🔗 Share this article

The world might be under pressure, but there is hope. A novel accolade from the science, music and arts festival the Starmus festival aims to inspire the public to act.

This new Earth medal bearing Jane Goodall's name is to be awarded in memory of the renowned scientist and conservationist who passed away this year. It seeks to acknowledge individuals and groups that advocate for life on Earth.

Honoring a Legacy

Initial honorees will be revealed during the Starmus VIII festival in the Canary Islands, scheduled from 17–22 October next year.

It was shared that Goodall, a former Starmus advisory board member, had endorsed the award’s creation. “The vision behind this medal, and the festival being tasked with organising it, was Jane's wish,” a representative said. “She expressed she would like this to happen. And I think due to the unique relationship she had with the festival.”

“This medal will recognize enduring projects carried out to build an environment improved for people, animals and the environment and provide encouragement to continue that work,” commented a relative.

Format and Inspiration

One of the founders of the festival indicated that the medal – which was announced at a prestigious venue – would probably include several divisions.

“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 an honoree of that very medal.

Expressing concern about the future of the planet, one figure stated, “To be truthful, it’s very hard to be optimistic. Present governance in one major nation is conducting an assault on knowledge. So this significantly hampers collective action.”

“To be honest, things don’t look particularly bright so we have to really start reconsidering, much more seriously regarding the impact of our actions. And that’s not only global warming, but also the whole way that we treat the natural world.”

A Call to Action

As a result, it was noted it was a good time to honor her guiding principles. “It is believed that when we’re awarding this medal, the focus will be on this core philosophy that Jane embodied – that was her priority, to change how we regard wildlife with which we share the planet.”

Another key issue currently is the proliferation of disinformation. The theme of the upcoming festival is set as “the pursuit of factual understanding”.

“There is a recognition that factual reality is becoming a matter of debate when politics are involved. And it’s a very dangerous thing,” it was said. “Climate research remains a scientific discipline; you cannot allow interference from politics in climate science.”

Optimism and Resolve

The aspiration is that the medal will inspire action. “It’s about inspiring individuals to engage and to care and to strive in that direction, truly. Regardless of if we’re optimistic, we must focus on working all that is possible,” a statement concluded. “Accept the possibility of failure, yet we must continue striving to achieve positive outcomes.”

A family member involved in conservation work shared confidence that “with guidance and once enabled, humanity can be responsible caretakers of our planet”, citing the initiatives of an institute which, among its other activities, helps young people get involved with their community, wildlife, and the natural world.

“As Jane Goodall often emphasized, the choices we make each day have an impact and the responsibility lies with us what type of impact we make,” he said. “There is still time and this medal will offer support and raise awareness regarding constructive efforts that are being undertaken.”