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Medals and Awards Information updated February 2008. Awards Mission:The Royal Society of New Zealand is an independent organisation which recognises and encourages achievement in a broad range of scientific and technological areas (including social, engineering, applied and technological sciences), incorporating recognition at all stages of scientific careers from tertiary study through to senior research scientists. Through its suite of awards the Society seeks to: Recognise and acknowledge science and technology
Raise the profile of science and technology within the wider community
Provide teachers with new experiences and understanding outside the classroom that enables them to become more effective teachers. Note: Deadlines and application forms are available from the respective sections. Downloadable application forms are available in RTF format (can be opened in most word processors) and PDF format (requires Adobe Acrobat). See a complete list of application forms for all awards. Medals and awards administered by the Academy Council (closing date in brackets)
Other awards and grants administered by the Royal Society of New Zealand
General guidelines for
nominators/ applicants (for medals and awards administered by the
Academy
Council)
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Background
Te Rangi Hiroa, Sir Peter Buck, a pioneer New Zealand social scientist, qualified in medicine from the University of Otago in 1904. After twenty-two years of medical practice during which he made major contributions to Maori health, and then, after a brief period in Parliament, he embarked on a career in anthropology, attaining international distinction through his research on Maori and Pacific cultures. His appointment to the Bishop Museum in Honolulu, as Director, and to Yale University as a Professor of Anthropology was recognition of the esteem in which he was held.
The Te Rangi Hiroa Medal was established by the Academy of the Royal Society of New Zealand in 1996, with the support of Ngati Mutunga at Urenui, in memory of Sir Peter Buck KCMG MB ChB Hon MA Yale Hon DSc New Zealand Hon DSc Rochester Hon D Litt Hawaii Hon DSc Yale FRSNZ to recognise excellence in the social sciences. The medical anthropology category was added in 2006.
Criteria
The Te Rangi Hiroa Medal is awarded biennially in rotation in four areas of the social sciences: historical approaches to societal transformation and change; current issues in cultural diversity and cohesion; social and economic policy and development; and medical anthropology. The medal is awarded to the researcher who, working within New Zealand, has undertaken work of great merit and has made an outstanding contribution towards the advancement of the particular area of social science.
The Te
Rangi Hiroa Medal in historical approaches to societal transformation
and change will be offered in 2009. The
deadline for application is 30 June 2009.
Additional information, including previous recipients, is available here.
Background
Robert Julian Scott was New Zealand's first Professor of Engineering. He was in charge of New Zealand's first School of Engineering which was founded at Canterbury College in 1888, a position he held until his retirement in 1923.
The R. J. Scott Medal was established by the Academy of the Royal Society of New Zealand in 1996 in Professor Scott’s memory to recognise excellence in engineering sciences and technologies.
Criteria
The R. J. Scott Medal is awarded biennially in rotation in three areas of engineering sciences and technologies: chemical, civil, environmental, forestry, agricultural and resource engineering; electrical, electronic, information and mechanical engineering; and technologies associated with biological, food, natural products processing (meat, wool, dairy, skin etc) and medical practice technologies. The Medal is awarded to the researcher who, working within New Zealand, has undertaken work of great merit and has made an outstanding contribution towards the advancement of the particular branch of engineering sciences, technologies, and their applications.
Latest Recipient
The R. J. Scott Medal in electrical, electronic, information and mechanical engineering will be offered in 2009. The deadline for application is 30 June 2009.
Additional information, including previous recipients, is available here.
Background
This prize was established in memory of Augustus Hamilton, President of the New Zealand Institute 1909–1910, and was awarded for the first time in 1923. The Royal Society is the successor to the New Zealand Institute. The Hamilton Memorial Prize is awarded annually for the encouragement of beginners in scientific or technological research in New Zealand or in the islands of the South Pacific Ocean.
