Prizes and titles
In accordance with the the current Charter the Society has the right to give prizes and titles for outstanding achievements in the field of geography and related sciences, for a great contribution to the popularization of the natural, historical, and cultural heritage of Russia, for active environmental protection activities, for the introduction into practice of the best achievements of national science, and for other achievements. In addition, the Society has the right to nominate and support candidates for honorary titles, awards, and prizes awarded by the Russian Federation, the Russian Academy of Sciences, other organizations, as well as governments and organizations of foreign states. In particular, in the regulations on the honorary title "Honored Geographer of the Russian Federation" established by Russian President Vladimir Putin, one of the criteria for nominating candidates for the title is whether they have awards (merit recognition) from the RGS.
To date, the Russian Geographical Society awards the following awards and titles:
| Prizes | Titles |
| Medals | Honorary President |
| Awards | Honorary Member |
| Honorary Diplomas | Pioneer |
|
Certificates of Merit |
|
| Commendations | |
| Personal Scholarships |
The name of awards, the procedure and conditions for their award and presentation, as well as the procedure for nominating candidates for titles are determined by the Regulations on Awards and other internal documents of the Society. By decision of the RGS Governing Council, other awards and titles of the Society may be approved.
To consider submissions for the Society’s awards, the RGS Governing Council has formed the Awards Commission chaired by Vice-President of the Russian Geographical Society K. V. Chistyakov.
Lists of persons and institutions awarded by the RGS, as well as Honorary Members of the Society: 1845–1907, 1845–1910, 1907–1930, 1946–1976, 1970–1994, 1845–2012, 2010–2020.
A selection of unique materials from the collections of the Historical Headquarters of the RGS in St. Petersburg on the activities of famous travelers and scientists who have received well-deserved awards from the Society based on their research is presented in the exhibition project "Golden Fund of the Russian Geographical Society". Historical images of some medals of the RGS are presented at the online exhibition "175 Years of Studying Russia: Geography, Ethnography, Statistics".
The Society appoints, to the extent of its means, monetary or other awards for the resolution of scientific issues proposed to it... The Society, on the proposal of the Council, elects its Honorary Members from persons known for scientific works or patronage of geographical sciences.
— "Grand" medals of the Society (the Konstantin Medal, the Grand Gold Medal for scientific works and the Grand Silver Medal);
— "Name" gold medals of the Society, named after F. P. Litke, P. P. Semenov, N. M. Przhevalsky, I. P. Borodin, A. F. Treshnikov, N. N. Miklukho-Maklai and Yu. A. Senkevich;
— "Small" gold, silver, and bronze medals of the Society.
— for scientific expeditions conducted in Russia and other countries, if their results have become widely known and contain completely new and extremely important information in the field of geography;
— for outstanding research contributing to the development of new areas of geographical science;
— for works that led to the development of new methods used in geographical research;
— for long-term and fruitful work in the field of geographical sciences, if they collectively deserve to be awarded all the name gold medals, but have not yet been awarded the latest.
— for achievements in scientific-organizational and other activities related to the conduct of expeditions and/or the implementation of projects of the RGS;
— for significant contribution to the development of the Society.
— for new and important geographical discoveries in the World Ocean;
— for research on the structure, interaction, and changes of the hydrosphere, atmosphere, and cryosphere of the Earth and their individual parts;
— for essays on the geography of oceans and seas, land hydrology, glaciology, permafrost, geophysics, hydrobiology, meteorology, and climatology, if these essays are devoted to topical issues of scientific development.
— for geographical descriptions of vast parts of Russia and other countries, based on one’s own observations and containing independent views and conclusions about various geographical data;
— for essays on topical issues of general land science, paleogeography, soil geography, physical, socio-economic, political, ecological, and historical geography, regional studies, the history of geographical knowledge and discoveries, which include an in-depth analysis of the available material, if these essays are devoted to topical issues of scientific development; education of new generations of geographers and the creation of scientific schools.
