Cunningham Medal Presentation

The Cunningham Medal is presented once every three years by the President and Council of the Royal Irish Academy.  Mary E. Daly, the first female President of the Academy, made the presentation to this year's awardee in the Sciences Dervilla Donnelly, MRIA who is also the first female awardee of this medal. This year's awardee, Dervilla M.X. Donnelly was recognised for her outstanding contributions to scholarship and the objectives of the Academy. 

There was an engaging conversation between the Science Secretary of the Academy, Professor Pat Guiry, MRIA and Professor Dervilla Donnelly, MRIA.  Pat Guiry moderated a warm and enlightening conversation about Dervilla's career with some questions and comments by guests in the audience which was made up of colleagues of Dervilla's from her wide and varied career.

Professor Dervilla M.X. Donnelly, MRIA

Professor Dervilla M.X. Donnelly MRIA is awarded the Cunningham Medal in the area of the Sciences. She has been a generous and enlightened leader in scholarship and the wider community, nationally and internationally. She has combined contributions in education and research of public service commitments. As Chair of Phytochemistry at UCD she supervised 85 PhD students to completion. She has been recognised by numerous honours and awards and holds honorary doctorates from the University of Nottingham, QUB, TCD, NUI and UCD. She has contributed extensively to the work of the Academy and served on Council and in Office.