🔗 Share this article

Our planet is under strain, but optimism persists. A fresh honor originating at the interdisciplinary festival the Starmus festival will inspire the public to take action.

The medal will be given to pay tribute to the renowned British primatologist who died recently. It will recognise individuals and groups that 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 October 17th to 22nd the coming year.

Reports indicate that Goodall, who was a member of the festival's board, had supported the medal's establishment. “The vision behind this award, and Starmus being entrusted with organising it, originated with Jane,” a representative said. “She expressed that she wanted this to happen. And I think because of the close relationship she shared with the festival.”

“The Starmus Jane Goodall Earth medal aims to highlight sustainable programmes undertaken to build an environment improved for all living beings and ecosystems and offer support to continue that work,” said a family member.

Structure and Vision

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

“It’s going to be very much similar to the Stephen Hawking medal honoring scientific outreach that we created exactly 10 years ago,” it was explained. Jane Goodall was an honoree of that award.

Expressing concern about the future of the planet, one figure stated, “To be truthful, it is difficult to be optimistic. Present governance globally represents a war on science. So this undermines global initiatives.”

“To be honest, things don’t look particularly bright so we have to really start reflecting, with greater urgency about the consequences of human activity. And that’s not only climate change, that’s the whole way in which we interact with nature.”

A Call to Action

As a result, it was noted this is a good time to honor Jane Goodall's legacy. “I think that when we’re awarding this medal, the focus will be on this essential spirit that Jane embodied – which made her foremost concern, to transform how we regard wildlife with which we share the planet.”

A pressing concern at present involves the spread of disinformation. The theme of next year’s festival is set as “the pursuit of factual understanding”.

“It has become apparent that truth has become contested when politics are involved. This is a very dangerous thing,” it was said. “The climate science is a science; it is impossible to allow interference from politics in climate science.”

Optimism and Resolve

The hope is that the medal will inspire action. “The purpose is inspiring individuals to participate and to show concern and to work toward these goals, really. Whether or not we’re optimistic, we must look at working the best we can,” a statement concluded. “Be prepared for failure, yet we must continue striving to achieve positive outcomes.”

A family member engaged in conservation work shared optimism that “with guidance and when empowered, people are capable of being diligent stewards of Earth”, highlighting the initiatives of a foundation that, in addition to its projects, assists the youth become engaged with their community, wildlife, and the natural world.

“As my late grandmother often reminded us, our daily actions are significant and the responsibility lies with us what type of impact we choose to create,” he said. “We still have an opportunity and the Starmus Jane Goodall Earth medal will offer support and raise awareness about the positive actions that people are making.”