Royal Watch News

Prince Philip to present RSE awards

Sep 26, 2012, 11:01 GMT

Prince Philip

Britain's Prince Philip is to present the Royal Society of Edinburgh's (RSE) awards.

The Duke of Edinburgh will hand out the accolades - the highest achievements at a ceremony in the Scottish capital - to academics, recognising achievements in their fields.

Dr David Milne and Professor Sir Edwin Southern will receive royal medals, as well as Professor Gerhard Sessler, who will be given the James Clerk Maxwell Award.

RSE president Sir John Arbuthnott said he was delighted that the duke, who is an honorary fellow of the society, will present the awards.

He said: 'These are our highest accolades. We greatly appreciate the interest His Royal Highness has taken in the society over the years and his personal involvement in the presentation of these prestigious awards.'

The RSE awards were introduced by Queen Elizabeth to honour the highest fields of academic achievement.

Professor Sessler will collect the James Clerk Maxwell Award - introduced in 2007 - for his contributions to revolutionising the modern microphone. The professor jointly invented the world's first polymer electric condenser microphone in the 1960s and then in the 1980s co-designed the first micro-electro-mechanical systems condenser microphone.

After presenting the awards, the prince will open an exhibition called From Maxwell to Higgs.