Sound science:Boyle Medal to be awarded every two years
THE BOYLE Medal, an award acknowledging scientific excellence in Ireland and by Irish people abroad, will now be presented every two years, it was announced last night.
The awarding of the RDS-Irish Times Boyle Medal was originally presented every four years, but from 2009 it will be presented every second year, according to the president of the Royal Dublin Society, Dr Tony Scott.
Speaking at the opening of nominations last night, Dr Scott, a joint founder of the Young Scientist competition, said the "medal remains the premier science award in the country".
Dr Scott said the purpose of the award, which has been presented 36 times over the past 100 years, was to recognise the scientific talent here in Ireland. He added: "Ireland has produced some great scientists over the years who have made huge contributions to society."
The medal will be awarded to any scientist or pure mathematician resident in Ireland whose research has made an internationally recognised contribution to their field of study. The award will carry a cash prize of €20,000.
Many of Ireland's most eminent scientists have won a Boyle Medal, including: the chief scientific advisor to the Government, Prof Patrick Cunningham; the first director of Teagasc, Thomas J Walsh and the founder of the Economic Research Institute (now the Economic and Social Research Institute), Roy C Geary.
Among those present at the opening of nominations in the RDS last night were UCD vice-president for research, Prof Desmond Fitzgerald; head of TCD school of chemistry, Prof David Grayson; Irish Times Trust members Dr Ruth Barrington, chief executive of Molecular Medicine Ireland, and Tom Arnold, chief executive of Concern Worldwide. Dick Ahlstrom, Science Editor of The Irish Times, also spoke.
Nominations for the 2009 medal will be accepted from academic, scientific and industrial bodies until February 2nd, 2009.