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Our planet could be facing challenges, yet a sense of hope remains. A fresh honor originating at the science, music and arts festival Starmus aims to motivate people to make a difference.

The medal will be given in honour of the esteemed British primatologist who passed away recently. It seeks to acknowledge those who advocate for the natural world.

Honoring a Legacy

Initial honorees are slated for announcement at the Starmus VIII festival in Tenerife and La Palma, which will run from 17–22 October next year.

It was shared that Jane Goodall, a former member of the festival's board, had supported the medal's establishment. “The concept of having this medal, and Starmus being entrusted to oversee it, was Jane's wish,” a representative said. “She expressed she would like for this to occur. And I think because of the close relationship she shared with us.”

“The Starmus Jane Goodall Earth medal aims to highlight ongoing initiatives carried out to make our world a better place for people, animals and the environment and offer support to continue such efforts,” said a family member.

Format and Inspiration

A co-founder of Starmus indicated that the medal – which was announced at a scientific institution – will likely encompass various fields.

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

Expressing concern about the future for Earth, a prominent voice said, “To be truthful, it is difficult to be optimistic. Certain policies globally represents a war on science. This situation significantly hampers the world’s efforts.”

“Realistically, the situation appears very good 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 whole way in which we interact with nature.”

Following an Example

Consequently, it was noted this is an opportune moment to emulate Jane Goodall's legacy. “I think that when we’re awarding this medal, the focus will be on this core philosophy of Jane’s – that was her priority, to transform the way we treat fellow creatures around us.”

A major topic today involves the spread of false information. The central topic of next year’s Starmus festival will be “the search for truth”.

“It has become apparent that factual reality is becoming contested where political interests is involved. And it’s a perilous development,” it was said. “The climate science remains a scientific discipline; it is impossible to have any influence by political agendas in climate science.”

Optimism and Resolve

The hope is that this honor will spur positive change. “It focuses on motivating others to get involved and to care and to strive toward these goals, truly. Whether or not we’re optimistic, we have to focus on working the best we can,” a statement concluded. “Accept the possibility of setbacks, yet we must continue striving to achieve positive outcomes.”

A family member engaged in conservation work shared confidence that “given direction and when empowered, humans can be diligent stewards of Earth”, citing the initiatives of an institute which, in addition to its projects, helps the youth get involved with their community, wildlife, and the natural world.

“As Jane Goodall constantly told everyone, the choices we make each day are significant and the responsibility lies with us what type of impact we make,” it was stated. “We still have an opportunity and this medal will provide inspiration and increase understanding about beneficial initiatives currently in progress.”