Emeritus Professor awarded Royal Society’s 2013 Royal Medal

Emeritus Professor Peter Wells CBE FRS, from the School of Clinical Sciences, has been awarded the Royal Society’s 2013 Royal Medal for interdisciplinary sciences.
Professor Wells received the award for pioneering the application of the physical and engineering sciences to the development of ultrasonics as a diagnostic and surgical tool, which has revolutionised clinical practice.

The three Royal Medals, also known as the Queen’s Medals, are awarded annually by the Sovereign on the recommendation of the Council of the Society.

Each year two medals are awarded for the most important contributions “to the advancement of Natural Knowledge” in the physical and biological sciences respectively. A third medal is awarded for distinguished contributions in the applied sciences.

The Royal Medals were founded by HM King George IV in 1825. Between 1826 and 1964 two medals were awarded each year. In 1965 the third medal, covering the applied sciences, was introduced on behalf of HM The Queen. The three medals are of silver gilt and are accompanied by a gift of £5,000.