Medal of Merit in Research and University Education
| Medal of Merit in Research and University Education | |
|---|---|
Golden badge medal | |
| Awarded by the King of Spain | |
| Type | medal of merit |
| Established | 19 May 1980 |
| Royal house | House of Bourbon-Anjou |
| Eligibility | Spanish and foreign citizens |
| Awarded for | outstanding services in the fields of university education and scientific and technical research |
| Status | Extant |
| Sovereign | King Felipe VI |
| Grand Chancellor | Diana Morant, Minister of the Science |
| Chancellor | Under-Secretary of Science |
| Grades | Gold Silver Bronze |
| Post-nominals | MMIEU |
| Statistics | |
| First induction | 2010 |
| Total inductees | 9 |
The Medal of Merit in Research and University Education (Spanish: Medalla al Mérito en la Investigación y en la Educación Universitaria) is a Spanish decoration whose purpose is to reward those individuals or entities who have distinguished themselves in the development and promotion of university education and scientific and technical research.
This decoration was established in May 1980 by minister Luis González Seara, however, it was not until 19 November 2010, more than 30 years after the creation of the Medal, that the first medal was awarded.[1] The first person to receive this honor was the biochemist Santiago Grisolía, 1st Marquess of Grisolía.[2][3]
Grades and symbols
The medal is divided into three grades: gold, silver and bronze. All grades use the same symbols and insignias, described as follows:[4]
Article 1. The "Medal for Merit in Research and University Education", in its three categories—gold, silver, and bronze—will consist of a cartouche flanked by two laurel branches. This cartouche will bear an oval shield with the traditional arms of Castile, León, Aragon, Navarre, and Granada, and in the center, three fleurs-de-lis (representing the ruling House of Bourbon-Anjou). The entire design will be surrounded by the inscription "Merit in Research and University Education". A royal crown will surmount the design.
On the reverse, an effigy of King Alfonso VIII will be depicted, along with the inscription "Adephonsvs VIII. Rex. Studium. Palentinvm. A.D. MCCVIII. Institvit" (King Alfonso VIII founded the University of Palencia in the year 1208").
The metal elements of the medal will be gold, silver, or bronze, depending on the category, and its dimensions will be 85 millimeters long by 47 millimeters wide.
Article 2. The Medal will be worn hanging from a green ribbon 45 millimeters wide with a central white stripe of 4 millimeters.
Article 3. In the gold and silver categories, this decoration will also include on the left side of the chest a badge consisting of a reduced-size version of the Order's Medal superimposed on a halo 80 millimeters in diameter. All of this will be in gold or silver, depending on the medal's category.
— Luis González Seara, Order of the Minister of Universities and Research, 15 July 1980.
Advisory Council
An Advisory Council will be established to advise the science minister on whether or not to award a medal. This Council is chaired by the Ministry's Under-Secretary and integrated by: the president of the Spanish National Research Council, four university rectors, four relevant personalities in the university and research fields and a representative of each category of winners. The head of the Administrative Office of the Undersecretaiat acts as the Council's secretary.[5]
Any individual or organization, public or private, related to the university and science, may nominate a candidate.[5]
Recipients
| Name | Profession | Category | Year of concession | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santiago Grisolía, 1st Marquess of Grisolía | biochemist | Gold | 2010[2][3] | |
| María Vallet-Regí | inorganic chemist | Gold | 2019[6] | |
| María Dolores Cabezudo Ibáñez | food chemist researcher | Gold | 2019[6] | |
| Emilio Lledó | philosopher | Gold | 2019[6] | |
| Margarita Salas, 1st Marchioness of Canero | biochemist | Gold | 2019[7] | Posthumously |
| Santos Juliá | historian | Gold | 2019[8] | Posthumously |
| Mariano Esteban Rodríguez | virologist | Silver | 2020[9] | |
| Luis Enjuanes Sánchez | virologist | Silver | 2020[9] | |
| María José Alonso | pharmacy researcher | Silver | 2020[10] |
See also
References
- ^ Ramírez Jiménez, David (2024). "La Medalla al Mérito en la Investigación y en la Educación Universitaria" [The Medal of Merit in Research and University Education] (PDF). Real Academia Matritense de Heráldica y Genealogía (in Spanish): 6.
- ^ a b Europa Press (19 November 2010). "El Gobierno concede la Medalla de oro en Investigación y Educación Universitaria al científico Santiago Grisolía". www.20minutos.es - Últimas Noticia (in Spanish). Retrieved 15 March 2026.
- ^ a b El Confidencial (22 November 2010). "Al científico Santiago Grisolía, que ha recibido la Medalla de Oro al Mérito en Investigación y Educación Universitaria por toda su trayectoria". Confidencial Digital (in Spanish). Retrieved 15 March 2026.
- ^ Ministry of Universities and Research (28 August 1980). "Orden de 15 de julio de 1980 por la que se fijan las características y dimensiones de la Medalla al Mérito en la Investigación y en la Educación Universitaria". Official State Gazette (in Spanish). Retrieved 15 March 2026.
- ^ a b Ministry of Universities and Research (29 May 1980). "Real Decreto 1025/1980, de 19 de mayo, por el que se crea la Medalla al Mérito en la Investigación y en la Educación Universitaria". Official State Gazette (in Spanish). Retrieved 15 March 2026.
- ^ a b c Press, Europa (1 March 2019). "Mª Dolores Cabezudo, Emilio Lledó y María Vallet, Medalla al Mérito en Investigación y Educación Universitaria". COPE (in Spanish). Retrieved 15 March 2026.
- ^ PRess, Europa (15 November 2019). "El Gobierno concede a Margarita Salas la Medalla al Mérito en la Investigación". El Comercio: Diario de Asturias (in Spanish). Retrieved 15 March 2026.
- ^ "Salas y Juliá reciben a título póstumo Medalla al Mérito en la Investigación". La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 27 July 2020. Retrieved 15 March 2026.
- ^ a b Prieto, Olga (27 July 2020). "Luis Enjuanes, Mariano Esteban y María José Alonso reciben la Medalla de Plata al Mérito en la Investigación". Salud a Diario (in Spanish). Retrieved 15 March 2026.
- ^ "La docente de la USC María José Alonso, distinguida con la Medalla al Mérito en Investigación y Educación Universitaria". El Correo Gallego (in Spanish). 28 July 2020. Retrieved 15 March 2026.