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The world might be facing challenges, however there is hope. A new award from the interdisciplinary festival the Starmus festival seeks to motivate individuals to take action.

The Starmus Jane Goodall Earth medal is to be awarded to pay tribute to the esteemed scientist and conservationist who died this year. It seeks to acknowledge individuals and groups that protect the natural world.

Honoring a Legacy

Initial honorees will be revealed during the upcoming Starmus event in the Canary Islands, scheduled from 17–22 October the coming year.

According to statements that Goodall, a former Starmus advisory board member, had supported the medal's establishment. “The vision of having this award, and Starmus being entrusted to oversee it, originated with Jane,” a representative said. “She expressed that she wanted this to happen. This is likely due to the unique relationship she shared with us.”

“The Starmus Jane Goodall Earth medal will acknowledge enduring projects carried out to build an environment improved for people, animals and the environment and foster motivation to carry on that work,” said a family member.

Structure and Vision

One of the founders of Starmus stated that the medal – which was announced at a prestigious venue – would probably have multiple categories.

“It’s going to be modeled after the Stephen Hawking medal honoring scientific outreach that we created a decade past,” it was explained. Jane Goodall was an honoree of that very medal.

Sharing thoughts about the future of the planet, a prominent voice stated, “Honestly, it's challenging to maintain optimism. Certain policies globally represents a war on science. So this significantly hampers global initiatives.”

“Realistically, the prospects aren't very good therefore we must commence thinking again, more deeply about the consequences of our actions. And that’s not just climate change, that’s the whole way that we treat our environment.”

A Call to Action

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

A major topic at present involves the spread of misinformation. The central topic of next year’s Starmus festival is set as “the pursuit of factual understanding”.

“There is a recognition that truth has become contested where political interests is involved. And it’s a perilous development,” it was said. “The climate science remains a scientific discipline; you cannot have any influence from politics in this field.”

Optimism and Resolve

The goal is that this honor will spur action. “It’s about motivating others to get involved and to care and to work in that direction, truly. Whether or not we feel hopeful, we have to focus on doing all that is possible,” a statement concluded. “Accept the possibility of failure, but you still continue striving toward success.”

A family member engaged in environmental protection shared hope that “given direction and when empowered, humans can be conscientious guardians of Earth”, citing the initiatives of an institute which, among its other activities, assists young people get involved locally, animals, and the natural world.

“As Jane Goodall repeatedly reminded us, the choices we make each day make a difference and it is up to us what type of impact we make,” he said. “There is still time and this medal will offer support and raise awareness about the positive actions that are being undertaken.”