Supreme geographical awards

President of the Russian Geographical Society Sergei Shoigu
President of the Russian Geographical Society Sergei Shoigu

President of the Russian Geographical Society, Russian Minister of Defense Sergei Shoigu presented Medals of the Society to three scientists. The award ceremony was held in the framework of the opening of the first Russian Geographical Society Festival - the largest event of this kind for almost 170-year history of the organization. 

- The Constantine Medal of the Russian Geographical Society has always been considered one of the most deserving awards in the global geographic community. Many received it, many dream to receive. This is why we hold such contests and such festivals. We are meant to cooperate in the field of knowledge, field of study and to instill love for our country - said President of the Russian Geographical Society Sergei Shoigu. 

The Constantine Medal is awarded to members of the Society for contribution to geographical science and exceptional contribution to the Society. It is personal and is adjudged by the Congress of the Society. The medal was instituted by Society’s first chairman, Great Duke Constantine and therefore was called the Constantine medal. 

President of the Russian Geographical Society presented a Przewalski Gold Medal to Pyotr Gunin, researcher at A.N. Severtzov Institute of Ecology and Evolution. Under the guidance of the scientist the quantitative models of water and heat balance for the three main types of biogeocoenoses in desert ecosystems were constructed for the first time. Also on his initiative Russian scientists work on long-term environmental monitoring of ecosystems in Mongolia.

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Sergei Shoigu presents a medal to Peter Gunin
Sergei Shoigu presents a medal to Peter Gunin

The Przewalski Gold Medal was instituted in 1946. It is awarded for new geographical discoveries in desert and mountain regions, for ground study of extensive and poorly studied areas important for geography, for field studies of peoples of Russia and other countries, as well as for scholarly proceedings on cartography, geodesy, mathematical geography and geomorphology on topical issues of science. 

The Semyonov Gold Medal went to Professor of Kazan Federal University, member of the Academic and Expert Councils of the Russian Geographical Society Oleg Yermolaev. He organized an expedition to the south-eastern region of Tatarstan. In a result the landscape map of regional level was created. It swept 68,000 square kilometers. 

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Sergei Shoigu presents a medal to Oleg Yermolaev
Sergei Shoigu presents a medal to Oleg Yermolaev

The Semyonov Gold Medal was instituted to commemorate Pyotr Semyonov’s great role in Society’s development and his significant contributions to geographical science. This award is adjudged for geographical descriptions of vast parts of Russia and other countries; study of geographical problems of environmental protection and rational use of natural resources; papers on the landownership, paleogeography, biogeography, geography of soils, physical, socio-economic, political, environmental, and historical geography, regional geography, history of geographical knowledge and discoveries comprising deep analysis of the material. 

The Small gold medal of the Russian Geographical Society was presented to a researcher at the Department of Earth Sciences History, The Russian national committee for the history and philosophy of science and technology, RAS, member of the Academic Council of the Russian Geographical Society Alexei Postnikov. He is a leading Russian expert on the history of geography and cartography, his works are widely known abroad. He has published 250 scientific papers. 

Sergei Shoigu presents a medal to Alexey Postnikov 

The Small Gold medal was instituted in 1858 to recognise distinguished work in the various fields of activity undertaken by the Russian Geographical Society. The Small Gold Medal is conferred on authors of independent works in one of the fields of activity engaged in by the Society.

Photo: Ilya Melnikov