/ Medals and awards

Sylvester Medal

This medal is awarded for mathematical research.

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  • Opening date

  • Closing date

  • Winners announcement

    Exact date TBC

The award

The Sylvester Medal is awarded annually for outstanding contributions in the field of mathematics. The award was created in memory of the mathematician James Joseph Sylvester FRS (PDF), who was Savilian Professor of Geometry at the University of Oxford in the 1880s. It was first awarded in 1901. The medal is of bronze, is now awarded annually and is accompanied by a gift of £2,000. 

Eligibility

The Sylvester medal is open to UK/Commonwealth/Republic of Ireland 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. Teams or groups may now be nominated for this award.

Nominations are now open

Nominations are now open and will close on 21 February 2025. 

2024 winner

  • Professor Philip Maini FRS

    Professor Philip Maini FRS

    The Sylvester Medal 2024 is awarded to Professor Philip Maini FRS for his contributions to mathematical biology, especially the interdisciplinary modelling of biomedical phenomena and systems. Professor Maini would like to thank Professor James D Murray FRS and Professor Timothy J Pedley FRS for their contributions to this work.

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Past winners

  • Miles Reid
    Awarded in 2023

    Professor Miles Reid FRS

    For his exceptionally creative research and fundamental insights into higher-dimensional algebraic geometry, in particular the minimal model program for 3-folds, and for untiring work for the community of algebraic geometers.
  • Professor D.R. Heath-Brown FRS
    Awarded in 2022

    Professor D.R. Heath-Brown FRS

    For his many important contributions to the study of prime numbers and solutions to equations in integers.
  • Frances Kirwan
    Awarded in 2021

    Professor Frances Kirwan DBE FRS

    For her research on quotients in algebraic geometry, including links with symplectic geometry and topology, which has had many applications.
  • Bryan Birch
    Awarded in 2020

    Professor Bryan Birch FRS

    His work has played a major role in driving the theory of elliptic curves, through the Birch-Swinnerton-Dyer conjecture and the theory of Heegner points.
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    Awarded in 2019

    Professor Peter Sarnak FRS

    For transformational contributions across number theory, combinatorics, analysis and geometry.
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    Awarded in 2018

    Professor Dusa McDuff FRS

    For leading the development of the new field of symplectic geometry and topology. Her outstanding work includes many fundamental theorems and she has been inspirational for generations of mathematicians.
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    Awarded in 2016

    Sir Timothy Gowers FRS

    For his groundbreaking results in the theory of Banach spaces, pure combinatorics, and additive number theory.
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    Awarded in 2014

    Professor Ben Green FRS

    For his famous result on primes in arithmetic progression, and his subsequent proofs of a number of spectacular theorems over the last five to ten years.
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    Awarded in 2012

    Professor John Toland FRS

    For his original theorems and remarkable discoveries in nonlinear partial differential equations, including applications to water waves.
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    Awarded in 2010

    Dr Graeme Segal FRS

    For his highly influential and elegant work on the development of topology, geometry and quantum field theory, bridging the gap between physics and pure mathematics.
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    Awarded in 2009

    Sir John Ball FRS

    For his seminal work in mechanics and nonlinear analysis and his encouragement of mathematical research in developing countries.
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    Awarded in 2006

    Sir Peter Swinnerton-Dyer Bt KBE FRS

    For his fundamental work in arithmetic geometry and his many contributions to the theory of ordinary differential equations.