Australian medals for Achievement in Science and Technology

This listing includes only awards for which there are medals. See also the full list of the Australian Academy of Science's awards. Any medals not represented in the Academy's medal collection are not listed here.

AIE Medal Award

Established in 1979 by the Australian Institute of Energy. Awarded annually to someone very senior in the energy industry for outstanding contribution to the energy scene.

ANZAAS Medal

Established in 1965. It is awarded by the Australian and New Zealand Association for the Advancement of Science for services in the advancement of science in Australia and New Zealand. The area covered by the award includes research achievement, administration and organisation of scientific activities, or teaching of science.

ATERB Medal

Established in 1987 by the Australian Telecommunications and Electronics Research Board which was founded by Sir John Madsen, FAA. Awarded annually in cooperation with the Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering for outstanding research in telecommunications and electronics.

Applied Research Award

Established in 1980 by the Royal Australian Chemical Institute. Awarded annually to a member who has contributed significantly towards the development of, or innovation through, applied research, or in industrial fields, based on work done over the past 10 years.

Australian College of Veterinary Scientists Prize

Established in 1975. Awarded by the College to a veterinarian making an outstanding contribution to veterinary science in Australia or New Zealand, especially during the preceding five years. The emphasis is on younger members, particularly those working in isolation or in the clinical field.

Australian Institute of Building Medal

Established in 1955. Awarded annually to a member of the Institute for meritorious contribution to the science and practice of building.

Institute of Materials Engineering Australasia – Silver Medal

Awarded annually for outstanding contributions to the advancement of metallurgy, metallurgical engineering, materials science or materials engineering through management, teaching, innovation, development or research. The nominee need not be a member nor an Australian or New Zealand permanent resident.

Australian Medal of Agricultural Science

Established in 1948. Awarded by the Australian Institute of Agricultural Science for distinguished services in agriculture.

Australian Natural History Medallion

Established in 1939. Awarded annually by the Field Naturalists Club of Victoria, for special study and for increasing knowledge and appreciation of natural history in Australia.

Bancroft Medal

Established in 1926 in honour of the memory of Dr Joseph Bancroft, medical practitioner and naturalist, interested in the pharmacology of native plants. He was the 1st President of the British Medical Association of Australia, Queensland. Awarded annually by the Association to a medical man chosen to deliver the Bancroft Oration.

Britannica Australia Award

Established in 1964 by Encyclopaedia Britannica Inc. Awarded in recognition of outstanding contributions associated with Australia in five disciplines: Art, Education, Literature, Medicine and Science.

Burnet Medal and Lecture

Established in 1969 in honour of Sir Macfarlane Burnet, FAA, virologist and immunologist, who won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1960. Awarded biennially by the Australian Academy of Science to an eminent scientist for a lecture to be given at the Annual General Meeting of the Academy. It normally alternates with the Matthew Flinders Lecture.

C M Donald Medal

Established in 1984 in honour of Colin Malcolm Donald, FAA, agricultural scientist. Awarded approximately biennially by the Australian Society of Agronomy to an eminent senior agronomist. The medal was first awarded to P.G. Ozanne, restrospectively (1982).

Chapman Medal

Established in 1932 by the Institution of Engineers Australiain honour of Sir Robert William Chapman, a Foundation Councillor and a President of the Institution. Awarded for an original paper on structural engineering.

Cilento Medal

Established in 1935 by the Australian Institute of Anatomy. Donated by Sir Raphael Cilento, a prominent Queensland medical man. Awarded biennially to the scientist who has advanced native welfare or advanced tropical medicine in Australia or the Pacific area.

Clarke Medal

Established in 1878 in memory of the Rev William Branwhite Clarke, pioneer geologist, this is the oldest of the Australian scientific medals. Awarded by the Royal Society of New South Wales for work in natural science, it was first awarded to Professor Sir Richard Owen.

Claude A. Stewart Medal

Awarded annually by the Institute of Materials Engineering Australasia to an individual, group of individuals or a Company/organisation that has made a significant contribution to the industrial practice of metallurgy or materials engineering. The awardee(s) need not be Institute members

Established in honour of Claude A. Stewart, a pioneer in the field of heat treatment in Australia.

