RSE Lady Margaret Moir Medal

The RSE Lady Margaret Moir Medal recognises exceptional achievements in physical, engineering and informatic sciences (including mathematics) by an early career researcher.

This award meets the Society’s strategic objectives of recognising and rewarding excellence in and increasing public understanding of the physical, engineering, and informatic sciences (including mathematics). The awardees are required to have a Scottish connection but can be based anywhere in the world.

Early career researcher is defined as “a researcher with a minimum of two years postdoctoral work experience and no more than ten years postdoctoral work experience” (i.e. research fellows to lecturers in their first academic posts are eligible). For those not based in academia ‘early career’ is defined as “individuals who have demonstrated outstanding ability in their work and professional practice within thirteen years of graduation.”

Nominations

The call for nominations for RSE Medals is currently closed.

About Lady Margaret Moir

Lady Margaret Moir (1864 – 1942) was an Edinburgh-born, engineer, workers’ relief organiser, and founding member of the Women’s Engineering Society in 1919. She was awarded the OBE in recognition of her work in organising the Week End Relief Scheme for women workers during WWI; having witnessed first-hand the challenges of working in munition factories, Moir’s scheme saw herself and other privileged women take the place of full-time workers, allowing the workers weekends off. As President of the Women’s Engineering Society, she promoted engineering courses for women in several polytechnics and was a prominent supporter of ‘electrical education’ – the power of electricity to transform women’s domestic lives and to advance industry.

Medallists

The RSE relaunched its medals in autumn 2022 to better reflect the important, and often overlooked, input of eminent women to the sciences, arts, and letters in Scotland. The RSE Lady Margaret Moir Medal was formally the RSE Sir Thomas Makdougall Brisbane Medal.

RSE Lady Margaret Moir Medallists:

2025

Dr Christopher Berry, University of Glasgow

For the breadth and depth of his research on data analysis and astrophysics of gravitational wave sources. His commitment to public outreach and science communication, his leadership and service for the gravitational wave community in Scotland, the UK and internationally, and his mentorship of students have proven Dr Berry a deserving recipient of this medal.

and

Dr Audrey Repetti, Heriot-Watt University

For her contributions to non-convex optimisation and machine learning theory for computational imaging, leading to the creation of algorithmic structures and hypothesis testing tools that have had a far-reaching impact in medical and astronomical imaging.

2023

Dr Emily Draper, YAS Member University of Glasgow

For her highly innovative research concerning the development of an understanding of self-assembly phenomena as applied to organic electronics and small angle neutron scattering (SANS). Dr Draper has also undertaken a considerable amount of work within the supramolecular Chemistry community concerning equality, diversity, inclusion and accessibility of marginalised chemists.

RSE Sir Thomas Makdougall Brisbane Medallists:

2022

Dr Jonathan Fraser University of St Andrews

For his world-leading research in fractal geometry. Through his work, Dr Fraser has pioneered new directions, attracted global interest, and, solved several long-standing problems in the field. In addition, he has been dedicated to outreach activities across Scotland.

2021

Dr Mehul Malik Heriot-Watt University

For his work in pushing the boundaries of our understanding of quantum mechanics and its use in modern technologies such as quantum cryptography and communications. His world-leading contributions to understanding high dimensional entanglement and the development of techniques for quantum communications and cryptography are currently adopted in labs worldwide.

2019

Dr Martin Lavery University of Glasgow

For their outstanding contribution to photonics, working on a diverse range of ongoing experiments including free-space optical communications and underwater optical communications.

2018

Dr Kimberley Kavanagh University of Strathclyde

For their outstanding, internationally renowned research in public health epidemiology and health informatics.

2017

Dr Stephen Brusatte University of Edinburgh

For their outstanding research work in the field of palaeontology and particularly his work on preserving Scotland’s fossil heritage and the impact that is having through his huge public engagement portfolio.

2016

Dr Malcolm Macdonald University of Strathclyde

For their outstanding research work in the development and application of space mission systems to challenge conventional ideas and advance new concepts in the exploration and exploitation of space. Dr Macdonald is a member of the RSE Young Academy of Scotland.

2015

Dr Stefan Hild University of Glasgow

For their outstanding research work in physics and his international profile in this field. Dr Hild is a member of the RSE Young Academy of Scotland.

2014

Professor Per Ola Kristensson, University of Cambridge

For his interdisciplinary research that intersects human-computer interaction (HCI), artificial intelligence and machine learning. 

Catherine Cazin, University of St Andrews

For her work on homogeneous catalysis to target sustainable synthetic transformations.

2013

Professor Aidan Robson, University of Glasgow

For his research in experimental high-energy particle physics.

2012

Professor Sharon Ashbrook, University of St Andrews 

For her work in developing a world-leading research group in materials chemistry.

Professor Rob Jenkins, University of York

For his research in cognitive psychology, specialising in face perception, visual attention, and social cognition.