Darwin medal
Charles Darwin , after whom the Darwin Medal is named.
The Darwin Medal (English Darwin Medal ) is an award given by the British Royal Society to scientists who have made important contributions in the field of biology . It was named after the British naturalist and co-founder of the theory of evolution Charles Darwin (1809-1882) and is endowed with prize money of 1000 pounds sterling .
Here is the English wording:
- ... in reward for work of acknowledged distinction in the broad area of biology in which Charles Darwin worked, notably in evolution, population biology, organismal biology and biological diversity .
The medal itself shows an image of Charles Darwin on one side and the words "CAROLVS DARWIN" on the other. The Darwin Medal has been awarded to a scientist every two years since 1890. In 1982 and 2002 the medal was awarded to a married couple doing research together.
Winner of the award
The following table lists the winners of the award, which has been conferred since the beginning of 1890, in full. The English original text and a German translation of the reasoning text are noted in the "Reason" column.
| year | scientist | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| 1890 | Alfred Russel Wallace |
"For his independent origination of the theory of the origin of species by natural selection." For his independent creation of the theory of the origin of species through natural selection. |
| 1892 | Joseph 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". " In recognition of his important contributions to the progress of systematic botany, as shown in the works Genera Plantarum and Flora Indica ; even more in appreciation of his close association with Mr. Darwin in the studies preceding the work Origin of Species . |
| 1894 | Thomas Henry Huxley |
"For his researches in comparative anatomy, and especially for his intimate association with Mr. Darwin in relation to the" Origin of Species "." For his comparative anatomy research, specifically for his close association with Mr. Darwin on the Origin of Species work . |
| 1896 | Giovanni 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." For his research on the life history and social life of the Termitidae and the developmental relationship between Leptocephalus on the one hand and the common eel and other Muraenidae on the other. |
| 1898 | Karl Pearson |
"For his work on the quantitative treatment of biological problems." For his work on the quantitative treatment of biological issues. |
| 1900 | Ernst Haeckel |
"For his long-continued and and [sic] highly important work in zoology all of which has been inspired by the spirit of Darwinism." For his long and meaningful work in zoology, all of which is inspired by the spirit of Darwinism. |
| 1902 | Francis Galton |
"For his numerous contributions to the exact study of heredity & variation contained in" Hereditary Genius "," Natural Inheritance ", and other writings." For his numerous contributions to the exact study of inheritance and variation, included in Hereditary Genius , Natural Inheritance and other writings. |
| 1904 | William Bateson |
"For his important contribution to the theory of organic evolution by his researches on variation and heredity." For his important contribution to the theory of organic evolution through his research on variation and heredity. |
| 1906 | Hugo de Vries |
"On the ground of the significance and extent of his experimental investigations in heredity & Variation." Based on the essentiality and scope of his experimental discoveries on inheritance and variation. |
| 1908 | August Weismann |
"On the ground of his eminent services in support of the doctrine of evolution by means of natural selection." Based on his significant ministry in support of the doctrine of evolution through natural selection. |
| 1910 | Roland Trimen |
"On the ground of his South African bionomic researches, in large part undertaken as the outcome of correspondence with Charles Darwin." Based on his South African bionomics research, undertaken largely as a result of correspondence with Charles Darwin. |
| 1912 | Francis Darwin |
"On the ground of his work in conjunction with Charles Darwin, and his researches in vegetable physiology." Based on his work in association with Charles Darwin and his research in plant physiology. |
| 1914 | Edward Bagnall Poulton |
"On the ground of his researches in heredity." Based on his research on inheritance. |
| 1916 | Yves Delage |
"On the ground of researches in zoology and biology." Based on research in zoology and biology. |
| 1918 | Henry Fairfield Osborn |
"For his valuable researches on vertebrate morphology and palaeontology." For his valuable research on the morphology and paleontology of vertebrates. |
| 1920 | Rowland H. Biffen |
"On the ground of his work on scientific principles applied to the breeding of plants." Based on his work on applying scientific principles to plant breeding. |
| 1922 | Reginald C. Punnett |
