🔗 Share this article

Our planet is under strain, but a sense of hope remains. A new award from the science, music and arts festival Starmus will encourage the public to make a difference.

The medal is to be awarded to pay tribute to the esteemed scientist and conservationist who died this year. It is designed to celebrate those who champion our planet's biodiversity.

Honoring a Legacy

The inaugural winners are slated for announcement at the upcoming Starmus event in Tenerife and La Palma, scheduled from 17–22 October the coming year.

Reports indicate that Goodall, who was a member of the festival's board, had backed the award’s creation. “The concept behind this award, and the festival being tasked to oversee it, is Jane’s,” a representative said. “She expressed she would like this to happen. And I think due to the unique relationship she had with us.”

“The Starmus Jane Goodall Earth medal will recognize enduring projects undertaken to make our world a better place for all living beings and ecosystems and provide encouragement to continue such efforts,” said a family member.

Structure and Vision

A co-founder of the festival stated that the medal – which was announced at a scientific institution – would probably include several divisions.

“It’s going to be modeled after the Stephen Hawking award for science communication that we created a decade past,” it was explained. Jane Goodall was an honoree of that award.

Sharing thoughts about the future of the planet, one figure remarked, “To be truthful, it's challenging to be optimistic. Present governance in one major nation is conducting a dismissal of evidence. So this significantly hampers global initiatives.”

“In truth, the prospects aren't particularly bright which means we need to begin to reconsidering, with greater urgency regarding the impact of our actions. And that’s not just global warming, but also the entire manner that we treat our environment.”

A Call to Action

Therefore, it was noted it was an opportune moment to follow her guiding principles. “I think that in bestowing this medal, the focus will be on this essential spirit that Jane embodied – that was her priority, to change how we regard the other animals with which we share the planet.”

A major topic currently was highlighted of false information. The central topic of next year’s festival is set as “the pursuit of factual understanding”.

“There is a recognition that factual reality is becoming a subject of discussion where political interests are involved. And it’s an alarming trend,” 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 aspiration is that the medal will inspire concrete steps. “It’s about inspiring individuals to engage and to show concern and to strive toward these goals, truly. Regardless of if we feel hopeful, we must look at working the best we can,” it was added. “Accept the possibility of failure, yet we must have to work towards succeeding.”

A descendant involved in conservation work shared confidence that “given direction and once enabled, people are capable of being responsible caretakers of Earth”, pointing to the programs of a foundation which, in addition to its projects, helps young people become engaged with their community, animals, and the natural world.

“As Jane Goodall repeatedly emphasized, our daily actions have an impact and the responsibility lies with us the kind of difference we make,” he said. “There is still time and this medal will provide inspiration and increase understanding about constructive efforts currently in progress.”