Royal Society of London Michael Faraday Prize facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Royal Society of London Michael Faraday Medal & Prize |
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|---|---|
| Location | London |
| Country |  United Kingdom |
The Royal Society Michael Faraday Prize is a special award. It's given to people who are really good at explaining science to the public in the UK. This award is named after Michael Faraday, a very famous scientist. Winners receive a shiny silver medal and £2500!
About the Prize
The Michael Faraday Prize was first given out in 1986. The very first winner was Charles Taylor. He won because he was amazing at teaching physics to everyone. He could explain it to young kids and adults alike.
This award is given out every single year. It's special because it has been presented without missing a year since it started. The person who wins has to give a public talk about science. This talk is usually held in January of the next year. During this lecture, the President of the Royal Society gives the winner their medal. Sometimes, the reasons for choosing a winner are not shared publicly. This has happened a few times, for example, for Martin Rees in 2004 and Jim Al-Khalili in 2007.
Who Has Won the Prize?
Many brilliant scientists have won the Michael Faraday Prize. They are all great at sharing their knowledge with others. Here is a list of some of the people who have received this important award:
| Year | Name | Reason for Winning / Lecture Topic | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Charles Taylor | "for his outstanding presentations of physics and applications of physics, aimed at audiences from six-year-old primary school children to adults" | |
| 1987 | Peter Medawar | "for helping people understand science through his books" | |
| 1988 | Erik Christopher Zeeman | "for making mathematics popular" | |
| 1989 | Colin Blakemore | "for his excellent work explaining the science of the brain" | |
| 1990 | Richard Dawkins | "for his clear and imaginative ways of sharing science" | |
| 1991 | George Porter | "for his great work in helping the public understand science through talks and broadcasts" | |
| 1992 | Richard Gregory | "for his many popular books, talks, and TV appearances, and creating a hands-on science center" | |
| 1993 | Ian Fells | "for his many articles, talks, and TV/radio shows explaining science" | |
| 1994 | Walter Bodmer | "for showing how important it is for everyone to understand science and technology" | |
| 1995 | Ian Stewart | "for explaining mathematical ideas to many different people through books, articles, and talks" | |
| 1996 | Steve Jones | "for his many contributions to public understanding of science, like human evolution and genetics, through broadcasts and books" | |
| 1997 | David Phillips | "for his amazing talent in explaining science to young audiences with humor and clarity" | — |
| 1998 | Susan Greenfield | "for her outstanding ability to explain how the brain works to the public" | |
| 1999 | Robert Winston | "for his great work in helping the public understand human fertility and IVF" | |
| 2000 | Lewis Wolpert | "for his huge contribution to public understanding of science, especially through TV, radio, and newspapers" | |
| 2001 | Harold Kroto | "for his dedication to scientists sharing their work and creating the Vega Science Trust" | |
| 2002 | Paul Davies | on The origin of life | |
| 2003 | David Attenborough | on Perception, deception and reality | |
| 2004 | Martin Rees | on Einstein's legacy as scientist and icon | |
| 2005 | Fran Balkwill | on A silent killer | |
| 2006 | Richard Fortey | on A natural history of scientists | |
| 2007 | Jim Al-Khalili | on The House of Wisdom and the legacy of Arabic science | |
| 2008 | John D. Barrow | on Every picture tells a story | |
| 2009 | Marcus du Sautoy | on The secret mathematicians | |
| 2010 | Jocelyn Bell-Burnell | on The end of the world in 2012? Science communication and science scares | |
| 2011 | Colin Pillinger | on Stones From the Sky: A Heaven-sent Opportunity to Talk About Science | |
| 2012 | Brian Cox | "for his excellent work in science communication" | |
| 2013 | Frank Close | "for his excellent work in science communication" | |
| 2014 | Andrea Sella | "for his excellent work in science communication" | |
| 2015 | Katherine Willis | "for her excellent work in science communication" | |
| 2016 | Nick Lane | "for his excellent work in science communication" | |
| 2017 | Mark Miodownik | "for excellence in communicating science to UK audiences" | |
| 2018 | Danielle George | "for her public outreach and inspiring young people in science and engineering." | |
| 2019 | Martyn Poliakoff | "for his amazing work promoting chemistry to people worldwide through YouTube." | |
| 2020 | David Spiegelhalter | "for clearly explaining statistics and probability to the public, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic." | |
| 2021 | Sophie Scott | "for her work engaging the public with neuroscience through events, talks, TV, and radio." | |
| 2022 | Monica Grady | "for her important work in planetary science and inspiring young women in STEM subjects." | |
| 2023 | Anil Seth | "for his ability to explain complex ideas about the brain and consciousness to the public." | |
| 2024 | Salim Abdool Karim | "for his leadership, advice, and clear public education during the Covid-19 pandemic in Africa." |
