The Royal Society launches annual Environment Medal and Lecture

The Royal Society has added a new award to its prestigious annual medals and awards programme.

The Royal Society Environment Medal and Lecture will be awarded to an individual or team for outstanding and sustained work in environmental science. Nominations for the new medal will open on Friday 29 November 2024.

The winner will be selected by the Joint Awards Committee, made up of Fellows from the Royal Society’s Physical Sciences Awards Committee and the Biological Sciences Awards Committee. This reflects the broad scope and interdisciplinary nature of environmental science. The judges will look for evidence of research that has had a significant impact in the field of environmental science.

Professor Sheila Rowan CBE FRS, Physical Secretary of the Royal Society, said:

“Climate change and the associated threat to biodiversity are a real and present danger that is having a deadly impact around the world.

“Research underpins our ability to understand our environment, which is critical for solving these challenges. With the launch of this medal and lecture I hope we can draw attention to some of the fantastic research being done in this area, and its ability to help us impact our environment for the better.”

Dame Linda Partridge DBE FMedSci FRS, Biological Secretary of the Royal Society, said:

“The Royal Society has been a leader on the science of climate change for decades and this new medal reflects our strong commitment to ensuring that the harms and risks of climate change are addressed.

“The award will rightly recognise and celebrate the brilliant research being done to tackle the enormous environmental challenges that we face. Environmental science has never been of greater importance for the global future.”

The Environment Medal, which will be awarded annually, is open to scientists at any career stage, and specifically to citizens and residents of the UK, the Republic of Ireland or a Commonwealth country. The winner will deliver a public lecture at the Royal Society in London, and will receive a bronze medal, a commemorative scroll and a gift of £2,000.

The award winner will be selected from the nominations received. The nomination of a candidate is made via the Royal Society website. Candidates cannot nominate themselves. The winner will be announced in the summer of 2025 and the inaugural prize lecture will take place in 2026.