RSE Sir Walter Scott Medal

The RSE Sir Walter Scott Medal recognises exceptional achievements in arts, humanities and social science by an established career researcher.

This award meets with the Society’s strategic objective of increasing public understanding of science and the arts and humanities. The awardees are required to have a Scottish connection but can be based anywhere in the world.

Established career researcher definition: academics who are normally beyond 15 years from the award of their doctorate. This terminology takes no account of either an applicant’s age or current status in determining eligibility for this award. This does not include career breaks.

Nominations

The call for nominations for RSE Medals is currently closed.

About Sir Walter Scott

Sir Walter Scott (1771 – 1832) was a Scottish historical novelist, playwright and poet. He was the first English-language author to have a truly international career in his lifetime, with many contemporary readers in Europe, Australia, and North America. Sir Walter Scott was the third President of the RSE from 1820 to 1832. His novels and poetry are still read, and many of his works remain classics of both English-language literature and of Scottish literature. Famous titles include Ivanhoe, Rob Roy, The Lady of the Lake, Waverley, The Heart of Midlothian and The Bride of Lammermoor.

Medallists

2025

Professor Robert Dunbar, University of Edinburgh

For his international role in furthering policies relating to the promotion and legal protection of minority languages, his prominent and long-standing contribution to the support and development of Scottish Gaelic language and policy in this country and high-quality research in the area of Gaelic literature and culture generally. Through his policy work, teaching and research, he leads on key initiatives relating to the future of Gaelic. His high-profile international advisory roles mark him out as an expert voice in the field, working to ensure governments across Europe preserve the languages of their minorities.

2024

Dr Iain Gordon Brown FSA FRSE, Hon Fellow, National Library of Scotland; Consultant, Sir John Soane’s Museum, London

For his contributions to a national institution that supports academic research in vital ways. Dr Brown has assisted and advised countless scholars all over the world, playing a major part in the expansion of the national collections, and much of his service was devoted to publicising and exploiting them through publications and exhibitions. Without the usual advantages of an academic career, he has established himself as a scholar of distinction.

2023

Professor Richard Bradley FSA, HonFSAScot, FBA, University of Reading

For his outstanding and sustained contribution to Scottish prehistoric archaeology through his fieldwork, service to scholarship and paradigm-changing publications. 

2021

Professor John Peter Renwick, University of Edinburgh

One of the world’s leading experts on the French Enlightenment in recognition for the monumental and ground-breaking contribution he made to the 140-volume Complete Works of Voltaire, and his responsibility in the scholarly resurrection of the highly significant figure, Jean-François Marmontel.

2019

Professor Kathryn Rudy, University of St Andrews

For her outstanding contribution to art history, where her capacity for lateral thinking has meant she has been able to examine a large corpus of manuscripts in ways unexplored by previous scholars.

2018

Professor Duncan Macmillan FRSE, University of Edinburgh

For his outstanding contribution to the appreciation of Scottish Art and its place within the European Tradition.

2017

Professor Robert Bartlett FBA FRSE, University of St Andrews

For his outstanding work as one of the world’s leading historians and his communication to a mass audience through his rigorous, imaginative and highly original research.