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Our planet could be under strain, but there is hope. A new award from the science, music and arts festival Starmus will motivate the public to act.

The medal is to be awarded in honour of the esteemed British primatologist who passed away recently. It will recognise individuals and groups that champion life on Earth.

Award Details

Initial honorees will be revealed at the upcoming Starmus event in the Canary Islands, scheduled from 17–22 October next year.

It was shared that Jane Goodall, who was a member of the festival's board, had backed the medal's establishment. “The idea behind this award, and the festival being tasked to oversee it, is Jane’s,” a representative said. “She said she would like for this to occur. And I think due to the very special connection she shared with us.”

“The Starmus Jane Goodall Earth medal will recognize ongoing initiatives undertaken to build an environment a better place for people, animals and the environment and provide encouragement to carry on such efforts,” commented a relative.

Structure and Vision

One of the founders of Starmus stated that the medal – unveiled at a scientific institution – will likely encompass various fields.

“It’s going 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 award.

Expressing concern on the outlook for Earth, one figure remarked, “Honestly, it’s very hard to feel hopeful. The current political climate in one major nation represents a dismissal of evidence. So this significantly hampers global initiatives.”

“In truth, things don’t look particularly bright therefore we must really start thinking again, with greater urgency regarding the impact of human activity. This concern encompasses not only 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 honor Jane Goodall's legacy. “It is believed that in bestowing the prize, the focus will be on this essential spirit that Jane embodied – which made her foremost concern, to change how we regard wildlife around us.”

Another key issue currently is the proliferation of misinformation. The central topic of next year’s festival will be “the search for truth”.

“We realised that truth is becoming a subject of discussion where political interests are involved. This is an alarming trend,” he commented. “Climate research is a science; you cannot allow interference by political agendas in this field.”

Optimism and Resolve

The aspiration is that this honor can motivate concrete steps. “It’s about encouraging people to participate and to show concern and to strive in that direction, truly. Whether or not we’re optimistic, we must look at working our utmost,” it was added. “Accept the possibility of setbacks, yet we must continue striving toward success.”

A family member involved in environmental protection shared optimism that “given direction and once enabled, humanity are capable of being diligent stewards of Earth”, pointing to the programs of an institute which, in addition to its projects, empowers young people become engaged with their community, animals, and the natural world.

“As my late grandmother often reminded us, our daily actions make a difference and it is up to us what type of impact we choose to create,” it was stated. “We still have an opportunity and the Starmus Jane Goodall Earth medal will provide inspiration and raise awareness regarding the positive actions that are being undertaken.”