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Earth might be under pressure, however optimism persists. A fresh honor originating at the science, music and arts festival the Starmus festival seeks to inspire the public to act.

This new Earth medal bearing Jane Goodall's name will be given in honour of the esteemed scientist and conservationist who passed away this year. It seeks to acknowledge those who advocate for the natural world.

The Medal's Framework

The first recipients are expected to be announced during the upcoming Starmus event in the Canary Islands, which will run from October 17th to 22nd the coming year.

It was shared that Goodall, a former member of the festival's board, had supported the medal's establishment. “The concept behind this award, 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 because of the very special bond she shared with us.”

“This medal will recognize sustainable programmes carried out to create a planet improved for all living beings and ecosystems and foster motivation for the continuation such efforts,” said a family member.

Format and Inspiration

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

“It will be very much similar to the Stephen Hawking award honoring scientific outreach that we created a decade past,” it was explained. Jane Goodall was a recipient of that very medal.

Sharing thoughts on the outlook of the planet, a prominent voice stated, “Honestly, it’s very hard to maintain optimism. Present governance in one major nation represents a war on science. So this really cripples the world’s efforts.”

“Realistically, things don’t look very good so we have to commence thinking again, more deeply about the consequences of human activity. This concern encompasses not only global warming, that’s the whole way in which we interact with nature.”

Following an Example

As a result, observers believe this is a good time to emulate her guiding principles. “I think that in bestowing this medal, we will be considering this essential spirit of Jane’s – that was her foremost concern, to change our relationship with the other animals around us.”

Another key issue at present is the proliferation of misinformation. The focus of next year’s festival is set as “the search for truth”.

“It has become apparent that factual reality is becoming contested when politics is involved. This is an alarming trend,” he commented. “The science of climate remains a scientific discipline; it is impossible to have any influence by political agendas in this field.”

Optimism and Resolve

The aspiration remains that the medal will inspire action. “It’s about encouraging people to engage and to show concern and to work toward these goals, really. Whether or not we feel hopeful, we have to focus on doing the best we can,” it was added. “Accept the possibility of setbacks, but you still continue striving toward success.”

A family member involved in conservation work shared confidence that “given direction and once enabled, humans are capable of being diligent stewards of Earth”, pointing to the programs of an institute which, in addition to its projects, assists the next generation get involved with their community, wildlife, and environment.

“As my late grandmother constantly told everyone, the choices we make each day make a difference and the responsibility lies with us what type of impact we choose to create,” he said. “It is not too late and the Starmus Jane Goodall Earth medal will give encouragement and increase understanding about the positive actions currently in progress.”