Gold Medals for the stars of research

On Tuesday 12 February 2019 Joe McHugh, TD, Minister for Education and Skills presented the Royal Irish Academy Gold Medals to architectural historian, Professor Kathleen James-Chakraborty MRIA (UCD) and Astrophysicist, Professor Stephen J. Smartt MRIA (QUB) at a ceremony in Academy House this evening.

The medals, sponsored by the Higher Education Authority, celebrate the achievements of inspirational figures in higher education in Ireland and acknowledge the global impact of their work. The Gold Medals are considered the highest accolade in scholarly achievement in Ireland.

The Minister for Education and Skills, Joe McHugh T.D., congratulated the gold medal reciepients saying

“The awards acknowledge the exemplary work and the outstanding achievements of Professors James-Chakraborty and Smartt, both in Ireland and internationally. The awards demonstrate the commitment of the academics to the highest standards of scholarship. They have been judged by their peers to have made outstanding contributions in their respective fields and their work is an inspiration to our future generations of researchers.”

Professor Peter Kennedy, President of the Royal Irish Academy, said

‘the Royal Irish Academy Gold Medals recognise world leaders in their research fields. Ireland should be very proud of the outstanding research that takes place in Ireland north and south’.

Paul O’Toole, CEO of the Higher Education Authority said,

‘The HEA is once again sponsoring the Gold Medals to recognise research excellence in Ireland. We need trailblazers in research to explore, to challenge and to explain – the gold medal winners are experts in doing this.'