Our new medals and awards: sharing the success stories of Welsh innovation and research
The Learned Society of Wales has launched a new range of medals and awards to highlight Wales’ extraordinary researchers and innovators.
Wales boasts countless imaginative, inventive and creative people who use this talent to carry out vital research in its industries, its universities and its public and charitable sectors. Our researchers and innovators, in the arts, humanities, sciences and medicine, are the drivers of Wales’ future well-being and success.
Wales can do so much more to recognise them and their work, and to share the stories of their achievements as far and wide as possible. Our annual medals and awards will do just that.
We have awarded medals since 2016 to people at all stages of their research careers. This year, as we celebrate St David’s Day, we launch a brand-new set of medals and awards, all of them named after pioneering figures from Wales’ past. They are our way of banging the drum for the full range of exciting research and innovation taking place in Wales and the impact it is having.
The medals and awards are named after some of Wales’ most important innovators
We will present twelve different medals and awards over a rolling two-year period, six of them this year (and subsequently in 2028), with the next six awarded first in 2027 (and every other year thereafter).
They are named after some of Wales’ most extraordinary historical figures, all of whom were pioneers in their fields, often succeeding against the odds. We are confident that our medallists and award-winners will contribute in their own ways to Wales’ history of innovation and be part of the story of our future successes.
The new medals and awards each come with a striking illustration from Welsh artist ‘Sketchy Welsh’.
Nominating a team or individual: a quick and simple online process
For the first time, teams, as well as individuals, are eligible. Anyone, or any organisation, can nominate an individual or team to receive an award or medal, using a simple and quick online form.
Nominations run until 1 June, with the recipients announced at a special awards ceremony later in the autumn.
Details of the all the awards and medals
Impact Awards
- Lady Rhondda Award for Outstanding Achievement (first awarded in 2026)
This award, named after the suffragette and industrialist Margaret Mackworth, recognises outstanding achievement in any area of research or innovation. - Professor Millicent Mackenzie Award for the Advancement of EDI in Academic or Professional Life (first awarded in 2026)
This award is named after Wales’ first female university Professor and is for a team or individual who advocate for or embed Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI). - Frances Batty Shand Award for Impact of Research or Professional Practice (first awarded in 2027)
Frances Batty Shand was a charitable activist and philanthropist who founded the Cardiff institute for the Blind. This award recognises a team or individual who have had an impact beyond the scope of their work or discipline. - Aneurin Bevan Award for Excellence in Collaborative Working (first awarded in 2027)
This award, named after the MP who was the chief architect of the National Health Service, recognises collaborative working across teams or organisations.
Established Career Medals
- Gwen John Medal (first awarded in 2026)
This medal, named after the celebrated painter, will celebrate someone working in the Arts and Humanities. - Alfred Russel Wallace Medal (first awarded in 2026)
The medal will be awarded to someone working in Biosciences and Medicine. Wallace is know for proposing the idea of natural selection at the same time and independently of Charles Darwin. - Megan Lloyd George Medal (first awarded in 2027)
This medal is named after Wales’ first female Member of Parliament and celebrates significant contributions to the discipline of Social Sciences by established individuals working in research or innovation. - William Menelaus Medal (first awarded in 2027)
This medal celebrates significant contributions to the discipline of Engineering, Physical Sciences and Maths and is named after the engineer and iron and steel manufacturer.
Early Career Medals
The Dillwyn Medals are awarded to early career researchers and are named after the famed family who, across generations, made important contributions to science and technology.
In 2026, we will award Dillwyn Medals for Social Sciences, and Engineering, Physical Sciences, & Maths.
In 2027, the Medals for Arts and Humanities, and Biosciences and Medicine will be awarded.