RSC Medals

Premier Royal Society Medals and Awards

The Royal Society is encouraging nominations of joint collaborations, groups or teams for almost all its medals to better represent how contemporary science is undertaken. In addition, the Society is extremely keen to broaden the diversity of those nominated for its awards, so do please consider all contacts and colleagues. 

Premier awards

• Copley Medal - The world's oldest scientific prize will be awarded in 2023 for sustained, outstanding achievements in any field of biological sciences. Open to international nominations.
• Royal Medals - For outstanding achievements in the biological, physical and applied sciences.
• Croonian Medal and Lecture - The premier lecture in biological sciences. Open to international nominations.
• Bakerian Medal and Lecture - The premier lecture in physical sciences. Open to international nominations.

Biological awards

• Buchanan Medal - For distinguished contributions to the biomedical sciences.
• Darwin Medal - For work of distinction in evolution, biological diversity and developmental, population and organismal biology.
• Francis Crick Medal and Lecture - For any field in the biological sciences. Preference is given to genetics, molecular biology and neurobiology, the general areas in which Francis Crick worked, and to fundamental theoretical work, which was the hallmark of Crick’s science.
• Ferrier Medal and Lecture - Given on a subject related to the advancement of natural knowledge on the structure and function of the nervous system

Physical awards

• Davy Medal - For outstanding contributions in the field of chemistry.
• Hughes Medal - For outstanding contributions in the field of energy.
• Rising Star Africa Prize - To recognise early-career research scientists based in Africa who are making an innovative contribution to the physical, mathematical and engineering sciences.
• Royal Society Armourers & Brasiers' Company Prize - For excellence in basic research in functional or structural materials where the research is clearly motivated by use of these materials
• Royal Society Milner Award - For outstanding achievement in computer science by a European researcher.
• Rumford Medal - For outstanding contributions in the field of physics.
• Sylvester Medal - For outstanding contributions in the field of mathematics.

Interdisciplinary awards and those celebrating the communication of science

• Gabor Medal - For distinction of interdisciplinary work between the life sciences with other disciplines.
• Michael Faraday Prize and Lecture - To the scientist or engineer whose expertise in communicating scientific ideas in lay terms is exemplary.
• Royal Society Africa Prize - To recognise research scientists based in Africa who are making an innovative contribution to the biological or physical sciences which contributes significantly to capacity building in Africa.
• Royal Society Athena Prize - To a team who have contributed most to the advancement of diversity in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) within their communities.
• Royal Society David Attenborough Award and Lecture - For outstanding and sustained public engagement with science.
• Royal Society Hauksbee Award - For outstanding achievements in science to an individual or team whose work is mostly ‘behind the scenes’ or in support, including technicians, research office staff or other contributors who might not normally be recognised.
• Royal Society Mullard Award - For individuals or teams whose work has the potential to make a contribution to national prosperity.
• Royal Society Research Culture Award - For outstanding and sustained work in the improvement of the research system/research culture.
• Rosalind Franklin Award - To an individual with an established track record of very high standing in any area of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) for their project to support the promotion of women in STEM.
• Wilkins-Bernal-Medawar Medal and Lecture - Given on a subject relating to the history of science, philosophy of science or the social function of science.

Related Faculties: Math, Science, Engineering

Bancroft Award

Flavelle Medal

Henry Marshall Tory Medal

Innis-Gérin Medal

Jason A. Hannah Medal

J.B. Tyrell Historical Medal

John L. Synge Award

Lorne Pierce Medal

McLaughlin Medal

Michael P. Paidoussis Medal

Miroslaw Romanowski Medal

Pierre Chauveau Medal

Rutherford Memorial Medal

Sir John William Dawson Medal

Ursula Franklin Award in Gender Studies

Willet G. Miller Medal

Yvan Allaire Medal