Criteria
The Hamilton Memorial Prize shall be awarded for scientific or technological research carried out principally in New Zealand or the South Pacific Islands. The candidate shall submit a curriculum vitae, and a list of publications published only during the period of registration for PhD and up to five years following completion of the PhD degree, until 30 June in the year of the award. Nominators or applicants shall nominate one principal paper among these publications on which the award is primarily to be judged. The nominated paper must have been peer-reviewed and copies must be included with the application/nomination. If the paper is multi-authored, nominators or applicants are required to clearly identify the contribution of the candidate and the contributions of other authors.
The Hamilton Prize consists of a framed certificate and $1000.
Latest Recipient
Additional information, including previous recipients, is available here.
Background
This award was established by a bequest from Mrs Stella Hatherton, in memory of Trevor Hatherton OBE DIC PhD Lond Hon DSc Wellington FRSNZ, President of the Royal Society of New Zealand 1985-89. It was awarded for the first time in 1997 and is awarded annually for beginners in scientific research in the Physical Sciences, Earth Sciences and Mathematical and Information Sciences.
Criteria
The Hatherton Award will be allocated for the best scientific paper by a student registered for the degree of PhD at any New Zealand University, published or accepted for publication either during their studies or within two years of the completion (completion of the PhD means that the candidate has had the degree confirmed by the university and it will be conferred) of the PhD in Physical Sciences, Earth Sciences and Mathematical and Information Sciences. If the paper is multi-authored, nominators or applicants are required to clearly identify the contribution of the candidate and the contributions of other authors.
Latest RecipientApplications are now being called for the 2008 Hatherton
Award. The deadline for application
is 30 June 2008.
Additional information, including previous recipients, is available here.
Background
T. K. Sidey (1863-1933) served in Parliament from 1901 until 1928 when he was called to the Legislative Council as its leader, serving as Attorney-General and Minister of Justice. The promotion of legislation for daylight saving was a special concern and he promoted the Summertime Act which was passed in 1927.
The T. K. Sidey Summer-Time Fund was established by the transfer to the New Zealand Institute of £500 collected to commemorate the passing of the Summer-Time Act 1927 through the instrumentality of Sir Thomas A. Sidey; the revenue in terms of the declaration of trust is to support the award of the T. K. Sidey Medal.
Criteria
The T. K. Sidey Medal is awarded at irregular intervals for outstanding scientific research concerning electromagnetic radiation. Such research may include interaction with matter, its impact on living organisms, its use in communications or its application in any other manner beneficial to human welfare. While the original terms of the award pertained to solar electromagnetic radiation in particular, the Society takes the broad view that the work may be related to electromagnetic radiation of any wavelength, and, from time to time, it may award the medal for research involving radiation of any kind.
Latest Recipient
The
2007 T. K Sidey Medal for outstanding
scientific research concerning electromagnetic radiation has been
awarded to
Associate Professor Roger Reeves, Department of Physics &
Astronomy,
The closing date for nominations/applications for the T. K. Sidey
Medal is to be advised.
Additional information, including previous recipients, is available here.
Background
Dr E. R. Cooper was the first Director of the Dominion Physical Laboratory from 1939 to 1950. He subsequently held the position of Assistant Secretary (Physics and Engineering) of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research until his untimely death in 1952.
On the initiative of the Technical Advisory Committee of the Dominion Physical Laboratory, a fund was collected for the purpose of establishing an E. R. Cooper Medal, to be awarded every two years to the author of the best account of research work carried out in New Zealand in physics or engineering. In 1965, the Council of the Royal Society of New Zealand formally accepted responsibility for the administration of the Cooper Medal. The E. R. Cooper Memorial Fund was transferred to the Society by the Technical Advisory Committee of the Dominion Physical Laboratory in memory of the late Edmund Roy Cooper, to support the award of the medal and prize for the encouragement of scientific research in the fields of physics or engineering.
Criteria
The Cooper Medal is made every two years to the person or persons, who in the opinion of the Selection Committee, publishes the best single account of original research in physics or engineering. Preference is given to contributions to the development of New Zealand natural resources, or of innovation that is likely to provide substantial ongoing economic benefit to New Zealand.
