The Department of Chemistry is delighted to announce that Professor Steve Ley has been awarded the Royal Medal for 2011 for his pioneering research in organic chemistry and outstanding contributions to the methodology of synthesis.
The Royal Medals are awarded for the most important contributions in the physical, biological and applied sciences.
The three Royal Medals, also known as the Queen’s Medals, are awarded annually by the Sovereign on the recommendation of the Council of the Royal Society. Frederick Sanger FRS, Max Perutz FRS and Francis Crick FRS are among those who have been awarded a Royal Medal.
Each year two medals are awarded for the most important contributions “to the advancement of Natural Knowledge” in the physical and biological sciences respectively. A third medal is awarded for distinguished contributions in the applied sciences.
The Royal Medals were founded by HM King George IV in 1825. Between 1826 and 1964 two medals were awarded each year. In 1965 the third medal, covering the applied sciences, was introduced on behalf of HM The Queen.