The Royal Irish Academy/Acadamh Ríoga na hÉireann champions research. We identify and recognise Ireland’s world class researchers. We support scholarship and promote awareness of how science and the humanities enrich our lives and benefit society. We believe that good research needs to be promoted, sustained and communicated. The Academy is run by a Council of its members. Membership is by election and considered the highest academic honour in Ireland.
Read more about the RIAThe Royal Irish Academy recognises excellence and inspires future generations of thought-leaders through awards and medals.
Our awards and medals identify and celebrate the achievements and international impact of Ireland’s world class researchers along with individual contributions to the advancement of the Academy itself. While these awards and medals presented to individual researchers, it is broadly accepted as a recognition of the extraordinary work of institutes, research teams and individual dedication to the advancement of the Academy and its objectives.
On Monday, 4 April Mary Canning, PRIA presented Ruth Byrne, Professor of Cognitive Science, Trinity College Dublin with the 2021 Royal Irish Academy Gold Medal in the Social Sciences and Jennifer McElwain, Professor of Botany, Trinity College Dublin with the 2021 Royal Irish Academy Gold Medal in the Environmental Sciences and Geosciences.
The closing date for nominations has been extended until Monday, 18 July at 17:00.
The Royal Irish Academy Gold Medals were presented to Richard English, MRIA, Professor of Politics and Vincent Fusco, MRIA, Professor of Electronic Engineering and Head of High Frequency Electronics Research at Queen’s University Belfast to honour their outstanding contributions to the Social Sciences and the Engineering Sciences, respectively.
