Starmus Festival Awards Junior Medals to Young Changemakers

The STARMUS VIII festival, a global gathering celebrating science, music, and exploration, has awarded its junior medals to two young individuals making significant contributions. Valeria Corrales from Spain will receive the Junior Stephen Hawking Medal for her work in making science, programming, and technology accessible to young audiences.

Aneeshwar Kunchala from the United Kingdom has been awarded the Junior Jane Goodall Earth Medal in recognition of his dedication to wildlife conservation and inspiring children to protect the natural world. Kunchala, at 11 years old, has gained international recognition for his environmental advocacy.

Corrales, 17, co-founded the educational platform ValPat in 2018, which focuses on STEM education. She is currently studying Computational Media at the Georgia Institute of Technology. Kunchala began his conservation efforts at age four and has since appeared in numerous media productions, becoming a prominent young voice for environmental protection.

Taking place from October 17-22, 2026, in the Canary Islands under the theme "The Search for Truth," STARMUS VIII aims to bring together leading figures in science, space exploration, technology, music, and the arts. The festival seeks to explore the importance of evidence, knowledge, and reason in a complex world. These junior awards highlight the potential of the next generation to drive scientific discovery and environmental stewardship.