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ÂÒÂ×Ðã neuroscientist and mathematician among Royal Society Medal winners

28 August 2024

ÂÒÂ×Ðã Professors Hannah Fry and Gillian Bates have been honoured with Royal Society Medals in recognition of outstanding work in inspiring young people to pursue maths and for seminal research into Huntington’s disease.

Fry and Bates

Each year the Royal Society, the UK's independent scientific academy, presents a series of prestigious medals and awards to recognise those who have made outstanding contributions to science for the benefit of humanity.Ìý

The David Attenborough Award and LectureÌý

Professor Hannah Fry (ÂÒÂ×Ðã Centre for Advanced Spatial Analysis) was awarded this year’s David Attenborough Award and Lecture, named after the much-loved naturalist and broadcaster.ÌýÌý

The David Attenborough Award is given to an individual who has demonstrated outstanding and sustained public engagement with science, with previous recipients including Professor Sir Jonathan Van-Tam, former Deputy Chief Medical Officer for England, and Dr Adam Rutherford (ÂÒÂ×Ðã Biosciences).ÌýÌý

Professor Fry was honoured for her prolific work as a science communicator and as the foremost populariser of maths in the UK. As an author, science broadcaster and presenter, Professor Fry inspires young people to pursue maths and physics in fun and exciting ways.ÌýÌý

Professor Fry regularly appears on BBC Radio 4, where she presents the popular series ‘The Curious Cases of Rutherford & Fry’, as well as on national television, including BBC’s ‘Horizon’ and Channel 4’s ‘General Election Night’, where she helps viewers make sense of maths, patterns and data.Ìý

The Ferrier Medal and LectureÌý

Professor Gillian Bates (ÂÒÂ×Ðã Queen Square Institute of Neurology), already a Fellow of the Royal Society, was awarded this year’s Ferrier Medal and Lecture by the Royal Society. Created in memory of the pioneering Scottish neurologist and psychologist David Ferrier FRS, the Medal is given on a subject related to the advancement of natural knowledge on the structure and function of the nervous system. ÌýÌý

Professor Bates was recognised for her outstanding work in understanding the molecular basis of Huntington’s disease, a devastating inherited neurodegenerative disorder that affects movement and cognition and is ultimately fatal.ÌýÌý

Since she began her work on Huntington’s disease in 1987, Professor Bates has consistently produced highly impactful findings which have moulded the course of this field.ÌýÌý

Upon learning of her award, Professor Bates said: “I have been fortunate to be able to devote my career to understanding the mechanistic basis of such a devastating disorder as Huntington’s disease.ÌýÌý

“Over the years, I have had the privilege to work with many inspiring and brilliant colleagues. I am delighted and truly honoured to have been awarded the Ferrier Medal by the Royal Society.â€Ìý

Congratulating this year’s award winners, Sir Adrian Smith, President of the Royal Society said, “The scope of scientific knowledge and experience in this year’s line-up is amazing. These outstanding researchers, individuals and teams have contributed to our collective scientific endeavour and helped further our understanding of the world around us.Ìý

“I am proud to celebrate outstanding science and offer my congratulations to all the 2024 recipients of the Royal Society’s Medals and Awards.â€Ìý

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ImageÌý

L-R: Professor Gillian Bates, Professor Hannah FryÌý

Media contactÌýÌý

Sophie HunterÌý

E: sophie.hunter [at] ucl.ac.ukÌý