It may not be well known that the Royal Irish Academy makes some fifty awards and fellowships each year in both the humanities and sciences. These are provided through the Academy’s network of national Committees, exchange schemes with other countries, and some small commemorative funds. Those relevant to Irish scientists are summarised as follows:

European Exchange Study Visits and Fellowships
To promote academic exchanges between Ireland and Austria, France, Great Britain, Hungary and Poland. Senior scientific researchers working in Ireland must apply by October 15th each year. Awards include the cost of all living expenses and travel for a specified period, not more than 4-6 weeks in the case of study visits. The Royal Society (UK) scheme also supports long-term fellowships and joint projects.

Senior Visiting Fellowships
To enable a new scientific research technique or development to be introduced into Ireland from OECD countries. Senior scientific researchers must apply by October 15th each year. Travel expenses for study visits up to six weeks to and from the Republic of Ireland are awarded annually in December.

National Committee for Biochemistry Award
Awarded to a scientist who is actively engaged in biochemical research in Ireland, primarily to recognise scientific work carried out in the past decade. Nominations must be submitted by two scientists before 2nd April. A silver medal is awarded annually and the recipient must deliver a review lecture at the Royal Irish Academy and also at a meeting of the Irish Area Section of the Biochemical Society.

Royal Irish Academy Parsons Medal for Engineering Sciences
A new award in recognition of outstanding research in engineering sciences, published in refereed international journals, by persons less than 40 years of age when the work was carried out. It will primarily recognise work carried out in Ireland in the last decade. A bronze medal is awarded. Nominations may be sought in Autumn 1999.

National Commission for Microbiology Award
Awarded for scientific work carried out in Ireland in the past decade by persons less than forty years of age on the 1st January of the year the award is made. The award is biannual. Nominations must be made independently by two scientists before 1st January. A silver medal is presented and the recipient delivers a review lecture at the Royal Irish Academy.

National Committee for Nutritional Sciences Award
Awarded in recognition of research contributions in nutritional sciences in refereed international journals. Only persons less than forty-five years of age on the 1st January of the year of the Award are eligible. Nominations must be made independently by two scientists before 1st January. A silver medal is presented and the recipient must give a review lecture at the Royal Irish Academy.

Consultative Committee on Pharmacology and Toxicology Award of Merit
This Award of Merit recognises outstanding work carried out by a scientist actively engaged in research in Ireland within the disciplines of pharmacology and toxicology. Nominations of potential recipients by not less than two persons, who will have obtained the prior agreement of the nominee, should be submitted in Autumn 1999. A silver medal is awarded and the recipient will be required to give an address to the Royal Irish Academy.

National Committee for Biochemistry Science Writing Competition
Undergraduate and graduate students in third-level institutions in Ireland (both North and South) are invited to write a newspaper article suitable for the non-scientific reader, explaining the development of any new topic in biochemistry and its significance to medical, agricultural or industrial practices. The winner is awarded IR£300 and his/her article is published in The Irish Times. The deadline is 19th January each year. (A summary of the 1999 winning article will be found on page 15 .)

National Committee for Biochemistry Travel Bursary Scheme
Graduate students in biochemistry and associated areas in any third-level institution in Ireland (north and south) are invited to apply for travel bursaries. These bursaries are designed to assist research students to attend a workshop or to visit a laboratory in order to learn new techniques/information of particular benefit to their work. The deadline is 1st March.

National Committee for Chemistry "Three Societies" Prize
This competition involves the Institute of Chemistry of Ireland, the Royal Society for Chemistry and the Society of Chemical Industry. Students at second and third levels are invited to write an essay related to chemistry and the winning entries are published. The deadline is in January.

Praeger Fund for Fieldwork in Natural History
Established in 1955 in memory of the famous Irish naturalist, Robert Lloyd Praeger. A number of annual grants are made available for fieldwork relevant to the natural history of Ireland. Grantees need not be based in Ireland and applications are particularly welcome from amateur natural historians. Annual deadline: 15th February.