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Our planet might be facing challenges, yet optimism persists. A new award from the science, music and arts festival Starmus will motivate the public to take action.

The Starmus Jane Goodall Earth medal will be given in memory of the esteemed scientist and conservationist who died recently. It is designed to celebrate individuals and groups that advocate for life on Earth.

Honoring a Legacy

The inaugural winners are expected to be announced during the Starmus VIII festival in Tenerife and La Palma, scheduled from October 17th to 22nd the coming 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 the festival being tasked to oversee it, is Jane’s,” a representative said. “Her desire was that she wanted for this to occur. This is likely because of the unique connection she had with us.”

“This medal will acknowledge ongoing initiatives carried out to make our world a better place for people, animals and the environment and foster motivation for the continuation such efforts,” said a family member.

Format and Inspiration

One of the founders of the festival noted that the medal – unveiled at a prestigious venue – would probably encompass various fields.

“It will be very much similar to the Stephen Hawking medal for science communication that we created a decade past,” he explained. Jane Goodall was a recipient of that award.

Sharing thoughts on the outlook of the planet, a prominent voice said, “To be truthful, it’s very hard to maintain optimism. The current political climate in one major nation is conducting a dismissal of evidence. This situation significantly hampers collective action.”

“Realistically, things don’t look very good therefore we must commence thinking again, with greater urgency about the consequences of our actions. And that’s not only global warming, but also the whole way in which we interact with nature.”

Inspiring Change

As a result, it was noted it was a good time to follow Goodall’s example. “It is believed that when we’re awarding the prize, we will be considering this core philosophy of Jane’s – that was her foremost concern, to transform our relationship with the other animals with which we share the planet.”

A pressing concern today involves the spread of disinformation. The central topic of next year’s Starmus festival will be “the search for truth”.

“There is a recognition that truth has become a subject of discussion when politics is involved. This is a perilous development,” he commented. “Climate research remains a scientific discipline; you cannot have any influence from politics in this field.”

Hope and Determination

The goal is that this honor will inspire positive change. “The purpose is encouraging people to engage and to show concern and to strive in that direction, really. Whether or not we’re optimistic, we have to focus on working all that is possible,” a statement concluded. “Accept the possibility of failure, yet we must have to work toward success.”

A family member engaged in environmental protection expressed optimism that “with guidance and once enabled, people can be responsible caretakers of our planet”, citing the initiatives of an institute which, in addition to its projects, helps young people get involved locally, wildlife, and environment.

“As Jane Goodall repeatedly emphasized, the choices we make each day make a difference and it is up to us the kind of difference we make,” he said. “We still have an opportunity and this medal will give encouragement and increase understanding regarding the positive actions that are being undertaken.”