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

Our planet might be facing challenges, however a sense of hope remains. A new award from the interdisciplinary festival the Starmus festival aims to motivate the public to make a difference.

The medal is to be awarded in memory of the celebrated British primatologist who died this year. It will recognise those who advocate for our planet's biodiversity.

Honoring a Legacy

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

It was shared that Jane Goodall, who was a Starmus advisory board member, had supported the award’s creation. “The vision behind this award, and the festival being tasked with organising it, originated with Jane,” a representative said. “She said she would like for this to occur. This is likely due to the unique relationship she shared with us.”

“The Starmus Jane Goodall Earth medal aims to highlight enduring projects undertaken to make our world improved for people, animals and the environment and offer support to carry on that work,” said a family member.

Structure and Vision

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

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

Sharing thoughts about the future of the planet, a prominent voice remarked, “To be truthful, it is difficult to feel hopeful. Certain policies in one major nation is conducting a war on science. So this really cripples the world’s efforts.”

“Realistically, the situation appears particularly bright so we have to commence thinking again, much more seriously regarding the impact of human activity. And that’s not just climate change, but also the whole way in which we interact with nature.”

A Call to Action

As a result, observers believe this is a good time to honor Jane Goodall's legacy. “I think that in bestowing the prize, we will be considering this core philosophy of Jane’s – that was her priority, to transform the way we treat the other animals with which we share the planet.”

A major topic today was highlighted of false information. The central topic of next year’s festival is set as “the pursuit of factual understanding”.

“We realised that factual reality has become contested when politics is involved. And it’s a perilous development,” it was said. “Climate research is a science; it is impossible to have any influence by political agendas in climate science.”

Optimism and Resolve

The aspiration is that the medal will inspire concrete steps. “The purpose is motivating others to participate and to show concern and to strive in that direction, truly. Whether or not we feel hopeful, we have to look at doing the best we can,” a statement concluded. “Be prepared for failure, yet we must have to work to achieve positive outcomes.”

A descendant engaged in conservation work shared confidence that “with guidance and once enabled, people can be responsible caretakers of our planet”, pointing to the work of an institute that, among its other activities, assists young people become engaged locally, wildlife, and the natural world.

“As Jane Goodall repeatedly told everyone, our daily actions are significant and the responsibility lies with us what type of impact we choose to create,” he said. “There is still time and the Starmus Jane Goodall Earth medal will offer support and raise awareness regarding the positive actions currently in progress.”