/ Medals and awards

Michael Faraday Prize and Lecture

This award is given for excellence in communicating science to UK audiences.

  • Opening date

  • Closing date

  • Winners announcement

    Exact date TBC

The award

The Royal Society Michael Faraday Prize and Lecture is awarded annually to the scientist or engineer whose expertise in communicating scientific ideas in lay terms is exemplary. The award is named after Michael Faraday FRS, the influential inventor and electrical pioneer who was prominent in the public communication of science and founded the Christmas lectures at the Royal Institution. The medal is of silver gilt, is awarded annually and is accompanied by a gift of £2,500.

Eligibility

The Michael Faraday prize and lecture is open to UK/Commonwealth/Irish Republic citizens or those who have been residents for three or more years. There are no restrictions on career stage and nominations will remain valid and shall be considered by the award selection committee throughout three nomination cycles.

For further information on the eligibility criteria and the nominations process, please see our guidance (PDF).  

Nominations are closed

Nominations will reopen in November 2024.

2024 winner

  • Professor Salim Safurdeen Abdool Karim FRS

    Professor Salim Safurdeen Abdool Karim FRS

    The Michael Faraday Prize and Lecture 2024 is awarded to Professor Salim Safurdeen Abdool Karim FRS for his scientific leadership, policy advice, epidemiological analyses, and articulate public education, while actively countering disinformation in Africa, particularly South Africa, during the Covid-19 pandemic. Picture credit: Matthew Henning.

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Past winners

  • Anil K Seth
    Awarded in 2023

    Professor Anil K Seth

    For his ability to inspire and communicate concepts and advances in cognitive neuroscience and consciousness, and therefore what it means to be human, to the public.
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    Awarded in 2022

    Professor Monica Grady CBE

    Delivered lecture: 'Astronomy by Microscope'.
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    Awarded in 2021

    Professor Sophie Scott CBE FBA FMedSci

    Delivered lecture: 'Funny, peculiar? The Science of Laughter'.
  • David Spiegelhalter
    Awarded in 2020

    Sir David Spiegelhalter OBE FRS

    Delivered lecture: 'Communicating statistics in the time of Covid'.
  • Martyn Poliakoff
    Awarded in 2019

    Sir Martyn Poliakoff CBE FREng FRS

    Delivered lecture: 'The elements of chemistry'.
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    Awarded in 2018

    Professor Danielle George

    Delivered lecture: 'Thinkering': a solution to the Engineering Grand Challenges?'.
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    Awarded in 2017

    Mark Miodownik

    Delivered lecture: 'Can materials science save us (from ourselves)'.
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    Awarded in 2016

    Nick Lane

    Delivered lecture: 'Why is life the way it is?'.
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    Awarded in 2015

    Professor Katherine Willis

    Delivered lecture: 'Genes to beans: polyploidy on a plate'.
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    Awarded in 2014

    Professor Andrea Sella

    Delivered lecture: 'Is chemistry really so difficult?'.
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    Awarded in 2013

    Frank Close

    Delivered lecture: 'For his excellence in science communication'.
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    Awarded in 2012

    Brian Cox

    Delivered lecture: 'Making Britain the best place in the world to do science'.