🔗 Share this article

Our planet might be facing challenges, however there is hope. A fresh honor originating at the science, music and arts festival the Starmus festival aims to encourage individuals to act.

This new Earth medal bearing Jane Goodall's name will be given in honour of the esteemed British primatologist who died recently. It seeks to acknowledge individuals and groups that advocate for the natural world.

Award Details

Initial honorees are expected to be announced during the upcoming Starmus event in the Canary Islands, scheduled from October 17th to 22nd next year.

Reports indicate that Goodall, a former member of the festival's board, had supported the award’s creation. “The concept of having this medal, and the festival being tasked with organising it, is Jane’s,” a representative said. “She expressed that she wanted this to happen. This is likely because of the unique relationship she shared with us.”

“The Starmus Jane Goodall Earth medal aims to highlight ongoing initiatives undertaken to build an environment 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 – unveiled at a prestigious venue – would probably encompass various fields.

“The intent is for it to be very much similar to the Stephen Hawking medal for science communication established exactly 10 years ago,” he explained. Jane Goodall was a recipient of that very medal.

Expressing concern about the future for Earth, a prominent voice said, “Honestly, it’s very hard to maintain optimism. Present governance in one major nation represents a dismissal of evidence. So this undermines the world’s efforts.”

“Realistically, the situation appears very good so we have to begin to reconsidering, with greater urgency about the consequences of human activity. And that’s not only global warming, that’s the whole way that we treat nature.”

A Call to Action

As a result, it was noted this is a good time to honor Jane Goodall's legacy. “It is believed that in bestowing this medal, we will be considering this core philosophy of Jane’s – that was her priority, to change our relationship with the other animals around us.”

A pressing concern today involves the spread of false information. The focus of the upcoming festival is set as “the search for truth”.

“We realised that truth has become contested when politics are involved. And it’s a perilous development,” he commented. “Climate research remains a scientific discipline; it is impossible to have any influence from politics in climate science.”

Hope and Determination

The hope remains that the medal will spur positive change. “It focuses on inspiring individuals to participate and to care and to work toward these goals, truly. Whether or not we feel hopeful, we must look at doing our utmost,” a statement concluded. “Be prepared for failure, but you still have to work to achieve positive outcomes.”

A descendant engaged in conservation work expressed optimism that “given direction and once enabled, people are capable of being responsible caretakers of our planet”, highlighting the initiatives of an institute that, among its other activities, empowers the next generation get involved with their community, animals, and environment.

“As my late grandmother constantly reminded us, our daily actions are significant and it is up to us the kind of difference we make,” it was stated. “We still have an opportunity and this medal will offer support and increase understanding about the positive actions that people are making.”