🔗 Share this article

Earth is under pressure, yet a sense of hope remains. A fresh honor originating at the science, music and arts festival the Starmus festival seeks to motivate individuals to make a difference.

The medal is to be awarded to pay tribute to the celebrated British primatologist who died recently. It will recognise those who protect our planet's biodiversity.

Award Details

Initial honorees are expected to be announced at the upcoming Starmus event in Tenerife and La Palma, scheduled from October 17th to 22nd next year.

It was shared that Jane Goodall, a former Starmus advisory board member, had backed the medal's establishment. “The vision behind this medal, and Starmus being entrusted with organising it, originated with Jane,” a statement said. “Her desire was that she wanted for this to occur. This is likely due to the very special relationship she had with the festival.”

“This medal will acknowledge ongoing initiatives undertaken to make our world a better place for all living beings and ecosystems and provide encouragement for the continuation such efforts,” said a family member.

Format and Inspiration

A co-founder of Starmus stated that the medal – which was announced at a prestigious venue – will likely include several divisions.

“The intent is for it to be very much similar to the Stephen Hawking award for science communication that we created exactly 10 years ago,” he explained. Jane Goodall was an honoree of that very medal.

Sharing thoughts about the future for Earth, one figure said, “Honestly, it’s very hard to maintain optimism. Certain policies globally is conducting a dismissal of evidence. This situation really cripples collective action.”

“Realistically, things don’t look very good which means we need to really start reconsidering, more deeply about the consequences of human activity. This concern encompasses not just global warming, but also the entire manner that we treat nature.”

Following an Example

Consequently, observers believe it was an opportune moment to follow Goodall’s example. “It is believed that when we’re awarding this medal, we will be considering this essential spirit of Jane’s – which made her priority, to change our relationship with fellow creatures with which we share the planet.”

Another key issue at present is the proliferation of false information. The theme of next year’s festival will be “the search for truth”.

“We realised that factual reality is becoming a subject of discussion where political interests are involved. And it’s an alarming trend,” he commented. “The climate science is a science; you cannot have any influence by political agendas in this field.”

Hope and Determination

The goal is that this honor will spur action. “It’s about inspiring individuals to engage and to show concern and to strive in that direction, truly. Regardless of if we feel hopeful, we have to focus on doing all that is possible,” it was added. “Accept the possibility of failure, yet we must have to work to achieve positive outcomes.”

A descendant involved in environmental protection expressed hope that “given direction and once enabled, humanity can be diligent stewards of Earth”, pointing to the initiatives of an institute that, among its other activities, helps the next generation become engaged with their community, animals, and environment.

“As my late grandmother often told everyone, the choices we make each day have an impact and it is up to us the kind of difference we choose to create,” it was stated. “It is not too late and this medal will give encouragement and increase understanding about constructive efforts that people are making.”