/ Medals and awards

Michael Faraday Prize and Lecture

This award is given for excellence in communicating science to UK audiences.

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  • Closing date

  • Winners announcement

The award

The Royal Society Michael Faraday Prize and Lecture is awarded annually to the scientist or engineer whose expertise in communicating scientific ideas in lay terms is exemplary. The award is named after Michael Faraday FRS, the influential inventor and electrical pioneer who was prominent in the public communication of science and founded the Christmas lectures at the Royal Institution. The medal is of silver gilt, is awarded annually and is accompanied by a gift of £2,500.

Eligibility

The Michael Faraday prize and lecture is open to UK/Commonwealth/Irish Republic citizens or those who have been residents for three or more years. There are no restrictions on career stage and nominations will remain valid and shall be considered by the award selection committee throughout three nomination cycles.

For further information on the eligibility criteria and the nominations process, please see our guidance (PDF).  

Nominations are closed

Nominations will reopen in November 2024.

2024 winner

  • Professor Salim Safurdeen Abdool Karim FRS

    Professor Salim Safurdeen Abdool Karim FRS

    The Michael Faraday Prize and Lecture 2024 is awarded to Professor Salim Safurdeen Abdool Karim FRS for his scientific leadership, policy advice, epidemiological analyses, and articulate public education, while actively countering disinformation in Africa, particularly South Africa, during the Covid-19 pandemic. Picture credit: Matthew Henning.

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    Past winners

    • Anil K Seth
      Awarded in 2023

      Professor Anil K Seth

      For his ability to inspire and communicate concepts and advances in cognitive neuroscience and consciousness, and therefore what it means to be human, to the public.
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      Awarded in 2022

      Professor Monica Grady CBE

      Delivered lecture: 'Astronomy by Microscope'.
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      Awarded in 2021

      Professor Sophie Scott CBE FBA FMedSci

      Delivered lecture: 'Funny, peculiar? The Science of Laughter'.
    • David Spiegelhalter
      Awarded in 2020

      Sir David Spiegelhalter OBE FRS

      Delivered lecture: 'Communicating statistics in the time of Covid'.
    • Martyn Poliakoff
      Awarded in 2019

      Sir Martyn Poliakoff CBE FREng FRS

      Delivered lecture: 'The elements of chemistry'.
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      Awarded in 2018

      Professor Danielle George

      Delivered lecture: 'Thinkering': a solution to the Engineering Grand Challenges?'.
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      Awarded in 2017

      Mark Miodownik

      Delivered lecture: 'Can materials science save us (from ourselves)'.
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      Awarded in 2016

      Nick Lane

      Delivered lecture: 'Why is life the way it is?'.
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      Awarded in 2015

      Professor Katherine Willis

      Delivered lecture: 'Genes to beans: polyploidy on a plate'.
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      Awarded in 2014

      Professor Andrea Sella

      Delivered lecture: 'Is chemistry really so difficult?'.
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      Awarded in 2013

      Frank Close

      Delivered lecture: 'For his excellence in science communication'.
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      Awarded in 2012

      Brian Cox

      Delivered lecture: 'Making Britain the best place in the world to do science'.