Clive Loyd Memorial Medal

Established in 1934 in memory of Clive E. Lord, a Director of the Tasmanian Museum and a member and benefactor of the Royal Society of Tasmania. Awarded on an irregular basis by the Royal Society of Tasmania to a lecturer chosen to deliver to the Society a 'Clive Lord Memorial Lecture' on Tasmanian history or natural science.

David Rivett Memorial Medal

Established in honour of Sir David Rivett, FAA, Deputy Chairman and Chairman of CSIR and Chairman of CSIRO. Awarded by CSIRO Officers' Association to the outstanding Research Officer under 40 years of age judged on the previous 10 years research and publication, alternating in the fields of biology and physical science.

Donovan Astronomical Medal

Awarded occasionally by the Donovan Astronomical Trust founded by the philanthropist, Thomas Donovan, in 1923 for the promotion of education in and the advancement of astronomical science.

F.L. Stillwell Medal

Supported by a bequest from Frank Leslie Stillwell, FAA, a geologist in charge of the Mineragraphic Section of CSIR (later CSIRO) from 1929 to 1953. Awarded annually by the Geological Society of Australia to the author(s) of the best paper in the Australian Journal of Earth Sciences.

Farrer Memorial Medal

Established in memory of William James Farrer, plant breeder. Awarded by the Farrer Memorial Trust for distinguished service to agricultural science. It replaces two earlier medals; the first was awarded in 1936 by a body at Queanbeyan organised by F.J. Gallagher, school principal; the second was issued by the Farrer Memorial Trust when it absorbed the work of Gallagher's group in 1943; and the third was struck by the Trust in 1951, in cooperation with the Rural Bank of New South Wales, as a replacement for the Second one.

Fenner Medal

Established in 2000 in honour of Professor F.J. Fenner, AC, CMG, MBE, MD, FAA, FRS, an eminent microbiologist and virologist. He won the Japan Prize in 1988 for preventive medicine and was awarded the Royal Society's Copley Medal in 1996 for his research on human and animal poxviruses. Awarded annually by the Australian Academy of Science for distinguished research in biology (excluding the biomedical sciences) by scientists under 40 years.

Fred J. Boyd Award

Established in 1978 by the Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Australia in honour of Fred J. Boyd, the Founding President of the Society. Awarded biennially to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to hospital pharmacy in Australia.

Gilbert Troup Prize

Established in 1956 in memory of Gilbert Troup, a foundation member and second President of the Australian Society of Anaesthetists. Awarded annually for an outstanding contribution to the Annual General Meeting.

Gilruth Prize

Established in 1953 by the Australian Veterinary Association in memory of John Anderson Gilruth, the first Dean of the Faculty of Veterinary Science at the University of Melbourne. Awarded for meritorious service in any field of veterinary science.

Glaxo Medal of Merit

Awarded annually by Glaxo Australia Pty Ltd and the Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Australia for outstanding service to Australian hospital pharmacy. Originally (1962 to 1971) known as the Evans Medal for Merit. In 1975, a new medal was designed, known as The Allen and Hanbury's Medal of Merit. In 1980 the name was changed to the Glaxo Medal of Merit.

Gottschalk Medal

Established in 1976 with a bequest from Alfred Gottschalk, FAA, a biochemist who spent much of his working life at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research. Awarded annually by the Australian Academy of Science to a scientist not over the age of 40 years, and who is not a Fellow of the Academy, for distinguished research in either or both the medical and biological sciences.

Guthrie Medal

Established in 1974. The Guthrie Medal is awarded by the Royal Australian Institute Cereal Chemistry Division. It honours the contribution of pioneer cereal chemist, F B Guthrie to wheat research in Australia. The medal is presented every 3 years in recognition of meritorious service to cereal chemistry in Australia.

Haddon Forrester King Medal

Established in 1992 in honour of Haddon Forrester King, in many ways the doyen of scientific geological exploration in Australia, particularly through his work with CRA. He was Director of Exploration at CRA from 1962 to 1970. Awarded biennially by the Australian Academy of Science to recognise the most distinguished applications of the earth and related sciences to the discovery, evaluation and exploration of mineral deposits, including the hydrocarbons.

Hannan Medal

Established in 1994. The award recognises the research achievements of the late E.J. Hannan, FAA, Professor and Professor Emeritus of statistics of the Australian National University from 1959 to 1994. The award for distinguished research is made in 3 areas at two yearly intervals – statistical science; pure mathematics; applied and computational mathematics.

