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Earth is under pressure, but a sense of hope remains. A new award from the science, music and arts festival the Starmus festival will encourage people to take action.

The medal is to be awarded in honour of the esteemed British primatologist who died this year. It seeks to acknowledge those who champion our planet's biodiversity.

Award Details

The inaugural winners are slated for announcement at the upcoming Starmus event in the Canary Islands, which will run from October 17th to 22nd next year.

It was shared that Goodall, a former member of the festival's board, had backed the medal's establishment. “The idea of having this award, and Starmus being entrusted with organising it, originated with Jane,” a statement said. “Her desire was that she wanted this to happen. And I think because of the close bond she shared with the festival.”

“The Starmus Jane Goodall Earth medal will acknowledge enduring projects carried out to build an environment a better place for all living beings and ecosystems and offer support to continue such efforts,” said a family member.

Structure and Vision

A co-founder of the festival noted that the medal – unveiled at a scientific institution – will likely encompass various fields.

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

Expressing concern on the outlook of the planet, one figure said, “Honestly, it is difficult to be optimistic. Present governance globally represents a dismissal of evidence. This situation really cripples collective action.”

“In truth, the prospects aren't particularly bright which means we need to begin to thinking again, with greater urgency regarding the impact of human activity. And that’s not only climate change, that’s the whole way that we treat nature.”

A Call to Action

Consequently, it was noted it was a good time to emulate Jane Goodall's legacy. “I think that in bestowing the prize, we will be considering this essential spirit that Jane embodied – that was her priority, to change our relationship with fellow creatures around us.”

A major topic today was highlighted of false information. The theme of the upcoming Starmus festival will be “the pursuit of factual understanding”.

“There is a recognition that factual reality has become contested when politics is involved. And it’s a perilous development,” it was said. “The science of climate remains a scientific discipline; you cannot allow interference from politics in climate science.”

Hope and Determination

The aspiration is that this honor will spur positive change. “The purpose is encouraging people to engage and to care and to work toward these goals, truly. Regardless of if we’re optimistic, we must look at working all that is possible,” a statement concluded. “Accept the possibility of setbacks, yet we must have to work to achieve positive outcomes.”

A descendant involved in environmental protection shared hope that “given direction and when empowered, humanity can be conscientious guardians of our planet”, citing the initiatives of a foundation which, in addition to its projects, empowers young people become engaged with their community, wildlife, and environment.

“As my late grandmother often emphasized, the choices we make each day make a difference and it is up to us the kind of difference we choose to create,” it was stated. “There is still time and this medal will offer support and raise awareness about beneficial initiatives that are being undertaken.”