"For his researches in the science of genetics." For his research in genetics. |
| 1924 | Thomas Hunt Morgan |
"For his valuable work in zoology and more especially his researches on heredity and cytology." For his valuable work in zoology and especially his research on heredity and cytology. |
| 1926 | Dukinfield Henry Scott |
"For his contributions to palaeophytology, particularly in relation to the period of coal." For his contributions to paleophytology, particularly in relation to the Carbon Age. |
| 1928 | Leonard Cockayne |
"For the eminence of his contributions to ecological botany." For the outstanding importance of his contributions to ecological botany. |
| 1930 | Johannes Schmidt |
“For his work on extended oceanographic expeditions; and for his genetic studies in animals and plants. " For his work on extensive oceanographic expeditions and for his genetic studies on animals and plants. |
| 1932 | Carl Correns |
“As one of the three independent discoverers of Mendels publications; and for his distinguished researches in genetics. " As one of the three independent discoverers of Mendel's publications and for his excellent research in genetics. |
| 1934 | Albert Charles Seward |
"In recognition of his work as a palaeobotanist." In recognition of his work as a paleobotanist. |
| 1936 | Edgar 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." In recognition of his longstanding work in advancing marine biology, not only through his own research, but also the great influence he had on a large number of Plymouth discoveries. |
| 1938 | Frederick Orpen Bower |
"In recognition of his work of acknowledged distinction in the field in which Darwin himself labored." In recognition of his proven excellent work in the field in which Darwin himself worked. |
| 1940 | James 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." For his contributions to solving problems related to the interrelationships between the main Mammalia groups and to the phylogenetic history of primates, an area that Darwin himself had studied intensely. |
| 1942 | DMS 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." In recognition of his research on primitive fish and amphibians, which greatly advanced knowledge of the evolution of these animal groups. |
| 1944 | John Stanley Gardiner |
"In recognition of his work on coral reefs and on the organisms associated with such habitats." In recognition of his work on coral reefs and the organisms that live there. |
| 1946 | D'Arcy Wentworth Thompson |
"In recognition of his outstanding contributions to the development of biology." In recognition of his exceptional contributions to the development of biology. |
| 1948 | Ronald Aylmer Fisher |
"In recognition of his distinguished contributions to the theory of natural selection, the concept of its gene complex and the evolution of dominance." In recognition of his excellent contributions to the theory of natural selection, the concept of the gene complex and the evolution of dominance. |
| 1950 | Felix Eugen Fritsch |
"For his distinguished contributions to the study of algology." For his excellent contributions to the study of algology. |
| 1952 | JBS Haldane |
"In recognition of his initiation of the modern phase of the study of the evolution of living populations." In recognition of his initiation of the modern phase in the study of the evolution of living populations. |
| 1954 | EB Ford |
"In recognition of his distinguished contributions to the genetical theory of evolution by natural selection, particularly in natural populations." In recognition of his excellent contributions to the genetic theory of evolution through natural selection, especially in natural populations. |
| 1956 | Julian Huxley |
"In recognition of his distinguished contributions to the study and theory of evolution." In recognition of his excellent contributions to the study and theory of evolution. |
| 1958 | Gavin Rylands de Beer |
"In recognition of his distinguished contributions to evolutionary biology." In recognition of his excellent contributions to evolutionary biology. |
| 1960 | Edred John Henry Corner |
"In recognition of his distinguished and strikingly original botanical work in tropical forests." In recognition of his excellent and outstanding botanical work in tropical forests. |
| 1962 | George Gaylord Simpson |
"In recognition of his distinguished contributions to general evolutionary theory, based on a profound study of palaeontology, particularly of vertebrates." In recognition of his excellent contributions to the general theory of evolution, based on an in-depth study of paleontology, especially of vertebrates. |
| 1964 | Kenneth Mather |
"In recognition of his distinguished contributions to knowledge of cytology and genetics." In recognition of his excellent contributions in the field of cytology and genetics. |
| 1966 | Harold Munro Fox |
