Ralph Slatyer Medal

Ralph Slatyer Medal

The Research School of Biology established the Ralph Slatyer medal for outstanding research in the field of biology, including biomedical science, in honour of emeritus Professor Ralph Slatyer AO, FAA, FRS. Professor Slatyer was a distinguished scientist, a former Director of the RSB and the first Chief Scientist of Australia (1989 – 1992).

The medal is awarded annually, to a person who has made an outstanding contribution to biological science and is an Australian citizen, or Australian resident, or whose work has significant relevant to Australia. It may be awarded for either a major discovery or for a lifetime’s achievement.

The medal was designed by Steven Holland, who was Artist in Residence at RSB, in 2015, under the ANU Vice-Chancellor’s College Artist Fellowship Scheme.

The design features Snow Gum (Eucalyptus pauciflora) leaves collected from the Snowy Mountains, both tree and location having special meaning to Professor Slatyer.

The centre of the design represents the sun, and the inner wavy lines represent plant-water relations and photosynthesis.

Recipients

2023 - Professor Jennifer Martin, University of Queensland 

2022 - Professor Belinda Medlyn, Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University 

2021 - Professor Edward Holmes, University of Sydney, Institute for Infectious disease

2020 - Professor Jane Elith, University of Melbourne School of Botany

2019 - Professor Geoff McFadden, University of Melbourne School of Biosciences

2018 - Professor Rana Munns, CSIRO and the University of Western Australia

2017 - Professor Mark Westoby, Macquarie University