Hartnett Award

Established in 1965 in honour of Sir Lawrence Hartnett, the 'father of the Holden Car'. Awarded annually by the Society of Automotive Engineers Australasia for an outstanding original contribution to automotive or aeronautical engineering knowledge or practice.

Henry Simpson Newland Oration

Established in 1950 in honour of Sir Henry Simpson Newland, an Adelaide surgeon. Awarded triennially by the Australian Medical Association for an essay on a surgical subject.

Herbert Moran Memorial Lecture

Endowed in 1945 by M. Moran. Awarded approximately 2 to 3 years by the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons for a lecture in medical history. The College has several named lectures, each including a medal similar to this one.

Hugh Victor McKay Award

Established in 1972 by the Agricultural Engineering Society (Australia). Awarded annually for an outstanding Australian contribution to agricultural engineering by an individual or a group.

Ian Clunies Ross Memorial Award

Established in 1979 in honour of Sir Ian Clunies Ross, FAA, a parasitologist and Chairman of CSIRO from 1949 to 1959. Awarded by the Australian College of Veterinary Scientists to a younger veterinary scientist making an outstanding contribution to veterinary science in Australia or New Zealand.

Ian William Wark Medal and Lecture

Established in 1987 with a bequest from Sir Ian Wark, FAA, industrial chemist and science administrator, and foundation Chief of CSIRO's Division of Industrial Chemistry. Awarded biennially by the Australian Academy of Science for eminent contributions to the prosperity of Australia where such prosperity is attained through the advance of scientific knowledge or its application, or both.

J.A. Prescott Medal

Established in 1970 to mark the 80th birthday of James Arthur Prescott, FAA. Awarded by the Australian Society of Soil Science.

Jaeger Medal

Established in 1989 in honour of John Conrad Jaeger, FAA, Professor of Geophysics at the Australian National University 1951-72. Awarded not more often than every two years by the Australian Academy of Science for investigations into the solid earth or its oceans.

John Lewis Gold Medal

Established in 1946 in honour of John Lewis, an early President of the Royal Geographical Society of Australasia (South Australian Branch). Awarded by the Society for exploration and geographical research.

Johnston Medal

Established in 1923 in honour of Robert Mackenzie Johnston, a scientist and statistician and a benefactor of the Royal Society of Tasmania. Awarded occasionally by the Society for a lecture.

Kelvin Medal

Established in 1924 to commemorate the centenary of the birth of Lord Kelvin, the British physicist who discovered the second law of thermodynamics.

Awarded by the Royal Society of Western Australia for scientific work in that State.

Kendall Oration

Founded in 1930 by the five sons of William Tyson Kendall, the founder of the Melbourne Veterinary College. Delivered at the Melbourne and Canberra conferences of the Australian Veterinary Association.

Mackie Medal

Established in 1962, to commemorate the work of Alexander Mackie, a distinguished educationist. Awarded by ANZAAS to an individual, group of institution for work done over the previous two years in the fields of education, psychology or philosophy.

Masson Medal

Established in 1941 in honour of Sir David Orme Masson, a Professor of Chemistry at the University of Melbourne and a foundation member and the first General President of the Royal Australian Chemical Institute. Awarded by the Institute to a student completing an Honours degree in Chemistry or Post-graduate study.

Matthew Flinders Lecture and Medal

Established in 1956. Named after Matthew Flinders, the first man to circumnavigate Australia, in recognition of the early scientific work carried out in Australia. Awarded biennially by the Australian Academy of Science to an eminent scientist for a lecture to be given at the Annual General Meeting of the Academy.

Mawson Lecture and Medal

Established in 1979 to mark the outstanding contribution to science in Australia by Sir Douglas Mawson, FAA, Australia's most famous Antarctic explorer. Awarded biennially by the Australian Academy of Science for a lecture in the earth sciences, to be delivered at the time of each convention of the Geological Society of Australia.

Moran Medal

Established in 1989 in memory of Patrick Alfred Pierce Moran, Professor of Statistics at the Australian National University 1952 to 1983. Awarded not more often than every two years by the Australian Academy of Science to a scientist not over the age of 40 years for distinguished work in statistics.

Mueller Medal

Established in 1902 in memory of Baron Sir Ferdinand von Mueller, government botanist of Victoria and a prodigious collector of botanic specimens. Awarded by the Australian and New Zealand Association for the Advancement of Science (ANZAAS) for researches in anthropology, botany, geology or zoology.

