Darwin Medal

Charles Darwin, for whom the award is named

The Darwin Medal is awarded by the Royal Society every alternate year for "work of acknowledged distinction in the broad area of biology in which Charles Darwin worked".[1] First awarded in 1890, it was created in memory of Charles Darwin and is presented with a £1000 prize. As with most of the Royal Society's medals, nominees must come from the Commonwealth of Nations, with the requirement that they be either a citizen of a nation within the Commonwealth or have lived in such a nation for at least three years before the nomination.[2] Since its creation the medal has been awarded to 64 individuals, including Francis Darwin, Charles Darwin's son, and two married couples, Jack and Yolande Heslop-Harrison in 1982 and Peter and Rosemary Grant in 2002.[1] The medal was first awarded to Alfred Russel Wallace, a noted biologist and naturalist who had independently developed the Theory of Evolution by Natural Selection.[3] It was most recently won by Geoff Parker 'for his lifetime contribution to the foundations and development of behavioural ecology, in particular for understanding evolutionary adaptations and their consequences for natural populations'.[4]

List of recipients

Year Name Rationale[1][3][4][5]
1890 Wallace, Alfred RusselAlfred Russel Wallace 'For his independent origination of the theory of the origin of species by natural selection.'
1892 Hooker, Joseph DaltonJoseph Dalton Hooker 'On account of his important contributions to the progress of systematic botany, as evidenced by the "Genera Plantarum" and the "Flora Indica"; but more especially on account of his intimate association with Mr. Darwin in the studies preliminary to the "Origin of Species".'
1894 Huxley, Thomas HenryThomas Henry Huxley 'For his researches in comparative anatomy, and especially for his intimate association with Mr. Darwin in relation to the "Origin of Species".'
1896 Battista Grassi, GiovanniGiovanni Battista Grassi 'For his researches on the life history and societies of the Termitidae, and on the developmental relationship between Leptocephalus and the common eel and other muraenidae.'
1898 Pearson, KarlKarl Pearson 'For his work on the quantitative treatment of biological problems.'
1900 Haeckel, ErnstErnst Haeckel 'For his long-continued and and [sic] highly important work in zoology all of which has been inspired by the spirit of Darwinism.'
1902 Galton, FrancisFrancis Galton 'For his numerous contributions to the exact study of heredity & variation contained in "Hereditary Genius", "Natural Inheritance", and other writings.'
1904 Bateson, WilliamWilliam Bateson 'For his important contribution to the theory of organic evolution by his researches on variation and heredity.'
1906 Vries, Hugo deHugo de Vries 'On the ground of the significance and extent of his experimental investigations in heredity & Variation.'
1908 Weismann, AugustAugust Weismann 'On the ground of his eminent services in support of the doctrine of evolution by means of natural selection.'
1910 Trimen, RolandRoland Trimen 'On the ground of his South African bionomic researches, in large part undertaken as the outcome of correspondence with Charles Darwin.'
1912 Darwin, FrancisFrancis Darwin 'On the ground of his work in conjunction with Charles Darwin, and his researches in vegetable physiology.'
1914 Bagnall Poulton, EdwardEdward Bagnall Poulton 'On the ground of his researches in heredity.'
1916 Delage, YvesYves Delage 'On the ground of researches in zoology and biology.'
1918 Fairfield Osborn, HenryHenry Fairfield Osborn 'For his valuable researches on vertebrate morphology and palaeontology.'
1920 Biffen, Rowland H.Rowland H. Biffen 'On the ground of his work on scientific principles applied to the breeding of plants.'
1922 Punnett, Reginald C.Reginald C. Punnett 'For his researches in the science of genetics.'
1924 Hunt Morgan, ThomasThomas Hunt Morgan 'For his valuable work in zoology and more especially his researches on heredity and cytology.'
1926 Scott, Dukinfield HenryDukinfield Henry Scott 'For his contributions to palaeophytology, particularly in relation to the period of coal.'
1928 Cockayne, LeonardLeonard Cockayne 'For the eminence of his contributions to ecological botany.'
