Royal Medal

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Royal Medal

The Royal Medal, also known as the Queen's Medal, is a prestigious award given annually by the Royal Society of London. Established by King George IV in 1825, the Royal Medal is awarded for the most important contributions to the advancement of natural knowledge. The award is given in three categories: two for the most important contributions to the advancement of "natural knowledge" in the physical and biological sciences, and one for distinguished contributions in the applied sciences.

History

The Royal Medal was first awarded in 1826, following its establishment by King George IV. The medals were initially awarded for the most important discoveries in the physical and biological sciences. Over time, the scope of the award has expanded to include applied sciences, reflecting the evolving nature of scientific research and its applications.

Criteria

The Royal Medal is awarded based on the significance of the contributions to the advancement of natural knowledge. The recipients are selected by the Council of the Royal Society, which considers nominations from the scientific community. The criteria for selection include the originality and impact of the research, as well as the overall contribution to the field.

Notable Recipients

Over the years, many distinguished scientists have received the Royal Medal. Some notable recipients include:

• Michael Faraday (1835) - for his work in electromagnetism and electrochemistry.
• Charles Darwin (1864) - for his contributions to the theory of evolution.
• James Clerk Maxwell (1860) - for his work in electromagnetism.
• Dorothy Hodgkin (1956) - for her work on the structure of biomolecules.

Presentation

The Royal Medal is presented annually at the Royal Society's Anniversary Day meeting on November 30th. The award consists of a gold medal and a monetary prize. The recipients are invited to deliver a lecture on their work, which is often published in the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society.

Related Awards

The Royal Medal is one of several prestigious awards given by the Royal Society. Other notable awards include the Copley Medal, the Rumford Medal, and the Davy Medal.

See Also

• Royal Society
• Copley Medal
• Rumford Medal
• Davy Medal
• Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society