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Our planet might be under strain, yet there is hope. A novel accolade originating at the interdisciplinary festival the Starmus festival seeks to motivate the public to take action.

The medal is to be awarded in memory of the renowned British primatologist who passed away recently. It seeks to acknowledge those who advocate for life on Earth.

Honoring a Legacy

The first recipients are expected to be announced during the upcoming Starmus event in the Canary Islands, scheduled from October 17th to 22nd next year.

It was shared that Goodall, a former member of the festival's board, had supported the award’s creation. “The idea behind this award, and Starmus being entrusted with organising it, originated with Jane,” a statement said. “She said that she wanted this to happen. This is likely due to the close bond she had with us.”

“This medal aims to highlight ongoing initiatives carried out to make our world improved for all living beings and ecosystems and provide encouragement to carry on such efforts,” commented a relative.

Format and Inspiration

A co-founder of the festival noted that the medal – unveiled at a prestigious venue – will likely have multiple categories.

“It’s going to be inspired by the Stephen Hawking medal honoring scientific outreach established a decade past,” it was explained. Goodall was a recipient of that award.

Sharing thoughts on the outlook for Earth, a prominent voice stated, “Frankly, it's challenging to maintain optimism. Present governance globally represents a war on science. So this undermines the world’s efforts.”

“To be honest, things don’t look particularly bright therefore we must begin to thinking again, with greater urgency about the consequences of our actions. And that’s not only global warming, but also the entire manner that we treat the natural world.”

A Call to Action

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

A major topic at present involves the spread of false information. The theme of next year’s Starmus festival is set as “the search for truth”.

“It has become apparent that truth is becoming a matter of debate where political interests are involved. And it’s a very dangerous thing,” it was said. “The climate science remains a scientific discipline; you cannot allow interference from politics in this field.”

Optimism and Resolve

The goal remains that the medal can motivate action. “The purpose is encouraging people to engage and to show concern and to strive in that direction, really. Regardless of if we’re optimistic, we must look at working the best we can,” a statement concluded. “Be prepared for failure, but you still have to work to achieve positive outcomes.”

A family member involved in environmental protection shared confidence that “given direction and once enabled, humans can be responsible caretakers of our planet”, pointing to the work of a foundation that, in addition to its projects, helps young people get involved with their community, wildlife, and environment.

“As my late grandmother constantly emphasized, the choices we make each day are significant and it is up to us the kind of difference we make,” he said. “It is not too late and the Starmus Jane Goodall Earth medal will offer support and raise awareness regarding beneficial initiatives that are being undertaken.”