— for new and important geographical discoveries on the plains and in mountainous countries;
— for overland exploration of vast and little-explored areas of unique importance for geographical science;
— for essays on topical issues of cartography, geodesy, military geography, landscape studies, biogeography, mathematical geography, and geomorphology, which include an in-depth analysis of the available material, if these essays are devoted to topical issues of the development of science.
— for the development of new methods and scientific foundations for the preservation of the natural and/or cultural heritage of Russia and the organization of conservation in the Russian Federation;
— for outstanding contribution to the study and practical protection of natural and/or cultural heritage sites in Russia;
— for writings and research in the field of geoecology, ecological geography, rational use of natural resources, and conservation.
— for expedition activities in the Arctic and Antarctic, dedicated to the study of its climatic and other features, as a result of which new scientific discoveries were made;
— for great contribution to the study and development of the polar regions;
— for scientific research conducted in the Arctic latitudes, contributing to the involvement of offshore and other mineral deposits in economic activities;
— for essays on the geography of the polar countries.
— for research in the field of ethnography, anthropology, the study and preservation of cultural heritage, if these studies have led to a significant development of these branches of science and culture;
— for new and important discoveries in the field of ethnography, anthropology, archeology, historical geography, study and preservation of cultural heritage;
— for essays on ethnography, anthropology, archeology, historical geography, which include an in-depth analysis of the available material, if these works are devoted to topical issues of the development of science;
— for outstanding travel in Russia and abroad;
— for scientific expeditions conducted in Russia and abroad in the field of ethnography, anthropology, archeology, historical geography, if their results contain completely new and important data in the field of these branches of science;
— for outstanding achievements in the field of preservation of historical and cultural heritage.
— for long-term and effective work in popularizing the achievements of national geography and related sciences, in environmental protection, ethnographic research, and the preservation of cultural heritage, including among young people;
— for outstanding services in popularizing the history and modern activities of the Russian Geographical Society;
— for innovative achievements in journalism related to national geography and related sciences, environmental protection, ethnographic research, preservation of cultural heritage; for the development and implementation of fundamentally new forms and methods of work in these areas;
— for the development of promising and original topics in the work on popularizing the achievements of Russian geography and related sciences, environmental protection, ethnographic research, cultural heritage preservation, the creation of unique content: feature films and documentaries, TV and radio shows, photographs, printed publications, Internet sites, computer applications;
— for obtaining, under extreme conditions, unique photographic and video materials in the field of national geography and related sciences, environmental protection, ethnographic research, and cultural heritage preservation of great scientific and/or popular science value.
Established in 2014. Awarded from 2014 to the present for achievements in organizing and conducting expeditions, scientific research, educational activities in the field of geography and related sciences, as well as popularization of the natural, historical, and cultural heritage of Russia.
The Honorary Diploma is awarded to the best works and research in the field of geographical science
The Certificate of Merit is awarded to individuals or teams for conscientious work in the field of geography or in the management bodies of the Society.
Commendations are awarded to individuals or teams for achievements within the framework of the Society’s statutory activities.
Personal Scholarships are awarded to students of educational institutions of higher and secondary vocational education, young scientists and young specialists for achievements in scientific and educational activities in the field of geography and related sciences, as well as to young public figures: participants and/or organizers of projects of scientific, educational, environmental, local history or expedition focus for achievements in social activities in the field of geography and related sciences.
The title of Honorary President of the Society is awarded to persons from among the outstanding members of the Society who have held senior positions at the RGS for many years. There can be only one Honorary President in the Society.
The title of Honorary Member of the Society is awarded to persons who are known for their scientific works, active social activities aimed at achieving the goals and solving the issues of the Society, active research activities, who have significant merits to the Society and have been involved in the activities of the Society for many years.
The title of the Pioneer of the Society is given to persons:
— for outstanding geographical discoveries, travels, and scientific achievements;
— for outstanding achievements in the field of public administration;
— for outstanding achievements in public and other activities at the global and national levels.