1930 Schmidt, JohannesJohannes Schmidt 'For his work on extended oceanographical expeditions; and for his genetic studies in animals and plants.'
1932 Erich Correns, CarlCarl Erich Correns 'As one of the three independent discoverers of Mendels publications; and for his distinguished researches in genetics.'
1934 Seward, Albert CharlesAlbert Charles Seward 'In recognition of his work as a palaeobotanist.'
1936 Johnson Allen, EdgarEdgar Johnson Allen 'In recognition of his long continued work for the advancement of marine biology, not only by his own researches but by the great influence he has exerted on very numerous investigations at Plymouth.'
1938 Orpen Bower, FrederickFrederick Orpen Bower 'In recognition of his work of acknowledged distinction in the field in which Darwin himself laboured.'
1940 Hill, James PeterJames Peter Hill 'For his contributions to the solution of problems bearing on the inter-relationships of the main groups of the Mammalia and on the phylogenetic history of the primates, a subject with which Charles Darwin himself was much concerned.'
1942 Watson, D. M. S.D. M. S. Watson 'In recognition of his researches on primitive fishes and amphibians which have much advanced the knowledge of the evolution of these groups of animals.'
1944 Gardiner, John StanleyJohn Stanley Gardiner 'In recognition of his work on coral reefs and on the organisms associated with such habitats.'
1946 Thompson, D’ArcyD’Arcy Thompson 'In recognition of his outstanding contributions to the development of biology.'
1948 Fisher, RonaldRonald Fisher 'In recognition of his distinguished contributions to the theory of natural selection, the concept of its gene complex and the evolution of dominance.'
1950 Fritsch, Felix EugenFelix Eugen Fritsch 'For his distinguished contributions to the study of algology.'
1952 Haldane, J.B.S.J.B.S. Haldane 'In recognition of his initiation of the modern phase of the study of the evolution of living populations.'
1954 Ford, E.B.E.B. Ford 'In recognition of his distinguished contributions to the genetical theory of evolution by natural selection, particularly in natural populations.'
1956 Sorell Huxley, JulianJulian Sorell Huxley 'In recognition of his distinguished contributions to the study and theory of evolution.'
1958 Beer, Gavin deGavin de Beer 'In recognition of his distinguished contributions to evolutionary biology.'
1960 Corner, E. J. H.E. J. H. Corner 'In recognition of his distinguished and strikingly original botanical work in tropical forests.'
1962 Gaylord Simpson, GeorgeGeorge Gaylord Simpson 'In recognition of his distinguished contributions to general evolutionary theory, based on a profound study of palaeontology, particularly of vertebrates.'
1964 Mather, KennethKenneth Mather 'In recognition of his distinguished contributions to knowledge of cytology and genetics.'
1966 Munro Fox, HaroldHarold Munro Fox 'In recognition of his distinguished and extensive contributions in the field of invertebrate zoology and to our understanding of general biological phenomena.'
1968 Yonge, MauriceMaurice Yonge 'In recognition of his many distinguished contributions to evolutionary biology, particularly of the mollusca.'
1970 Sutherland Elton, CharlesCharles Sutherland Elton 'In recognition of the basic concepts he has contributed to the study of animal ecology which, with his foundation of the Bureau of Animal Population, have had international impact.'
1972 Lack, DavidDavid Lack 'In recognition of his distinguished and numerous contributions to ornithology and to our understanding of evolutionary mechanisms.'
1974 Sheppard, PhilipPhilip Sheppard 'In recognition of his outstanding work on natural populations of butterflies, describing and explaining the operation of natural selection and demonstrating the genetic basis upon which selection operates.'
1976 Auerbach, CharlotteCharlotte Auerbach 'In recognition of her discovery of and continuing work on chemical mutagenesis.'
1978 Pontecorvo, GuidoGuido Pontecorvo 'In recognition of his discovery of somatic recombination in fungi which led to the elucidation of an important type of genetic variation.'
1980 Wright, SewallSewall Wright 'In recognition of his outstanding contributions to genetics and evolutionary theory.'
