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The world is under pressure, but there is hope. A new award from the science, music and arts festival Starmus seeks to inspire people to act.

This new Earth medal bearing Jane Goodall's name will honor to pay tribute to the esteemed British primatologist who passed away recently. It is designed to celebrate individuals and groups that champion our planet's biodiversity.

Award Details

Initial honorees will be revealed at the Starmus VIII festival in Tenerife and La Palma, which will run from October 17th to 22nd the coming year.

It was shared that Goodall, who was a member of the festival's board, had supported the award’s creation. “The concept of having this award, and the festival being tasked with organising it, originated with Jane,” a statement said. “She said that she wanted for this to occur. And I think due to the close bond she had with the festival.”

“The Starmus Jane Goodall Earth medal will acknowledge sustainable programmes carried out to make our world improved for people, animals and the environment and offer support to carry on such efforts,” commented a relative.

Format and Inspiration

One of the founders of Starmus indicated that the medal – which was announced at a scientific institution – would probably include several divisions.

“It will be inspired by the Stephen Hawking medal honoring scientific outreach that we created a decade past,” it was explained. Jane Goodall was an honoree of that award.

Expressing concern on the outlook for Earth, one figure remarked, “To be truthful, it's challenging to maintain optimism. Present governance in one major nation is conducting a war on science. So this undermines collective action.”

“In truth, the situation appears particularly bright so we have to begin to reflecting, with greater urgency regarding the impact of human activity. This concern encompasses not just climate change, that’s the whole way that we treat nature.”

Following an Example

Therefore, observers believe this is a good time to emulate her guiding principles. “I think that when we’re awarding the prize, the focus will be on this essential spirit of Jane’s – that was her foremost concern, to transform our relationship with wildlife around us.”

A major topic currently is the proliferation of false information. The theme of the upcoming Starmus festival will be “the search for truth”.

“There is a recognition that truth has become a matter of debate where political interests are involved. This is a very dangerous thing,” he commented. “Climate research is a science; you cannot have any influence from politics in this field.”

Hope and Determination

The aspiration remains that the medal can motivate concrete steps. “It’s about motivating others to engage and to show concern and to work toward these goals, really. Regardless of if we feel hopeful, we must focus on doing the best we can,” it was added. “Accept the possibility of setbacks, but you still continue striving toward success.”

A descendant involved in conservation work shared optimism that “with guidance and once enabled, humans are capable of being responsible caretakers of our planet”, citing the work of a foundation that, in addition to its projects, helps the youth become engaged locally, animals, and environment.

“As my late grandmother constantly emphasized, our daily actions are significant and it is up to us the kind of difference we make,” it was stated. “There is still time and this medal will provide inspiration and increase understanding about the positive actions currently in progress.”