🔗 Share this article

Our planet might be under strain, however optimism persists. A fresh honor originating at the interdisciplinary festival Starmus seeks to inspire the public to act.

The medal will be given in honour of the esteemed British primatologist who died this year. It is designed to celebrate individuals and groups that protect our planet's biodiversity.

Honoring a Legacy

Initial honorees are slated for announcement during the upcoming Starmus event in the Canary Islands, which will run from 17–22 October the coming year.

Reports indicate that Jane Goodall, who was a Starmus advisory board member, had endorsed the medal's establishment. “The vision behind this medal, and the festival being tasked with organising it, is Jane’s,” a statement said. “Her desire was she would like for this to occur. This is likely due to the unique relationship she had with us.”

“This medal aims to highlight sustainable programmes carried out to make our world improved for all living beings and ecosystems and foster motivation to carry on that work,” said a family member.

Structure and Vision

One of the founders of Starmus indicated that the medal – which was announced at a scientific institution – would probably encompass various fields.

“The intent is for it to be inspired by the Stephen Hawking medal for science communication that we created a decade past,” he explained. Jane Goodall was an honoree of that award.

Sharing thoughts on the outlook of the planet, a prominent voice said, “Honestly, it's challenging to maintain optimism. Certain policies globally is conducting a dismissal of evidence. This situation undermines collective action.”

“To be honest, things don’t look particularly bright so we have to really start thinking again, more deeply about the consequences of human activity. This concern encompasses not only global warming, that’s the whole way that we treat nature.”

Following an Example

Therefore, observers believe it was a good time to emulate Goodall’s example. “I think that when we’re awarding the prize, we will be considering this core philosophy that Jane embodied – which made her foremost concern, to change the way we treat the other animals with which we share the planet.”

A major topic currently was highlighted of disinformation. The theme of next year’s festival is set as “the pursuit of factual understanding”.

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

Hope and Determination

The hope remains that the medal can motivate action. “It focuses on encouraging people to engage and to care and to work toward these goals, truly. Whether or not we’re optimistic, we must focus on doing all that is possible,” a statement concluded. “Be prepared for setbacks, but you still continue striving to achieve positive outcomes.”

A family member engaged in environmental protection shared confidence that “given direction and once enabled, humanity are capable of being responsible caretakers of our planet”, citing the work of a foundation which, among its other activities, empowers the next generation get involved locally, wildlife, and environment.

“As Jane Goodall constantly told everyone, our daily actions make a difference and the responsibility lies with us the kind of difference we choose to create,” it was stated. “We still have an opportunity and this medal will offer support and increase understanding about constructive efforts currently in progress.”