1982 Heslop-Harrison, JackJack Heslop-Harrison and Yolande Heslop-Harrison 'In recognition of their major contributions to plant physiology including fundamental studies on insectivorous plants, much of this research carried out jointly.'
1984 Mayr, ErnstErnst Mayr 'In recognition of his distinguished contributions to evolutionary biology.
1986 Maynard Smith, JohnJohn Maynard Smith 'In recognition of his outstanding success in combining mathematics with biology to enhance our understanding of evolution, in particular the evolution of sex.'
1988 Hamilton, W.D.W.D. Hamilton 'In recognition of his distinguished work on evolutionary theory. His contributions include the theory of kin selction [sic] to account for altruistic behaviour and the theoretical demonstration of a link between disease resistance and the evolution of sex.'
1990 Harper, JohnJohn Harper 'For his research on the population biology and evolution of plants which has greatly improved understanding of the adaptation of plants to their environment.'
1992 Kimura, MotooMotoo Kimura 'Distinguished for his work on molecular evolution, in particular on the role of stochastic events in determining the rate of evolution.'
1994 Lawrence, PeterPeter Lawrence 'In recognition of his analysis of pattern formation during insect segmentation, and of his contribution to understanding how genetic processes specify spatial information.'
1996 Sulston, JohnJohn Sulston 'In recognition of his leadership in the study of genome analysis with the potential to have a profound impact on the whole of biology.'
1998 Gale, MichaelMichael Gale and Graham Moore 'In recognition of their work on cereal genome organization and evolution which has revolutionized cereal genetics by showing that the genetics of all the different cereals can be considered in a common framework.'
2000 Charlesworth, BrianBrian Charlesworth 'In recognition of his distinguished work on selection in age-structured populations, extending the theory to the evolution of ageing, and testing the theories of mutation accumulation and pleiotropy, developing models for the evolution of genetic systems, including sex and recombination, inbreeding and outbreeding, separate sexes and sex chromosomes, segregation distortion and repetitive DNA.'
2002 Grant, Peter and RosemaryPeter and Rosemary Grant 'for their fundamental work on the ecology, breeding and evolution of Darwins finches on the Galapagos islands. This work has become the classic example of Darwinian evolution in the wild.'
2004 Coen, EnricoEnrico Coen and Rosemary Carpenter 'for their ground-breaking discoveries about the control of flower development. They have combined molecular and genetic approaches to answer some of Darwins key questions about the natural variation of floral form and the evolution of floral development.'
2006 Barton, NickNick Barton 'for his major and extensive contributions to evolutionary biology, characterised by the application of sophisticated mathematical analysis but focussed on developing biological understanding rather than mathematical niceties.'
2008 Parker, GeoffGeoff Parker 'for his lifetime contribution to the foundations and development of behavioural ecology, in particular for understanding evolutionary adaptations and their consequences for natural populations.'
2010 Clarke, BryanBryan Clarke 'for his original and influential contributions to our understanding of the genetic basis of evolution.'

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "The Darwin Medal (1890)". The Royal Society. http://royalsociety.org/page.asp?id=1758. Retrieved 2008-12-15. 
  2. ↑ "Royal Society". National Institute for Health Research. http://rdfunding.org.uk/Queries/ListGrantDetails.asp?GrantID=11932. Retrieved 2008-12-30. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Darwin archive winner 1948 - 1890". The Royal Society. http://royalsociety.org/page.asp?id=1761. Retrieved 2008-12-30. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Darwin recent winners". The Royal Society. http://royalsociety.org/page.asp?id=1759. Retrieved 2008-12-30. 
  5. ↑ "Darwin archive winner 1988 - 1950". The Royal Society. http://royalsociety.org/page.asp?id=1760. Retrieved 2008-12-30. 

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