Huxley Memorial Medal and Lecture
The Huxley Memorial Medal and Lecture was established in 1900 by the Royal Anthropological Institute to honour the contributions of biologist Thomas Henry Huxley. It is awarded annually to scientists who have distinguished themselves in any field of anthropological research, with recipients selected by the Institute’s council. Laureates receive a commemorative medal and deliver a memorial lecture, typically held in November. Topics of the lectures have ranged widely across anthropological disciplines, and recipients have come from countries around the world. The award was interrupted only during World War I from 1917 to 1919 and has otherwise been presented continuously.
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Laureates
1900
First awarded
Annually in November
Announcement
Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland
Presented by
Awards by year
Distinguished contributions to anthropological research
History
In May 1896, the Royal Anthropological Institute convened a Huxley Memorial Lecture Committee to plan a lecture series in honour of Thomas Henry Huxley. The award and associated lecture were officially established in 1900, with the first lecture delivered by Lord Avebury on 13 November 1900. It continued annually thereafter, except from 1917 to 1919 when lectures were suspended due to World War I. In 1984, Junichiro Itani became the first Japanese recipient for his work on the evolution of primate social structures. In the 21st century, the medal and lecture remain among the most prestigious honours in anthropology and are granted to scholars worldwide.
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