Latest Recipient
The 2006 Cooper Medal was awarded to Dr Yonghe Liu,
University of Canterbury for his work reported in the paper:
"Multi-level voltage re-injection--a new concept in high voltage source
conversion". The work is concerned with the conversion of DC to AC
power at high power levels, and is relevant where electric power is
converted from one frequency to another and in the conversion of DC to
AC.
Applications are now being called for the 2008 Cooper Medal. The deadline for application is 30 June 2008.
Additional information, including previous recipients, is available here.
Background
In 1985 the Royal Society of New Zealand created a prestigious award
to be made in recognition of outstanding contributions in the fields of
the organisation, administration or application of science and
technology. The award is known as the Thomson Medal and commemorates
the contributions made to science by George Malcolm Thomson (1848-1933)
and his son James Allan Thomson (1881-1928). Both are former presidents
of the Royal Society of New Zealand. The Academy Council has agreed
that the Thomson Medal be awarded annually from 2006.
Criteria
The Thomson Medal is awarded annually for outstanding and inspirational leadership in the management of science and outstanding contribution in the development and application of science and/or technology to wealth generation.
Latest Recipient
The 2007 Thomson Medal was awarded to Dr John Kernohan for
his outstanding
and inspirational leadership in the management of science while at
UniServices, The University of Auckland.
Applications are now being called for the 2008 Thomson Medal. The deadline for applications is 30 June 2008.
Additional information, including previous recipients, is available here.
Background
The award was established in 1988 by the Royal Society of New Zealand to commemorate the life and work of Charles Alexander Fleming KBE FRS FRSNZ to honour those who have achieved distinction in the protection, maintenance, management, improvement or understanding of the environment, in particular the sustainable management of the New Zealand environment.
The recipient is expected to have a demonstrable record of communication with the general public.
The award is made every three years and consists of a medal, a cash
grant, and an all expenses paid public lecture tour, visiting selected
Royal Society Branches.
The Charles Fleming
Award for Environmental Achievement will be offered in 2010.
The deadline for nomination is 30 June 2010.
The
Charles Fleming Lecturer for 2008 is Professor Mick Clout,
Abstract
"Science for Conservation"
Invasive alien species now rank as one of the most serious threats to natural ecosystems and native species, worldwide. In isolated archipelagos such as New Zealand, invasive species may in fact be the most serious threat of all. This land was one of the last to be settled by humans and their associated cargo of invasive animals and plants, and we are still witnessing the impacts of consequent changes. Here, active conservation is necessary, involving direct intervention to aid the recovery of threatened species and to remove or reduce the threats of invasive species. This talk will use a series of examples, including research on kakapo, invasive mammals and island ecosystems to illustrate how ecological science can help with the practical business of conservation.
Itinerary
Manawatu: Tuesday, 19 August at 7.30 p.m., Te Manawa - Science, 396
Main Street, Palmerston North
Hawke's Bay: Wednesday, 20 August, Venue to be advised
Waikato: Thursday, 21 August, at 7.30 p.m., Room S.1.02 (close to the
Library), Waikato University, Hamilton. A campus map is available at
http://www.waikato.ac.nz/contacts/map.pdf
Nelson: Tuesday, 26 August at 7.30 p.m., Nelson Marlborough
Institute of Technology - A211 lecture theatre - 322 Hardy Street on
the corner of Hardy and Alton streets, Nelson
Wellington: Wednesday, 27 August, at 7.30 p.m., Science House, Royal
Society of New Zealand, 11 Turnbull Street, Thorndon, Wellington
Rotorua: Tuesday, 2 September, at 7.30 p.m., Rimu Room, Scion
Campus, 49 Sala Street, Rotorua
Canterbury: Wednesday, 3 September, at 8 p.m., C3 Central Lecture
Theatre Block, University of Canterbury, Christchurch
Otago: Thursday, 4 September, at 7 p.m., St David's Lecture Theatre,
University of Otago, Cumberland Street, Dunedin
Auckland: Wednesday, 10 September, at 7 p.m., Auckland Museum Auditorium, Auckland Domain, Parnell, Auckland
Additional information, including previous recipients, is available here.
