Royal Medal facts for kids
The Royal Medal is a special silver-gilt medal given out every year by the Royal Society. A silver-gilt medal means it's made of silver but covered with a thin layer of gold, making it look very fancy! This award is also known as The King's Medal or The Queen's Medal, depending on whether a king or queen is ruling at the time.
The Royal Society gives out three of these medals each year. The awards are for important work done by people in countries that are part of the Commonwealth of Nations. This group includes many countries that used to be connected to the British Empire. King George IV started this award, and the very first medals were given out in 1826.
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What is the Royal Medal Awarded For?
The Royal Medal recognizes amazing discoveries and contributions. Each year, three medals are given:
- Two medals are for fundamental research. This means scientists who discover new basic knowledge about how the world works, especially in physical and biological sciences.
- One medal is for applied research. This is for scientists who use existing knowledge to solve real-world problems or create new technologies.
Who Can Receive a Royal Medal?
Scientists and researchers who have made big impacts in their fields are chosen for this honor. The Royal Society looks for people whose work has greatly helped "the advancement of natural knowledge" or made "distinguished contributions in the applied sciences." This means they are looking for people who have either found out new things about nature or used science to make useful inventions.
Images for kids
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Dowling: Professor, Cambridge University, 2019.
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Wolpert: Professor, UCL, UK, 2018.
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Hunter: Professor, Salk Institute, USA, 2014.
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Kibble: Professor, Imperial College, UK, 2012.
See also
In Spanish: Medalla Real para niños