"In recognition of his distinguished and extensive contributions in the field of invertebrate zoology and to our understanding of general biological phenomena." In recognition of his excellent and extensive contributions to invertebrate zoology and to our understanding of general biological phenomena. |
| 1968 | Maurice Yonge |
"In recognition of his many distinguished contributions to evolutionary biology, particularly of the mollusca." In recognition of his many excellent contributions to evolutionary biology, especially the mollusks. |
| 1970 | Charles 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." In recognition of the fundamental concepts he contributed to the study of animal ecology, which - together with his establishment of the Office for Animal Populations - received international attention. |
| 1972 | David Lack |
"In recognition of his distinguished and numerous contributions to ornithology and to our understanding of evolutionary mechanisms." In recognition of his excellent and numerous contributions to ornithology and to our understanding of evolutionary mechanisms. |
| 1974 | Philip 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." In recognition of his exceptional work on natural populations of butterflies, in which he described and explained how natural selection works and demonstrated the genetic basis on which selection operates. |
| 1976 | Charlotte Auerbach |
"In recognition of her discovery of and continuing work on chemical mutagenesis." In recognition of their discovery and continued work on chemical mutagenesis. |
| 1978 | Guido Pontecorvo |
"In recognition of his discovery of somatic recombination in fungi which led to the elucidation of an important type of genetic variation." In recognition of his discovery of somatic recombination in fungi, which led to the elucidation of a major type of genetic variation. |
| 1980 | Sewall Wright |
"In recognition of his outstanding contributions to genetics and evolutionary theory." In recognition of his exceptional contributions to genetics and evolutionary theory. |
| 1982 | John Heslop-Harrison ; 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." In recognition of their great contributions to plant physiology, including fundamental studies of carnivorous plants, of which the two performed large portions together. |
| 1984 | Ernst Mayr |
"In recognition of his distinguished contributions to evolutionary biology." In recognition of his excellent contributions to evolutionary biology. |
| 1986 | John 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." In recognition of his extraordinary success in combining mathematics with biology to improve our understanding of evolution, particularly the evolution of the sexes. |
| 1988 | William D. Hamilton |
“In recognition of his distinguished work on evolutionary theory. His contributions include the theory of kin selection [sic] to account for altruistic behavior and the theoretical demonstration of a link between disease resistance and the evolution of sex. " In recognition of his excellent work on evolutionary theory. His contributions include the theory of relative selection to explain altruistic behavior and the theoretical demonstration of a connection between disease resistance and the evolution of the sexes. |
| 1990 | John L. 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." For his research on population biology and the evolution of plants, which significantly improved the understanding of how plants adapt to their environment. |
| 1992 | Motoo Kimura |
"Distinguished for his work on molecular evolution, in particular on the role of stochastic events in determining the rate of evolution." For his excellent work on molecular evolution, especially the role of stochastic events in determining the rate of evolution. |
| 1994 | Peter Lawrence |
"In recognition of his analysis of pattern formation during insect segmentation, and of his contribution to understanding how genetic processes specify spatial information." In recognition of his analysis of pattern formation during insect segmentation and his contribution to understanding how genetic processes generate spatial information. |
| 1996 | John E. 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." In recognition of his leadership in the study of genome analysis, which has the potential to revolutionize biology. |
| 1998 | Michael 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." In recognition of her work on the structure and evolution of the cereal genomes, which revolutionized cereal genetics by showing that the genetics of all different cereals can be viewed in a common framework. |
| 2000 | Brian Charlesworth |
“In recognition of his distinguished work on selection in age-structured populations, extending the theory to the evolution of aging, 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. " In recognition of his excellent work on selection in age-structured populations, which expanded the theory to include the evolution of aging, and his tests on mutation-accumulation theory and pleiotropy , development of models for the evolution of genetic systems including reproduction and recombination, inbreeding and hybridization , different sexes and sex chromosomes, segregation disorder and repetitive DNA . |
