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Our planet is facing challenges, however there is hope. A new award originating at the interdisciplinary festival the Starmus festival seeks to encourage people to act.

This new Earth medal bearing Jane Goodall's name is to be awarded in honour of the renowned scientist and conservationist who passed away recently. It seeks to acknowledge individuals and groups that champion our planet's biodiversity.

Award Details

The inaugural winners are expected to be announced during the Starmus VIII festival in Tenerife and La Palma, scheduled from 17–22 October the coming year.

According to statements that Jane Goodall, who was a Starmus advisory board member, had backed the award’s creation. “The concept of having this medal, and the festival being tasked to oversee it, originated with Jane,” a representative said. “She said she would like for this to occur. And I think due to the unique bond she had with us.”

“This medal will recognize ongoing initiatives undertaken to create a planet a better place for people, animals and the environment and offer support to continue such efforts,” said a family member.

Structure and Vision

One of the founders of the festival noted that the medal – unveiled at a scientific institution – will likely encompass various fields.

“It’s going to be modeled after the Stephen Hawking medal honoring scientific outreach established a decade past,” it was explained. Goodall herself received of that very medal.

Expressing concern on the outlook for Earth, a prominent voice said, “To be truthful, it’s very hard to maintain optimism. Present governance in one major nation represents a war on science. So this undermines the world’s efforts.”

“To be honest, things don’t look very good therefore we must really start thinking again, with greater urgency regarding the impact of our actions. This concern encompasses not just climate change, that’s the whole way that we treat our environment.”

A Call to Action

Consequently, it was noted it was an opportune moment to emulate Jane Goodall's legacy. “I think that in bestowing the prize, we will be considering this essential spirit of Jane’s – which made her foremost concern, to change the way we treat wildlife with which we share the planet.”

A major topic today involves the spread of false information. The central topic of next year’s festival will be “the search for truth”.

“We realised that factual reality has become a subject of discussion where political interests are involved. This is an alarming trend,” he commented. “The science of climate is a science; you cannot have any influence from politics in this field.”

Hope and Determination

The aspiration is that this honor will spur action. “It focuses on motivating others to participate and to show concern and to work in that direction, really. Regardless of if we’re optimistic, we must focus on working our utmost,” it was added. “Accept the possibility of failure, but you still continue striving towards succeeding.”

A family member engaged in conservation work shared confidence that “given direction and when empowered, humans can be diligent stewards of our planet”, pointing to the work of an institute which, in addition to its projects, assists the next generation become engaged with their community, wildlife, and environment.

“As my late grandmother repeatedly reminded us, our daily actions have an impact and it is up to us the kind of difference we make,” it was stated. “It is not too late and the Starmus Jane Goodall Earth medal will give encouragement and increase understanding about beneficial initiatives that people are making.”