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Our planet is facing challenges, but there is hope. A novel accolade from the interdisciplinary festival the Starmus festival will encourage the public to make a difference.

The medal will honor to pay tribute to the celebrated scientist and conservationist who passed away this year. It is designed to celebrate those who protect life on Earth.

Honoring a Legacy

The inaugural winners are slated for announcement during the upcoming Starmus event in Tenerife and La Palma, scheduled from October 17th to 22nd next year.

According to statements that Goodall, who was a Starmus advisory board member, had backed the medal's establishment. “The concept of having this medal, and Starmus being entrusted with organising it, is Jane’s,” a statement said. “Her desire was that she wanted this to happen. This is likely because of the unique relationship she had with us.”

“The Starmus Jane Goodall Earth medal will recognize enduring projects carried out to create a planet a better place for all living beings and ecosystems and provide encouragement for the continuation such efforts,” commented a relative.

Structure and Vision

A co-founder of the festival noted that the medal – unveiled at a prestigious venue – will likely encompass various fields.

“It’s going to be modeled after the Stephen Hawking medal honoring scientific outreach established exactly 10 years ago,” it was explained. Goodall herself received of that very medal.

Expressing concern on the outlook for Earth, one figure said, “Honestly, it's challenging to be optimistic. Certain policies in one major nation is conducting an assault on knowledge. So this really cripples collective action.”

“To be honest, the situation appears particularly bright so we have to really start reflecting, with greater urgency about the consequences of human activity. This concern encompasses not only climate change, that’s the whole way in which we interact with our environment.”

Inspiring Change

Consequently, it was noted it was a good time to emulate Goodall’s example. “It is believed that in bestowing this medal, we will be considering this essential spirit that Jane embodied – which made her priority, to transform how we regard the other animals around us.”

Another key issue today involves the spread of misinformation. The central topic of the upcoming festival will be “the pursuit of factual understanding”.

“We realised that truth is becoming a subject of discussion where political interests are involved. And it’s a very dangerous thing,” he commented. “Climate research is a science; it is impossible to allow interference from politics in this field.”

Optimism and Resolve

The hope is that this honor can motivate action. “The purpose is encouraging people to participate and to show concern and to strive in that direction, truly. Whether or not we’re optimistic, we must focus on working all that is possible,” a statement concluded. “Be prepared for setbacks, but you still continue striving to achieve positive outcomes.”

A family member involved in environmental protection shared optimism that “given direction and once enabled, humanity can be diligent stewards of Earth”, pointing to the work of an institute that, in addition to its projects, empowers the youth become engaged locally, animals, and environment.

“As Jane Goodall constantly emphasized, the choices we make each day are significant and the responsibility lies with us what type of impact we make,” it was stated. “There is still time and this medal will offer support and raise awareness about the positive actions currently in progress.”