The Edinburgh Medal
The Edinburgh Medal was instituted by the City of Edinburgh Council in 1988. Each year this prestigious award is given to men and women of science and technology whose professional achievements are judged to have made a significant contribution to the understanding and well-being of humanity. The Medalist then delivers a lecture at the Edinburgh Science Festival.
Edinburgh Medal 2021
Our 2021 Edinburgh Medal recipient is Heidi Larson, awarded in recognition of the role she has played in recognising the importance of popular and widespread misunderstandings of vaccines; approaching it with empathy and understanding, not condemnation, developing programmes and international organisation and networks to practically engage with communities to advance public health and social well-being.
Watch the Medal address here:
The 2020 Edinburgh Medal was awarded to environmentalist and political activist Sunita Narain for her major role in Indian and global environment and development policy formulation.
Previous Recipients
2020 Sunita Narain
2019 Christiana Figueres
2018 Prof Cordelia Fine
2017 Prof Peter Piot
2016 Kevin Govender and the IAU
2015 Mary Midgley
2014 Prof Mary Abukutsa-Onyango
2013 Prof Peter Higgs and CERN
2012 Dr James Hansen
2011 Prof Carl Djerassi
2010 Sir Alex Jefferies
2009 Prof Jonathan Beckwith
2008 Prof Chris Rapley
2007 Dr Richard Horton
2006 Prof James Lovelock
2005 Prof Colin Blakemore
2004 Prof Steven Rose
2003 Prof Wang Sung
2002 Dr Lise Kingo
2001 Sir John Sulston
2000 Prof Lynn Margulis
1999 Prof Jocelyn Bell Burnell
1998 Sir David Attenborough
1997 Prof Amartya Sen
1996 Prof Richard Levins
1995 Sir John Crofton
1994 Prof Manuel Pattarroya
1993 Prof Wangari Maathai
1992 Prof Heinz Wolff
1991 Prof Jane Goodall
1990 Prof Stephen J Gould
1989 Prof Abdus Salam
