THE ROYAL IRISH ACADEMY IS IRELAND'S LEADING BODY OF EXPERTS IN THE SCIENCES AND HUMANITIES

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 RIA

Gold Medals

The Royal Irish Academy awards two RIA Gold Medals every year. The medals are awarded to individuals who have made a demonstrable and internationally recognised outstanding scholarly contribution in their fields.

The medals were established in 2005 to acclaim Ireland’s foremost thinkers in the humanities, social sciences, physical and mathematical sciences, life sciences, engineering sciences and the environment and geosciences.

The medals aim to identify and recognise inspirational figures – the stars of the knowledge economy – in order to celebrate the achievements of higher education in Ireland and to inspire future generations. In doing so, the Gold Medals have become recognised as a truly national expression of celebration for scholarly achievement in Ireland.

In 2018 the Academy will award Gold Medals in the Humanities and in the Physical and Mathematical Sciences. Further details here.

Read all the latest Gold Medals news here. Further news items about previous years can be found in our Gold Medals news archive.

RIA Gold Medals awarded since 2005

2017

  • Professor Malcolm MacLachlan - Social Sciences
  • Professor John J. Walsh - Environmental Sciences and Geosciences

2016

  • Professor Louis Cullen - Humanities
  • Professor Fergus Shanahan - Life Sciences

2015

  • Professor Philip R Lane - Social Sciences
  • Professor Alan F Smeaton - Engineering Sciences

2014

  • Professor Desmond Clarke - Humanities 
  • Professor Werner Nahm - Physical & Mathematical Sciences

2013 

  • Professor Rob Kitchin -  Social Sciences 
  • Professor Colin O’Dowd - Environmental Sciences & Geosciences 

2012

  • Professor Dermot Moran - Humanities 
  • Professor Luke O’Neill - Life Sciences 

2011

  • Professor William Schabas - Social Sciences 
  • Professor John Scanlan - Engineering Sciences 

2010

  • Professor Cormac Ó Gráda - Humanities 
  • Professor Samson Shatashvili - Physical & Mathematical Sciences 

2008

  • Professor David Livingstone - Social Sciences 
  • Professor Charles Hepworth Holland - Environmental Sciences & Geosciences 

2007

  • Professor George Eogan-  Humanities 
  • Professor John Fuller Atkins- Life Sciences 

2006

  • Professor Peter Neary - Social Sciences 
  • Professor James Dooge - Engineering Sciences 

2005 

  • Professor John Dillon - Humanities
  • Professor Michael Coey - Physical & Mathematical Sciences 

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