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Earth might be facing challenges, however a sense of hope remains. A novel accolade from the science, music and arts festival Starmus aims to motivate the public to take action.

The medal will be given in memory of the esteemed scientist and conservationist who passed away recently. It will recognise those who advocate for our planet's biodiversity.

The Medal's Framework

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

According to statements that Goodall, a former Starmus advisory board member, had endorsed the award’s creation. “The idea of having this award, and the festival being tasked to oversee it, originated with Jane,” a statement said. “She expressed she would like this to happen. And I think because of the unique bond she shared with us.”

“This medal will acknowledge enduring projects carried out to make our world improved for all living beings and ecosystems and provide encouragement to carry on such efforts,” said a family member.

Structure and Vision

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

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

Sharing thoughts about the future for Earth, one figure remarked, “To be truthful, it's challenging to be optimistic. The current political climate in one major nation represents an assault on knowledge. This situation really cripples global initiatives.”

“To be honest, things don’t look very good therefore we must begin to reconsidering, much more seriously regarding the impact of our actions. This concern encompasses not only global warming, but also the whole way that we treat our environment.”

A Call to Action

As a result, it was noted this is a good time to emulate Jane Goodall's legacy. “I think that when we’re awarding this medal, we will be considering this core philosophy of Jane’s – that was her foremost concern, to change how we regard wildlife with which we share the planet.”

A pressing concern today involves the spread of false information. The central topic of next year’s Starmus festival is set as “the search for truth”.

“It has become apparent that truth is becoming a matter of debate when politics is involved. And it’s an alarming trend,” it was said. “The science of climate remains a scientific discipline; you cannot allow interference from politics in climate science.”

Optimism and Resolve

The hope remains that this honor can motivate positive change. “The purpose is inspiring individuals to participate and to care and to strive toward these goals, truly. Whether or not we’re optimistic, we have to look at doing the best we can,” a statement concluded. “Be prepared for failure, yet we must continue striving towards succeeding.”

A family member involved in conservation work expressed hope that “with guidance and once enabled, humans are capable of being diligent stewards of our planet”, pointing to the initiatives of a foundation that, in addition to its projects, empowers the next generation become engaged with their community, animals, and environment.

“As Jane Goodall often told everyone, our daily actions make a difference and the responsibility lies with us the kind of difference we choose to create,” it was stated. “It is not too late and the Starmus Jane Goodall Earth medal will give encouragement and raise awareness regarding beneficial initiatives currently in progress.”