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Earth might be facing challenges, yet there is hope. A novel accolade originating at the interdisciplinary festival the Starmus festival aims to inspire individuals to act.

This new Earth medal bearing Jane Goodall's name will honor in honour of the celebrated scientist and conservationist who died recently. It seeks to acknowledge those who protect life on Earth.

Award Details

The inaugural winners are slated for announcement at the upcoming Starmus event in Tenerife and La Palma, scheduled from 17–22 October next year.

According to statements that Jane Goodall, a former Starmus advisory board member, had backed the award’s creation. “The concept of having this award, and Starmus being entrusted to oversee it, is Jane’s,” a representative said. “She said that she wanted for this to occur. And I think due to the unique relationship she had with the festival.”

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

Format and Inspiration

A co-founder of the festival stated that the medal – unveiled at a prestigious venue – would probably have multiple categories.

“The intent is for it to be very much similar to the Stephen Hawking medal honoring scientific outreach established a decade past,” he explained. Jane Goodall was a recipient of that very medal.

Sharing thoughts on the outlook for Earth, one figure remarked, “To be truthful, it’s very hard to maintain optimism. The current political climate globally is conducting an assault on knowledge. So this really cripples the world’s efforts.”

“In truth, things don’t look very good therefore we must really start thinking again, with greater urgency about the consequences of human activity. This concern encompasses not just climate change, but also the entire manner that we treat nature.”

A Call to Action

Therefore, observers believe it was an opportune moment to honor Jane Goodall's legacy. “I think that in bestowing the prize, we will be considering this core philosophy that Jane embodied – that was her priority, to transform how we regard the other animals around us.”

A pressing concern at present involves the spread of disinformation. The theme of next year’s Starmus festival is set as “the pursuit of factual understanding”.

“We realised that factual reality is becoming contested when politics is involved. And it’s an alarming trend,” it was said. “Climate research remains a scientific discipline; it is impossible to have any influence from politics in climate science.”

Hope and Determination

The goal is that the medal will spur action. “The purpose is inspiring individuals to participate and to show concern and to strive toward these goals, really. Regardless of if we’re optimistic, we must look at doing all that is possible,” a statement concluded. “Be prepared for failure, yet we must continue striving to achieve positive outcomes.”

A family member involved in conservation work expressed hope that “with guidance and once enabled, people can be diligent stewards of our planet”, highlighting the programs of an institute which, in addition to its projects, helps the youth get involved locally, animals, and the natural world.

“As my late grandmother often emphasized, our daily actions have an impact and the responsibility lies with us what type of impact we choose to create,” it was stated. “We still have an opportunity and this medal will provide inspiration and raise awareness regarding constructive efforts that people are making.”