Major awards for Edinburgh scientists

Five Edinburgh scientists will receive awards from the Royal Society, the UK’s independent academy for science.

The University researchers are among an elite group of scientists to receive the Society’s highly regarded awards, medals and lectures in recognition of the wider societal impact of their work.

Award recipients

Professor Adrian Bird, the University’s Buchanan Professor of Genetics, will receive the GlaxoSmithKline Prize for his outstanding contributions in the field of epigenetics.

The Rosalind Franklin Award will be presented to Professor Polly Arnold, Chair of Synthetic Inorganic Chemistry, for her proposal to promote women in STEM as well as her scientific achievements.

Professor of Informatics Gordon Plotkin will be awarded the Milner Award for his fundamental research into programming languages.

Professor David Leigh, Forbes Professor of Organic Chemistry, will give the Bakerian Lecture.

It will allude to his pioneering studies on the design and synthesis of artificial molecular motors and machines.

Royal Medal

A Royal Medal is to be awarded to emeritus professor Sir Kenneth Murray.

It is being given in recognition of his crucial contributions to the development of genetic engineering, biotechnology and the study of hepatitis viruses.

I am very proud that so many of our colleagues have been recognised for their excellent scientific work and their commitment to promoting the benefits of science.