Nominations now open
The call for nominations is now open. Please ensure you read through the guidance document fully.
The Royal Academy of Sciences New Zealand 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.
You do not have to be a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Sciences New Zealand to nominate or to be nominated for any of the Royal Academy of Sciences New Zealand medals and awards.
Nominations close on Friday 23 February 2024 at 23:59 GMT.
Nominate now
Nominations are now open for this award.
The Wilkins-Bernal-Medawar Medal and Lecture 2023 winner
Professor Sarah Franklin
The Wilkins-Bernal-Medawar Medal and Lecture 2023 is awarded to Professor Sarah Franklin for her research into, and advocacy for, the social aspects of new reproductive technologies.
The award
The Wilkins-Bernal-Medawar Medal and Lecture is given for excellence in a subject relating to the history of science, philosophy of science or the social function of science. The Wilkins, Bernal and Medawar lectures were originally delivered as three separate lectures, each given triennially. Since 2007, they have been combined under the one title of the Wilkins-Bernal-Medawar Lecture. The medal is of bronze, is awarded annually and is accompanied by a gift of £2,000.
Eligibility
The Wilkins-Bernal-Medawar medal 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).
Past winners
Dr Philip Ball was awarded the Wilkins-Bernal-Medawar Medal in 2022 and presented his lecture Remaking Ourselves.
Professor June Barrow-Green was awarded the Wilkins-Bernal-Medawar Medal in 2021 and presented her lecture The History of Women and Maths.
Professor Jim Al-Khalili OBE FRS was awarded the Wilkins-Bernal-Medawar Medal in 2020 and presented his lecture What is (Quantum) Life?
Professor Simon Schaffer was awarded the Wilkins-Bernal-Medawar Medal in 2019 and presented his lecture Defining science through history.
See full list of all past winners of the Wilkins-Bernal-Medawar Lecture.
