Distinguished academics recognised in RSE medals 2018

His Royal Highness, the Duke of Cambridge, Prince William presented the RSE Royal Medals to distinguished individuals.

On Thursday 5 July 2018, the RSE welcomed HRH The Duke of Cambridge KG KT to the Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE) where he presented the esteemed Royal Medals and the IEEE/RSE James Clerk Maxwell Award to exceptional individuals from the fields of Engineering, Molecular Biology and Music.

HRH also signed the historic Fellows’ Roll Book to formally recognise his admission as a Royal Honorary Fellow, a title he was awarded in 2017. During his visit, HRH had the opportunity to meet with several of the RSE’s Enterprise Fellows and members of the RSE’s Outreach programme, who spoke to HRH about their work.

Speaking about the day, President of the RSE, Professor Dame Anne Glover said,

I welcome this opportunity to recognise the outstanding achievements of these talented individuals. Today has been a wonderful celebration of the wide-ranging achievements and success of these medallists.

We are thrilled to welcome His Royal Highness, the Duke of Cambridge, to the RSE to present these Royal Medals and to officially recognise his status as a Royal Honorary Fellow of the RSE. As this was His Royal Highness’ first visit to the RSE, we are delighted that HRH took such an interest in learning about the RSE’s work, particularly that of our Outreach Programme and Enterprise Fellows.”

RSE Royal Medallists 2018:

David Climie OBE, Project Director, Transport Scotland, Edinburgh, has built a reputation as one of the world’s greatest bridge builders.  Mr Climie’s contribution to bridge building around the world has resulted in economic and social growth for the countries he has worked in.  He is awarded a Royal Medal for his outstanding contribution to the field of Civil Engineering, particularly for his work on the Queensferry Crossing.

Professor Richard Henderson CH FRS, Emeritus Group Leader, the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, University of Cambridge and Nobel Laureate in Chemistry 2017, is a pioneering scientist in the field of electron microscopy whose work has led to advances that have resulted in new treatments for various diseases, with a lasting impact on humanity.  He is awarded a Royal Medal for his outstanding contribution to the field of Molecular Biology.

Thea Musgrave CBE, internationally recognised composer and conductor, New York, USA, is considered one of the most influential and successful Scottish composers of her time.  Through her work she has brought Scottish composition and musicianship international recognition. She is awarded a Royal Medal for her outstanding contribution to the betterment of humankind through music.

IEEE/RSE James Clerk Maxwell Medal 2018:

Mr Thomas Bryn Haug, Former Chairman, Special Mobile Group, CEPT ETSI, and

Mr Philippe Raymond Dupuis, Former Chairman, Special Mobile Group, CEPT / ETSI.

They have been recognised for their leadership in the development of the first international mobile communications standard with subsequent evolution into worldwide smartphone data communication.