Acharius Medal
Encyclopedia
The Acharius Medal is awarded for lifetime achievement in lichenology
.
The first Acharius Medal was made by the Royal Swedish Mint
for the Royal Swedish Academy of Science in 1846, although the medal's original purpose has not been recorded. In its 1990 meeting at Regensburg
, the International Association for Lichenology (IAL) resolved that it would simultaneously honor professional achievement, and commemorate Erik Acharius
(recognized as the "Father of Lichenology"), by presenting a medal in his name.
Since the Swedish Mint still had the dies for the 1846 medal, the IAL arranged for new medals to be made. The first of the new medals were awarded in that same year at the association's congress in Båstad
, Sweden.
Acharius Medals have been presented in 1992 (thirteen recipients), 1994 (four recipients), 1996 (three recipients), 2000 (three recipients), 2002 (one recipient), 2003 (one recipient), 2004 (three recipients), 2006 (one recipient), and 2008 (three recipients).
, with Acharius' profile on one side and the recipient's name on the other.
Lichenology
Lichenology is the branch of mycology that studies the lichens, symbiotic organisms made up of an intimate symbiotic association of a microscopic alga with a filamentous fungus....
.
The first Acharius Medal was made by the Royal Swedish Mint
Myntverket
Myntverket is a private Swedish company that produces coins and medals, most notably the Swedish national coins and the Nobel Prize medals. As of 2008, Swedish coins are now minted by Myntverket's parent company, Mint of Finland Ltd in Helsinki, Finland, ending a 1012 year history of minting...
for the Royal Swedish Academy of Science in 1846, although the medal's original purpose has not been recorded. In its 1990 meeting at Regensburg
Regensburg
Regensburg is a city in Bavaria, Germany, located at the confluence of the Danube and Regen rivers, at the northernmost bend in the Danube. To the east lies the Bavarian Forest. Regensburg is the capital of the Bavarian administrative region Upper Palatinate...
, the International Association for Lichenology (IAL) resolved that it would simultaneously honor professional achievement, and commemorate Erik Acharius
Erik Acharius
Erik Acharius was a Swedish botanist who pioneered the taxonomy of lichens and is known as the "father of lichenology"....
(recognized as the "Father of Lichenology"), by presenting a medal in his name.
Since the Swedish Mint still had the dies for the 1846 medal, the IAL arranged for new medals to be made. The first of the new medals were awarded in that same year at the association's congress in Båstad
Båstad
Båstad is a locality and the seat of Båstad Municipality, Skåne County, Sweden with 4,793 inhabitants in 2005.-Geography:The town of Båstad is located in a sheltered bay with the Hallandian ridge stretching behind it...
, Sweden.
Acharius Medals have been presented in 1992 (thirteen recipients), 1994 (four recipients), 1996 (three recipients), 2000 (three recipients), 2002 (one recipient), 2003 (one recipient), 2004 (three recipients), 2006 (one recipient), and 2008 (three recipients).
The medal
The medal is silverSilver
Silver is a metallic chemical element with the chemical symbol Ag and atomic number 47. A soft, white, lustrous transition metal, it has the highest electrical conductivity of any element and the highest thermal conductivity of any metal...
, with Acharius' profile on one side and the recipient's name on the other.