A Jane Goodall Earth Medal to Celebrate Individuals Working to Better the World.

Our planet could be under pressure, but a sense of hope remains. A novel accolade from the interdisciplinary festival the Starmus festival aims to motivate individuals to make a difference.

The Starmus Jane Goodall Earth medal will honor to pay tribute to the celebrated British primatologist who passed away recently. It is designed to celebrate those who protect the natural world.

Award Details

The inaugural winners are slated for announcement at the Starmus VIII festival in the Canary Islands, which will run from 17–22 October next year.

Reports indicate that Jane Goodall, who was a Starmus advisory board member, had supported the medal's establishment. “The vision of having this medal, and Starmus being entrusted to oversee it, was Jane's wish,” a statement said. “She expressed that she wanted for this to occur. This is likely due to the close bond she had with the festival.”

“This medal will acknowledge ongoing initiatives carried out to make our world improved for people, animals and the environment and provide encouragement to continue that work,” said a family member.

Format and Inspiration

One of the founders of Starmus noted that the medal – unveiled at a scientific institution – would probably encompass various fields.

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

Expressing concern on the outlook of the planet, a prominent voice said, “Frankly, it’s very hard to maintain optimism. Certain policies in one major nation is conducting a dismissal of evidence. This situation really cripples collective action.”

“In truth, the situation appears particularly bright therefore we must commence thinking again, much more seriously about the consequences of human activity. This concern encompasses not only climate change, but also the whole way in which we interact with our environment.”

A Call to Action

As a result, it was noted this is a good time to follow Goodall’s example. “It is believed that in bestowing the prize, we will be considering this core philosophy that Jane embodied – that was her priority, to change our relationship with the other animals with which we share the planet.”

Another key issue at present was highlighted of disinformation. The focus of the upcoming Starmus festival will be “the pursuit of factual understanding”.

“There is a recognition that truth has become a subject of discussion where political interests is involved. This is a very dangerous thing,” it was said. “The climate science remains a scientific discipline; you cannot allow interference from politics in climate science.”

Hope and Determination

The goal is that the medal will inspire positive change. “It focuses on motivating others to get involved and to show concern and to strive toward these goals, really. Regardless of if we’re optimistic, we must look at working our utmost,” it was added. “Accept the possibility of failure, but you still have to work towards succeeding.”

A family member involved in environmental protection shared confidence that “given direction and once enabled, humanity can be diligent stewards of Earth”, pointing to the work of an institute which, in addition to its projects, assists the next generation become engaged locally, animals, and environment.

“As my late grandmother constantly told everyone, our daily actions are significant and the responsibility lies with us the kind of difference we choose to create,” he said. “There is still time and the Starmus Jane Goodall Earth medal will give encouragement and increase understanding about constructive efforts that people are making.”