A Starmus Earth Medal in Honor of Jane Goodall Will Celebrate Those Working to Improve the Planet.

Earth could be facing challenges, but optimism persists. A fresh honor from the science, music and arts festival the Starmus festival aims to encourage individuals to act.

The Starmus Jane Goodall Earth medal will be given to pay tribute to the renowned British primatologist who passed away this year. It seeks to acknowledge individuals and groups that advocate for our planet's biodiversity.

Award Details

The first recipients are expected to be announced at the upcoming Starmus event in the Canary Islands, scheduled from October 17th to 22nd next year.

It was shared that Jane 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, was Jane's wish,” a statement said. “She expressed that she wanted for this to occur. And I think due to the very special relationship she had with us.”

“The Starmus Jane Goodall Earth medal will recognize sustainable programmes carried out to create a planet improved for all living beings and ecosystems and offer support to carry on such efforts,” said a family member.

Structure and Vision

One of the founders of Starmus noted that the medal – unveiled at a prestigious venue – will likely have multiple categories.

“It will be very much similar to the Stephen Hawking award honoring scientific outreach that we created a decade past,” he explained. Goodall herself received of that very medal.

Sharing thoughts on the outlook of the planet, one figure stated, “Frankly, it’s very hard to maintain optimism. Certain policies globally represents a dismissal of evidence. This situation significantly hampers collective action.”

“Realistically, the prospects aren't very good therefore we must commence thinking again, with greater urgency regarding the impact of our actions. This concern encompasses not just climate change, that’s the whole way that we treat nature.”

Following an Example

Therefore, it was noted it was an opportune moment to honor Goodall’s example. “It is believed that when we’re awarding the prize, we will be considering this core philosophy of Jane’s – which made her priority, to transform how we regard wildlife around us.”

A pressing concern currently is the proliferation of disinformation. The theme of next year’s festival is set as “the search for truth”.

“We realised that truth has become contested when politics are involved. This is a perilous development,” he commented. “The science of climate remains a scientific discipline; it is impossible to allow interference by political agendas in climate science.”

Optimism and Resolve

The aspiration remains that the medal will inspire positive change. “It focuses on encouraging people to participate and to care and to work in that direction, really. Regardless of if we’re optimistic, we have to focus on working the best we can,” a statement concluded. “Accept the possibility of setbacks, but you still continue striving towards succeeding.”

A family member involved in environmental protection shared hope that “with guidance and once enabled, people are capable of being responsible caretakers of our planet”, citing the initiatives of an institute that, among its other activities, helps the next generation become engaged locally, wildlife, and the natural world.

“As my late grandmother repeatedly emphasized, the choices we make each day are significant and the responsibility lies with us the kind of difference we choose to create,” he said. “There is still time and this medal will give encouragement and increase understanding about constructive efforts that are being undertaken.”