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Earth could be under strain, however optimism persists. A new award from the interdisciplinary festival the Starmus festival seeks to inspire the public to act.

The Starmus Jane Goodall Earth medal will honor in memory of the celebrated British primatologist who died recently. It seeks to acknowledge those who advocate for our planet's biodiversity.

The Medal's Framework

The inaugural winners will be revealed at the upcoming Starmus event in the Canary Islands, scheduled from October 17th to 22nd next year.

It was shared that Jane Goodall, who was a Starmus advisory board member, had backed the medal's establishment. “The idea of having this award, and Starmus being entrusted to oversee it, was Jane's wish,” a statement said. “Her desire was she would like for this to occur. And I think due to the very special bond she shared with the festival.”

“This medal will recognize ongoing initiatives undertaken to make our world improved for people, animals and the environment and provide encouragement for the continuation that work,” commented a relative.

Format and Inspiration

One of the founders of Starmus indicated that the medal – which was announced at a scientific institution – will likely have multiple categories.

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

Sharing thoughts about the future of the planet, one figure remarked, “Frankly, it is difficult to maintain optimism. Certain policies in one major nation represents a dismissal of evidence. So this really cripples the world’s efforts.”

“To be honest, things don’t look very good therefore we must commence reconsidering, more deeply about the consequences of our actions. This concern encompasses not just global warming, that’s the whole way in which we interact with nature.”

Following an Example

As a result, it was noted this is an opportune moment to follow her guiding principles. “It is believed that when we’re awarding this medal, we will be considering this essential spirit that Jane embodied – which made her foremost concern, to change the way we treat wildlife around us.”

Another key issue currently is the proliferation of disinformation. The theme of the upcoming Starmus festival will be “the pursuit of factual understanding”.

“It has become apparent that truth is becoming a matter of debate where political interests are involved. This is a very dangerous thing,” he commented. “The climate science remains a scientific discipline; you cannot allow interference by political agendas in this field.”

Hope and Determination

The goal remains that this honor will inspire positive change. “It focuses on encouraging people to get involved and to care and to work in that direction, truly. Regardless of if we feel hopeful, we must focus on doing the best we can,” a statement concluded. “Be prepared for setbacks, but you still have to work to achieve positive outcomes.”

A family member involved in conservation work shared hope that “with guidance and when empowered, humanity are capable of being responsible caretakers of our planet”, citing the initiatives of an institute which, in addition to its projects, assists young people become engaged with their community, wildlife, and the natural world.

“As my late grandmother repeatedly reminded us, our daily actions are significant and it is up to us what type of impact we choose to create,” he said. “We still have an opportunity and the Starmus Jane Goodall Earth medal will give encouragement and raise awareness about constructive efforts that are being undertaken.”