🔗 Share this article A Starmus Earth Medal in Honor of Jane Goodall Will Celebrate Individuals Striving to Improve the World. Earth could be facing challenges, but optimism persists. A novel accolade originating at the interdisciplinary festival Starmus aims to motivate people to make a difference. A gathering related to the Starmus festival. The medal is to be awarded in honour of the celebrated British primatologist who died recently. It seeks to acknowledge those who advocate for the natural world. Award Details The first recipients will be revealed at the upcoming Starmus event in the Canary Islands, which will run from 17–22 October next year. It was shared that Goodall, a former Starmus advisory board member, had endorsed the medal's establishment. “The idea behind this award, and Starmus being entrusted to oversee it, is Jane’s,” a representative said. “She said that she wanted this to happen. And I think due to the close relationship she shared with us.” “This medal will recognize enduring projects undertaken to create a planet improved for people, animals and the environment and provide encouragement to continue that work,” commented a relative. Format and Inspiration One of the founders of the festival indicated that the medal – unveiled at a scientific institution – will likely include several divisions. “It’s going to be very much similar to the Stephen Hawking award honoring scientific outreach established exactly 10 years ago,” it was explained. Jane Goodall was a recipient of that very medal. Expressing concern about the future of the planet, a prominent voice remarked, “Honestly, it's challenging to be optimistic. Present governance in one major nation represents a dismissal of evidence. This situation really cripples collective action.” “To be honest, things don’t look very good so we have to commence thinking again, with greater urgency about the consequences of our actions. This concern encompasses not only global warming, that’s the whole way in which we interact with nature.” A Call to Action Consequently, observers believe this is a good time to honor Goodall’s example. “I think that in bestowing this medal, the focus will be on this core philosophy that Jane embodied – that was her foremost concern, to change the way we treat wildlife with which we share the planet.” A pressing concern at present is the proliferation of misinformation. The theme of next year’s Starmus festival is set as “the pursuit of factual understanding”. “It has become apparent that factual reality has become a matter of debate when politics is involved. And it’s an alarming trend,” it was said. “The climate science is a science; you cannot have any influence by political agendas in this field.” Hope and Determination The hope remains that the medal will spur positive change. “The purpose is motivating others to engage and to show concern and to work toward these goals, really. Whether or not we feel hopeful, we have to look at doing the best we can,” it was added. “Accept the possibility of setbacks, but you still have to work toward success.” A family member engaged in environmental protection shared optimism that “given direction and once enabled, humanity are capable of being diligent stewards of Earth”, highlighting the initiatives of an institute that, in addition to its projects, assists the next generation get involved locally, animals, and the natural world. “As my late grandmother often emphasized, the choices we make each day make a difference and it is up to us what type of impact we make,” he said. “We still have an opportunity and the Starmus Jane Goodall Earth medal will offer support and increase understanding regarding the positive actions that people are making.”