Wollaston Medal
| Wollaston Medal | |
|---|---|
Front and reverse sides of the Wollaston Medal | |
| Awarded for | Significant contributions to geology |
| Sponsored by | Geological Society of London |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| First award | 1831 |
| Website | www |
| Precedence | |
| Next (higher) | None |
| Next (lower) | Lyell Medal |
The Wollaston Medal is a scientific award for geology and the highest award granted by the Geological Society of London, the oldest geological society in the world. It is considered to be the most prestigious award in geology, and is given for outstanding contributions to geoscience. The medal is named after English chemist William Hyde Wollaston, and was first awarded in 1831.
The Wollaston Medal was originally made of gold (1831–1845), and then palladium, which was the metal discovered by Wollaston (1846–1860). It was switched to gold again from 1861 to 1929, and then back to palladium from 1930 to present.