Nominations have opened for the 2001 RDS/Irish Times Boyle Medal, an award presented for the past century to celebrate excellence in scientific research.
The 2001 award programme is open only to Irish-born researchers who work outside the island of Ireland and whose scientific efforts have earned them international recognition.
The medal is given to researchers who have made a significant contribution in their chosen field and whose work attracts particular distinction among their international peers.
To assist in the nomination process The Irish Times has organised a website with details about the Boyle Medal, its history and its distinguished panel of previous recipients.
The Royal Dublin Society introduced the Boyle Medal and made its first presentation in 1899. The Irish Times joined with the RDS last year, the medal's centenary year, to relaunch the award. It is now a biennial award given alternately to an Irish-based researcher and an Irish-born researcher working abroad.
The award's international dimension is in recognition of the many fine Irish researchers who have left to pursue careers overseas and who have advanced the cause of scientific discovery. While recognised abroad for their important contributions, the quality and significance of the work done by these Wild Geese too often remains unknown to the Irish public.
The selection process involves two judging panels, the first charged with producing a shortlist of no more than five exceptional scientists. The second panel is made up of international peers, all noted scientists in their own right who make the final choice of Boyle Medal laureate.
The medal is named after Robert Boyle (1627-1691), one of Ireland's greatest scientists, who is described as the father of chemistry. He developed the law which states that the volume of a gas varies inversely as the pressure upon it when temperature is constant. Scientists of his calibre are encouraged to seek nominations for this prestigious award.
The 2001 award is open only to an Irish-born researcher working abroad. Scientists may not apply themselves but must be nominated by the president or head of college, faculty or research institute, or the managing director or head of research function of a company where the researcher works. The secretary of a professional body may also nominate a candidate or the individual's host organisation or any Irish organisation to which he or she has links.
A special Boyle Medal website gives details of eligibility and the nomination process. A nomination form may also be printed from this site. It is at http:// www.ireland.com/newspaper/science/boyle.htm
Information is also available from Ms Carol Power of the RDS at carol.power@rds.ie or tel 00 353 1 240-7217, or from Ms Maeve O'Mara of The Irish Times at momeara@irishtimes.ie or 00 353 1 679-2022.