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 2020
Our 2020 Edinburgh Medal recipient is Sunita Narain, the Indian environmentalist and political activist.
As a member of the Prime Minister’s Council for Climate Change between 2007 and 2014, she played a major role in Indian and global environment and development policy formulation. She is currently Director General of the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE).
Join Narain to discuss what must be done in our world – to make it less insecure; less angry and less carbon risked. Remember, climate change, like air pollution is a great equaliser. So, what can we do? Our existence is at stake. Nothing less.
Dr Deborah O'Neill, CEO of Novabiotics, will be delivering the oration for the Edinburgh Medal Address.
The 2020 Edinburgh Medal was awarded to Christiana Figueres for her work as a recognised world leader on global climate change and her efforts in bringing nations together to jointly deliver the 2015 Paris Agreement.
Previous Recipients
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
