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The world is under strain, however there is hope. A new award from the interdisciplinary festival Starmus aims to inspire individuals to act.

The Starmus Jane Goodall Earth medal will be given in memory of the celebrated scientist and conservationist who died this year. It is designed to celebrate those who advocate for the natural world.

Honoring a Legacy

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

Reports indicate that Goodall, a former member of the festival's board, had supported the medal's establishment. “The concept behind this medal, and the festival being tasked with organising it, was Jane's wish,” a statement said. “She said she would like for this to occur. And I think because of the very special bond she had with us.”

“The Starmus Jane Goodall Earth medal will acknowledge sustainable programmes carried out to create a planet improved for all living beings and ecosystems and offer support to continue that work,” commented a relative.

Format and Inspiration

One of the founders of the festival indicated that the medal – which was announced at a prestigious venue – would probably have multiple categories.

“The intent is for it to be modeled after the Stephen Hawking award honoring scientific outreach that we created exactly 10 years ago,” he explained. Jane Goodall herself received of that very medal.

Sharing thoughts on the outlook of the planet, a prominent voice remarked, “To be truthful, it’s very hard to be optimistic. Present governance globally is conducting a dismissal of evidence. So this really cripples global initiatives.”

“In truth, the prospects aren't very good so we have to really start reconsidering, with greater urgency regarding the impact of our actions. And that’s not only climate change, but also the entire manner in which we interact with the natural world.”

Following an Example

As a result, observers believe it was a good time to honor Jane Goodall's legacy. “It is believed that in bestowing the prize, the focus will be on this essential spirit of Jane’s – that was her priority, to change the way we treat wildlife around us.”

Another key issue currently is the proliferation of misinformation. The focus of the upcoming Starmus festival is set as “the search for truth”.

“There is a recognition that truth has become a matter of debate when politics are involved. And it’s a perilous development,” he commented. “The science of climate remains a scientific discipline; you cannot have any influence by political agendas in this field.”

Optimism and Resolve

The hope is that the medal will inspire concrete steps. “It focuses on encouraging people to engage and to care and to strive in that direction, truly. Regardless of if we’re optimistic, we must look at working all that is possible,” a statement concluded. “Accept the possibility of setbacks, but you still have to work towards succeeding.”

A descendant involved in conservation work shared confidence that “with guidance and when empowered, humanity are capable of being diligent stewards of Earth”, citing the programs of an institute which, in addition to its projects, assists young people get involved with their community, animals, and environment.

“As Jane Goodall often emphasized, our daily actions make a difference and it is up to us what type of impact we make,” he said. “It is not too late and the Starmus Jane Goodall Earth medal will give encouragement and increase understanding about constructive efforts that people are making.”