| 2002 | Peter Grant and Rosemary Grant |
“For their fundamental work on the ecology, breeding and evolution of Darwin's finches on the Galapagos islands. This work has become the classic example of Darwinian evolution in the wild. " For her fundamental work on the ecology, brood care and evolution of the Darwin's finches in the Galapagos Islands . This work became the classic example of Darwinian evolution in the wild. |
| 2004 | Enrico 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 Darwin's key questions about the natural variation of floral form and the evolution of floral development. " For her groundbreaking discoveries in controlling flower development. The two combined molecular and genetic methods to answer one of Darwin's key questions about the natural variation in flower shape and the evolution of flower development. |
| 2006 | Nick Barton |
"For his major and extensive contributions to evolutionary biology, characterized by the application of sophisticated mathematical analysis but focused on developing biological understanding rather than mathematical niceties." For his significant and extensive contributions to evolutionary biology, characterized by the application of complicated mathematical analysis, yet focused on developing biological understanding rather than mathematical beauty. |
| 2008 | Geoffrey Parker |
"For his lifetime contribution to the foundations and development of behavioral ecology, in particular for understanding evolutionary adaptations and their consequences for natural populations." For his life's work of contributions to the fundamentals and further development of behavioral ecology, especially for the understanding of evolutionary adaptations and their consequences for natural populations. |
| 2010 | Bryan Clarke |
"For his original and influential contributions to our understanding of the genetic basis of evolution." For his self-developed and influential contributions to understanding the genetic basis of evolution. |
| 2012 | Timothy Clutton-Brock |
"For his outstanding work on the diversity of animal societies and demonstration of their effects on the evolution of reproductive strategies, the operation of selection and the dynamics of populations." For his outstanding work in the field of the diversity of animal communities and the demonstration of their influence on the evolution of reproductive strategies, on the conduct of selection and on the dynamics of populations. |
| 2014 | John Sutherland |
"For his novel and convincing work on prebiotic chemistry, in particular his solution to the central problem of nucleoside synthesis." For his novel and convincing work on prebiotic chemistry , especially for solving the problem of the synthesis of nucleosides . |
| 2016 | Caroline Dean |
"For her work addressing fundamental questions in the perception of temperature cues and how modifications in epigenetic mechanisms play an important role in adaptation." For her fundamental work on temperature perception and the role epigenetic factors play in adaptation. |
| 2018 | William Hill |
"For his contribution to our understanding of the genetics of quantitative traits and response to selection." For his contributions to understanding the genetics of quantitative traits and the response to selection. |
| 2019 | Peter Holland |
"For his work with many organisms and genes elucidating key aspects of how changes in the genome influence evolution of animal development." For his work with many organisms and genes that helped to elucidate important aspects of the influence of changes in the genome on the evolution of animal development. |
| 2020 | Robert Martienssen | "For outstanding contributions to genetics and epigenetics, including defining the role of RNA interference in inherited gene silencing and in genomic stability in the germ line."
For outstanding contributions to genetics and epigenetics, including determining the role of RNA interference in inherited gene silencing and in germline gene stability. |
Others
The Leopoldina , in which Charles Darwin was a member, awarded a Darwin plaque to 18 evolutionary biologists and geneticists on the 100th anniversary of the publication of his work On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection in 1959 . The Linnean Society of London awarded 20 Silver Darwin Wallace Medals to 20 scientists on the same occasion in 1958 .
Individual evidence
- ↑ Michael Kaasch, Joachim Kaasch, Uwe Hossfeld: For special services to evolutionary research and genetics. The Darwin plaque from the Leopoldina in 1959 . In: Acta Historica Leopoldina . Volume 46, 2006, pp. 333-427 ( PDF ( Memento of February 21, 2007 in the Internet Archive )).
Web links
- The Darwin Medal (1890) on the website of the Royal Society (English)