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Earth might be under strain, but there is hope. A fresh honor originating at the science, music and arts festival Starmus will inspire the public to act.

This new Earth medal bearing Jane Goodall's name will be given in honour of the celebrated British primatologist who passed away this year. It is designed to celebrate those who advocate for the natural world.

Honoring a Legacy

The first recipients are slated for announcement during the Starmus VIII festival in Tenerife and La Palma, which will run from October 17th to 22nd next year.

Reports indicate that Goodall, who was a Starmus advisory board member, had endorsed the medal's establishment. “The idea of having this medal, and Starmus being entrusted to oversee it, was Jane's wish,” a statement said. “She expressed that she wanted for this to occur. And I think due to the unique bond she had with us.”

“The Starmus Jane Goodall Earth medal will acknowledge enduring projects carried out to build an environment a better place for all living beings and ecosystems and offer support to carry on that work,” commented a relative.

Format and Inspiration

A co-founder of the festival noted that the medal – which was announced at a scientific institution – would probably include several divisions.

“It’s going to be modeled after the Stephen Hawking medal honoring scientific outreach established a decade past,” he explained. Goodall was an honoree of that award.

Sharing thoughts about the future for Earth, one figure remarked, “To be truthful, it's challenging to feel hopeful. Present governance in one major nation is conducting an assault on knowledge. This situation really cripples collective action.”

“To be honest, things don’t look particularly bright so we have to really start reconsidering, with greater urgency regarding the impact of human activity. This concern encompasses not only global warming, but also the whole way that we treat nature.”

Following an Example

Therefore, it was noted it was an opportune moment to emulate her guiding principles. “I think that when we’re awarding this medal, we will be considering this core philosophy that Jane embodied – that was her priority, to transform the way we treat the other animals with which we share the planet.”

A pressing concern currently was highlighted of false information. The theme of next year’s Starmus festival will be “the pursuit of factual understanding”.

“There is a recognition that factual reality has become contested when politics is involved. This is a very dangerous thing,” it was said. “Climate research remains a scientific discipline; it is impossible to allow interference from politics in climate science.”

Hope and Determination

The aspiration remains that the medal will inspire concrete steps. “It’s about motivating others to participate and to show concern and to strive in that direction, truly. Regardless of if we’re optimistic, we must look at working all that is possible,” it was added. “Accept the possibility of failure, yet we must continue striving toward success.”

A descendant involved in conservation work shared optimism that “given direction and when empowered, humans are capable of being diligent stewards of Earth”, highlighting the work of an institute that, in addition to its projects, empowers the next generation get involved locally, animals, and the natural world.

“As my late grandmother often told everyone, our daily actions make a difference and the responsibility lies with us what type of impact we choose to create,” it was stated. “It is not too late and the Starmus Jane Goodall Earth medal will offer support and increase understanding about constructive efforts that people are making.”