format and Inspiration

One of the founders of Starmus indicated that the medal – which was announced at a prestigious venue – will likely include several divisions.

“It will be inspired by the Stephen Hawking award for science communication established a decade past,” it was explained. Jane Goodall was an honoree of that very medal.

Expressing concern on the outlook for Earth, one figure stated, “Honestly, it's challenging to be optimistic. The current political climate globally represents a war on science. So this really cripples collective action.”

“To be honest, things don’t look very good which means we need to commence thinking again, much more seriously about the consequences of human activity. And that’s not just climate change, but also the whole way in which we interact with nature.”

A Call to Action

As a result, it was noted this is an opportune moment to follow Goodall’s example. “It is believed that when we’re awarding the prize, we will be considering this core philosophy of Jane’s – which made her foremost concern, to transform the way we treat wildlife around us.”

Another key issue today is the proliferation of false information. The focus of next year’s Starmus festival will be “the search for truth”.

“There is a recognition that factual reality is becoming a subject of discussion when politics are involved. This is a very dangerous thing,” he commented. “Climate research is a science; it is impossible to have any influence by political agendas in this field.”

Optimism and Resolve

The goal remains that this honor will inspire action. “The purpose is inspiring individuals to get involved and to show concern and to work toward these goals, truly. Regardless of if we’re optimistic, we have to look at working all that is possible,” a statement concluded. “Accept the possibility of setbacks, but you still have to work towards succeeding.”

A family member involved in environmental protection expressed hope that “with guidance and when empowered, people can be responsible caretakers of Earth”, pointing to the programs of a foundation which, in addition to its projects, empowers the youth become engaged locally, animals, and the natural world.

“As Jane Goodall often emphasized, the choices we make each day are significant and the responsibility lies with us the kind of difference we make,” it was stated. “It is not too late and this medal will give encouragement and raise awareness about constructive efforts currently in progress.”