Background
This scholarship was established by the Royal Society of New Zealand in memory of Professor Richard Bates FRSNZ. The scholarship, tenable at any New Zealand university for one year, is available to graduates who are registered for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy. Students in the physical sciences and engineering will be eligible, with preference being given to those whose research aims to apply information/image processing to studies in medicine, the physical sciences, astronomy or engineering.
Latest Recipient
The 2008 R. H. T. Bates Postgraduate Scholarship was awarded to Callum Spence, a PhD student in the Department of Bioengineering, University of Canterbury, for his investigation into the effect of nasal interface flow rates on respiratory tract flow patterns and pressures using flow measurement technique particle image velocimetry and scaled in-vitro models with physiologically accurate flow.
The 2009 R. H. T. Bates
Postgraduate Scholarship will be offered in 2008. The
deadline for applications is 1 September 2008.
Additional information, including previous recipients, is available here
Background
The Cockayne Memorial Fund was established by public subscription to commemorate the life and work of Leonard Cockayne by the encouragement of botanical research in New Zealand. Under the rules amended by Council in 1957, the interest from the fund shall be used for grants in aid of addresses to be delivered or publications related to botanical research by New Zealand workers. Council in 1964 resolved to institute a triennial Cockayne Memorial Lecture, to be supported by the trust fund..
The Cockayne Memorial Lecturer for 2007 was Dr Bill Lee from
Landcare
Research, Dunedin.
Abstract
The native birds of New Zealand are highly unusual in several respects.
They have dominated terrestrial ecosystems for millions of years in the
near absence of mammals, and have evolved some extraordinary
life-history features. Furthermore, the magnitude of post-settlement
extinctions amongst native birds (about half of all terrestrial bird
species) has drastically changed the character of the entire New
Zealand biota. We now have a reasonable understanding of the range of
species and life-history traits of indigenous birds, along with the
factors that caused their extinction or decline. The reasons for the
success of a subset of introduced bird species are also becoming clear.
I will examine the interaction between birds and the environment during
the history of New Zealand, and discuss the role of birds in ecosystem
processes, their effect on plant and vegetation development, and on
other animals. I will also look at the magnitude of the ecological
functions undertaken by birds, and the extent to which introduced
species can ecologically compensate for those that have recently become
extinct. Finally, I will argue that birds have a special role to play
in ensuring the functioning of New Zealand ecosystems, and that all
species should be welcomed.
Itinerary
Nelson: Tuesday, 5 June, at 7.30 p.m., A211 Lecture Theatre, Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology, 322 Hardy Street (corner of Hardy and Alton Streets)Information on past lectures is available here.
Background
The Rutherford Memorial Lecture was established in 1952 by the Royal Society (London) as part of the Rutherford Memorial Scheme. Since then, in association with the Royal Society of New Zealand, triennial visits have taken place to this country to present the Rutherford Memorial Lecture.
The Rutherford Memorial Lecture was established in 1952 by the Royal Society (London) as part of the Rutherford Memorial Scheme. Since then, in association with the Royal Society of New Zealand, triennial visits have taken place to New Zealand to present the Rutherford Memorial Lecture. Sir Paul Nurse FRS has agreed to be the Rutherford Lecturer for 2006. He will be visiting New Zealand from 30 July until 12 August 2006, and will give lectures in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin.
Sir Paul Nurse is one of the UK's foremost biological scientists and was made a Fellow of the Royal Society (London) in 1989 for his work on the genes that regulate the cell division cycle-the process that takes a fertilised egg from a tiny single cell to the 100,000 billion cells that make up an adult human, or an accidental mutation that leads to a cancer tumour. He is chief executive of Cancer Research UK and, in 2001, received the Nobel Prize for Medicine (jointly with Dr Tim Hunt and Dr Leland Hartwell) for this work. In November 2003 he became President of the Rockefeller University in New York.
Sir Paul heads a research team at Cancer Research UK's cell cycle laboratory, and chairs the Royal Society (London) Science in Society programme.
Information on past lectures is available here.