The Linnean Society of London Announces 2022 Medal and Award Winners
From studies in freshwater fish diversity in Sri Lanka to Ethiopian flora, from ground-breaking work in palaeobiological data to innovative techniques in coral reef recovery — 2022's list of outstanding work in the natural sciences
Published on 6th April 2022
Every year, the Linnean Society of London awards a number of medals and awards to celebrate excellence in science, from botany to zoology, to honouring those blazing a trail in microscopy, and recognising the contributions of amateur naturalists to the wider biological sciences.
This year’s list of awardees is replete with examples of distinction — from studies in freshwater fish diversity in Sri Lanka to Ethiopian flora, to ground-breaking work in palaeobiological data. We hope that the pioneering and illuminating work that lies at the foundation of these brilliant natural science careers will inspire you as well. Please join us in congratulating this year’s winners.
All medals and awards will be officially presented at the Society’s AGM/Anniversary Meeting in May.
The Linnean Society’s awards and medals celebrate natural historians from inside and outside academia for their accomplishments in improving our understanding of the natural world. These extraordinary people have shown, across many branches of natural history, how in-depth study and practice can not only increase knowledge but can address some of our world’s pressing environmental problems.
Emerging from the pandemic, we have seen how much nature means to our own health, both mental and physical. Understanding, valuing and protecting the natural world is integral to the health of both the planet and ourselves. Our winners have all shown inspirational ways forward.
Linnean Medal (Zoology) — Mr Rohan Pethiyagoda
(Awarded for services to science)
Rohan has played a critical role in the understanding and conservation of the astonishing freshwater fish diversity of Sri Lanka and the region more broadly, through original research and support for others.
Full Citation
Linnean Medal (Botany) — Professor Sebsebe Demissew
(Awarded for services to science)
Sebsebe’s decades of work on the Ethiopian flora have been grounded in respect for, and the preservation of, traditional knowledge. His advocacy for natural history has guided the work of the Intergovernmental Science — Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES).
Full Citation
Bicentenary Medal — Dr James Rosindell
(Awarded in recognition of the work of a biologist under 40)
James has developed ground-breaking new ways of looking at how diversity evolves, and innovative ways of visualising this, enabling communication far beyond the scientific community.
Full Citation
Darwin-Wallace Medal — Professor David Jablonski
(Awarded for major advances in evolutionary biology)
David has led the way in the use of palaeobiological data to address macroevolutionary patterns over diverse timescales; his work on past mass extinctions exemplifies the importance of hierarchical thinking in palaeobiology.
Full Citation
HH Bloomer Award — Mr Geoffrey Kibby
(Awarded to an amateur naturalist for their contribution to biology)
Geoffrey has made knowledge of fungal biodiversity — probably the least known kingdom of eukaryotes in the UK — accessible through field guides, publications and mentorship of other citizen scientists.
Full Citation
Trail-Crisp Award — Mrs Frieda Christie
(Awarded for an outstanding contribution to biological microscopy)
Frieda has been instrumental in developing microscopy techniques for visualising important characters for taxonomy, development and cytology for botanical research, particularly in the African violet family.
Full Citation
Irene Manton Prize — Dr Bruno Pok Man Ngou
(Awarded for the best doctoral thesis in botany at a UK university)
Bruno’s PhD thesis on effector-triggered immunity in plant disease resistance reshaped fundamental understanding of the plant immune system, contributing to development of durably disease-resistant crops.
Full Citation
John C. Marsden Medal — Dr Timothy AC Lamont
(Awarded for the best doctoral thesis in biology in a UK university)
Timothy’s PhD thesis used innovative acoustical techniques to document coral reef recovery after natural disaster on the Great Barrier Reef, leading to new methods for coral reef restoration.
Full Citation
Jill Smythies Prize — Dr Andrew Brown
(Awarded for outstanding diagnostic illustrations in botanical art)
Andrew’s detailed diagnostic illustrations in support of numerous botanical publications enhance and complement the scientific content of a wide range of publications, from floras to popular magazines.
Full Citation