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Earth might be under strain, but a sense of hope remains. A new award originating at the interdisciplinary festival Starmus aims to encourage individuals to make a difference.

The medal will honor in memory of the celebrated British primatologist who died recently. It will recognise individuals and groups that champion life on Earth.

Honoring a Legacy

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

It was shared that Jane Goodall, a former member of the festival's board, had supported the medal's establishment. “The idea of having this award, and the festival being tasked with organising it, was Jane's wish,” a representative said. “She expressed that she wanted for this to occur. And I think due to the very special bond she shared with the festival.”

“The Starmus Jane Goodall Earth medal will acknowledge enduring projects undertaken to build an environment a better place for all living beings and ecosystems and provide encouragement to continue that work,” said a family member.

Format and Inspiration

A co-founder of Starmus noted that the medal – which was announced at a prestigious venue – will likely encompass various fields.

“The intent is for it to be inspired by the Stephen Hawking medal for science communication that we created a decade past,” he explained. Goodall was a recipient of that award.

Sharing thoughts about the future for Earth, one figure remarked, “To be truthful, it’s very hard to feel hopeful. The current political climate in one major nation represents an assault on knowledge. This situation significantly hampers the world’s efforts.”

“To be honest, the prospects aren't very good so we have to really start reflecting, much more seriously regarding the impact of human activity. And that’s not only climate change, but also the whole way in which we interact with the natural world.”

A Call to Action

Therefore, it was noted this is a good time to emulate Goodall’s example. “I think that when we’re awarding the prize, we will be considering this core philosophy that Jane embodied – that was her foremost concern, to transform how we regard wildlife around us.”

A pressing concern currently involves the spread of false information. The theme of the upcoming festival is set as “the pursuit of factual understanding”.

“It has become apparent that factual reality is becoming contested where political interests are involved. This is an alarming trend,” he commented. “The science of climate is a science; you cannot allow interference from politics in this field.”

Optimism and Resolve

The aspiration remains that this honor will inspire positive change. “The purpose is motivating others to participate and to care and to strive toward these goals, really. Whether or not we feel hopeful, we must focus on doing all that is possible,” a statement concluded. “Accept the possibility of setbacks, but you still have to work to achieve positive outcomes.”

A descendant involved in environmental protection shared confidence that “with guidance and when empowered, humanity can be diligent stewards of our planet”, citing the work of a foundation which, among its other activities, assists the next generation become engaged with their community, wildlife, and environment.

“As my late grandmother often told everyone, our daily actions 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 give encouragement and raise awareness about beneficial initiatives that people are making.”