Neil Hamilton Fairly Medal

Founded by Lady Hamilton Fairley in 1968 in memory of her husband Sir Neil Hamilton Fairley, KBE, MD, FRS, who was a Fellow of both the Royal College of Physicians of London and the Royal Australasian College of Physicians. Awarded on alternate occasions by these two bodies, the award is made every 2 ½ years. The medal is awarded for outstanding contributions to medical science.

Nicholas Outterside Medallion

Established in 1981 in memory of Nicholas Outterside, the first President of the then Australasian Institute of Radiography. Awarded annually by the Australian Institute of Radiography for outstanding achievement in or contribution to the art and science of Radiography.

Pawsey Medal

Established in 1965 in memory of Joseph Lade Pawsey, FAA, foundation leader of the Radio Astronomy Group of CSIRO's Division of Radiophysics. Awarded annually by the Australian Academy of Science to a scientist no over the age of 40 years for distinguished research in experimental physics.

Peter Nicol Russell Memorial Medal

Established in 1923 in memory of Sir Peter Nicol Russell, a Sydney industrialist who made major donations to the cause of engineering in Australia. Awarded annually by the Institution of Engineers Australia to a Fellow of the Institution over 45 years of age who has made a notable contribution to the science and/or practice of engineering in Australia.

R.J.N. Franki Memorial Medal

Established in 1948 in honour of R.J.N. Franki. Awarded annually by the Institution of Engineers Australia for the best engineering paper by a student during the previous year.

Rennie Medal

Established in 1931 by the Royal Australian Chemical Institute in honour of E.H. Rennie, Professor of Chemistry at the University of Adelaide and a founder of the Institute. Awarded to a member of the Institute, under 30 years, who has contributed most to some branch of chemical science, judged on research and publication over the previous 10 years.

Rodda Medal

Established in 1972 in honour of Stanley Northey Rodda, the first President of the Institution of Automotive and Aeronautical Engineers, now known as the Society of Automotive Engineers Australasia. Awarded annually by the Society for an outstanding written paper in the fields of design, development, research or management relating to the automotive industry.

Royal Australian College of General Practitioners Medal

Royal Society of Tasmania Medal

Established in 1927. Awarded on an irregular basis by the Society in recognition of prolonged research of high merit by Life or Ordinary Members.

Schlich Medal

Established in 1928 to commemorate the British forester, Sir William Schlich. Awarded by the Department of Forestry, Australian National University, previously Australian Forestry School, to the graduate in forestry topping the year.

Science Education Award

Established in 1960. Awarded by the Australian Industries Development Association with the Australian Science Teachers' Association. This medal is awarded annually in each State to the science teacher outstanding in work in the laboratory, classroom and in research.

Syme Medal

Endowed in 1904 by David Syme, proprietor of the Melbourne Age. Awarded by the University of Melbourne for research in biology, chemistry, geology or physics.

The Institute Medal

Established in 1935 by the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy. Awarded annually for outstanding contributions or service to the mining and metallurgy industry.

Thomas Ranken Lyle Medal

Established in 1931 by the Australian National Research Council in honour of Thomas Ranken Lyle, mathematical physicist who was a foundation member of the Council in 1919 and its President in 1929 to 1932. When the ANRC was dissolved, the Australian Academy of Science assumed responsibility for it. Awarded biennially for researches in mathematics or physics.

Troughton Medal

Established in the early 1980s by the Australian Mammal Society in honour of Ellis Troughton, a distinguished Australian mammalogist. Awarded approximately triennially to a practising scientist for a significant contribution to the Society and to Australian mammalogy.

Verco Medal

Established in 1923 in honour of Sir Joseph Verco, prominent medical practitioner and lecturer in medicine in Adelaide. Awarded from time to time by the Royal Society of South Australia for scientific work published by a member of the Society.

W.R. Browne Medal

Established in 1979 in honour of William Rowan Browne, FAA, a member of the Geology Department of the University of Sydney from 1913 to 1949. Awarded annually for distinguished contributions to the geological sciences.

Walter Boas Medal

Established in 1984 in honour of Walter Boas, FAA, Chief of CSIRO Division of Tribophysics from 1949 to 1969. Awarded annually by the Australian Institute of Physics for original research work described in papers published in the preceding four years.