A Starmus Earth Medal in Honor of Jane Goodall to Recognise Those Acting to Better the Planet.

Our planet might be under pressure, yet there is hope. A new award from the science, music and arts festival the Starmus festival aims to inspire the public to act.

The Starmus Jane Goodall Earth medal will be given in honour of the esteemed scientist and conservationist who died this year. It seeks to acknowledge individuals and groups that champion our planet's biodiversity.

Award Details

Initial honorees are expected to be announced during the upcoming Starmus event in Tenerife and La Palma, which will run from 17–22 October next year.

Reports indicate that Jane Goodall, who was a Starmus advisory board member, had endorsed the award’s creation. “The idea of having this medal, and the festival being tasked with organising it, originated with Jane,” a statement said. “She expressed that she wanted this to happen. And I think due to the very special connection she had with us.”

“The Starmus Jane Goodall Earth medal will recognize sustainable programmes undertaken to create a planet a better place for all living beings and ecosystems and offer support for the continuation such efforts,” commented a relative.

Format and Inspiration

A co-founder of Starmus indicated that the medal – which was announced at a prestigious venue – would probably include several divisions.

“It will be inspired by the Stephen Hawking award honoring scientific outreach established a decade past,” it was explained. Jane Goodall was a recipient of that award.

Sharing thoughts on the outlook of the planet, one figure stated, “Frankly, it's challenging to feel hopeful. Certain policies in one major nation is conducting a war on science. This situation undermines the world’s efforts.”

“In truth, the prospects aren't very good which means we need to begin to thinking again, much more seriously about the consequences of our actions. This concern encompasses not only climate change, but also the whole way in which we interact with nature.”

A Call to Action

Consequently, it was noted it was an opportune moment to honor her guiding principles. “It is believed that when we’re awarding the prize, the focus will be on this core philosophy of Jane’s – which made her foremost concern, to change our relationship with wildlife around us.”

A major topic at present was highlighted of misinformation. The focus of the upcoming Starmus festival will be “the pursuit of factual understanding”.

“There is a recognition that factual reality is becoming a matter of debate where political interests are involved. And it’s a very dangerous thing,” it was said. “The science of climate is a science; you cannot have any influence from politics in this field.”

Hope and Determination

The hope remains that the medal will inspire action. “It’s about encouraging people to participate and to show concern and to work in that direction, truly. Regardless of if we’re optimistic, we must look at doing all that is possible,” it was added. “Accept the possibility of failure, but you still have to work toward success.”

A descendant engaged in environmental protection shared optimism that “given direction and once enabled, humans can be conscientious guardians of Earth”, citing the initiatives of a foundation which, in addition to its projects, empowers the next generation get involved with their community, wildlife, and the natural world.

“As Jane Goodall often reminded us, our daily actions make a difference 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 increase understanding regarding the positive actions currently in progress.”