Starmus VIII Awarded Junior Science and Earth Medals
The international science festival recognized two young contributors for their work in STEM education and wildlife conservation.
Updated on Oct. 10, 2026 in Science — General
Live Poll
Should organizations prioritize recognizing the contributions of young people in science and conservation fields?
Starmus VIII organizers have announced Valeria Corrales and Aneeshwar Kunchala as the recipients of this year's Junior medals. The awards recognize significant contributions to technology education and biodiversity advocacy, respectively.
Why it matters
These awards spotlight the growing influence of youth-led digital platforms and public outreach in shaping the next generation of scientific and environmental engagement. The festival distinguishes achievements in technical literacy alongside efforts to protect global biodiversity.
Valeria Corrales's platform, ValPat, currently hosts over 750 instructional videos and maintains a subscriber base of 240,000. These resources were scaled following a series of 100 consecutive days of free online STEM classes provided during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The players
Valeria Corrales
An award-winning computational media student at the Georgia Institute of Technology who co-founded the STEM-focused platform ValPat.
Aneeshwar Kunchala
A youth advocate for wildlife conservation who holds three Guinness World Records and creates documentary content for major international broadcasters.
The details
The Junior Stephen Hawking Medal honors work in science, programming, and technology education, a field where Corrales utilizes her computational media studies at the Georgia Institute of Technology to design digital pedagogy. Aneeshwar Kunchala received the Junior Jane Goodall Earth Medal for his work in wildlife conservation and biodiversity advocacy, which he communicates through content produced for major networks including the BBC, Sky Kids, and Channel 5.
Timeline
2018: Valeria Corrales co-founded the educational platform ValPat.
2023: Valeria Corrales was named to the Forbes Spain 23 Changemakers list.
2025: Valeria Corrales was named a finalist for the Princess of Girona award.
October 10, 2026: STARMUS VIII officially announced the junior medal winners.
October 17-22, 2026: The awards will be presented at the STARMUS VIII festival in the Canary Islands.
The Tech Race
The festival continues to position itself as a central hub for celebrating the intersection of science communication and global outreach. By formalizing these junior medals, the organizers are prioritizing the development of a pipeline for future scientific leaders.
Those interested in attending the event or monitoring the award presentation can track upcoming programming scheduled for the Canary Islands. The festival's educational resources and lecture series are designed to be accessible to students and the broader public interested in technical fields.
The takeaway
The recognition of these young innovators highlights a shift toward valuing digital-first public engagement as a pillar of scientific success. Keep an eye on the official festival schedule for the October 17-22, 2026 event for further announcements regarding the presentation of these awards.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest developments and honors within the field at Science — General.
More information
View complete Starmus VIII information and tickets for event details.
Live Poll
Should organizations prioritize recognizing the contributions of young people in science and conservation fields?
