MR Banks Medal

Introduction

In 1997, the Royal Society of Tasmania instituted the MR Banks Medal to be awarded biennially to a scholar of distinction in mid-career, in any field within the Society’s purview. The Medal honours Dr Maxwell R Banks’ contributions to science and the Royal Society of Tasmania.

Conditions of the Award

The recipient shall be a scholar of distinction in mid-career, between eight and a maximum of 15 years or 15 equivalent full-time years post PhD graduation. The Honours Committee retains the right to exercise discretion in the application of this condition.
The scholar to be recognized should be rapidly developing a standing in his/her field and be winning international recognition from peers.
The Award may be made in any field within the purview of the Society.
The research is to have been largely carried out in Tasmania or under the aegis of a Tasmanian-based organisation.
The medal is to be awarded every two years, alternating with, and not in the same year as, the Peter Smith Medal.
After the conferring of the Award, the recipient may be invited to address the Society by delivering the “MR Banks Lecture”.

Biography

Maxwell Robert Banks (1925-2014) was an expert on the geology and resources of Tasmania. Banks held various RST offices between 1966 and 1996 and was Editor of the Papers and Proceedings of The Royal Society of Tasmania for 27 years. He published prolifically, including in education.

In 1998 the Royal Society of Tasmania awarded the inaugural MR Banks Medal.

Guidelines

Click here to view the guidelines.

Established in Mar, 1997

Being awarded in 2025

Past Recipients

2023 Assoc Prof Alex Bissember
2021 Dr Rebecca Carey
2019 Dr Eloise Foo and Prof Arko Lucieer
2017 M C Breadmore
2015 M A King
2013 E Hilder
2011 E Wapstra
2009 S Wijffels
2007 J C Vickers
2005 Brian Yates
2003 Dr Steven Rintoul
2001 Prof N Pankhurst
1998 Dr Trevor McDougall

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The Royal Society of Tasmania is a member of The Royal Societies of Australia

Acknowledgement of Country

The Royal Society of Tasmania acknowledges, with deep respect, the traditional owners of this land, and the ongoing custodianship of the Aboriginal people of Tasmania. The Society pays respect to Elders past, present and emerging. We acknowledge that Tasmanian Aboriginal Peoples have survived severe and unjust impacts resulting from invasion and dispossession of their Country. As an institution dedicated to the advancement of knowledge, the Royal Society of Tasmania recognises Aboriginal cultural knowledge and practices and seeks to respect and honour these traditions and the deep understanding they represent.