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Musgrave Medal

Musgrave Medal Awards

Did you know the Musgrave Medal Awards have recognised outstanding contributions by Jamaicans to science since 1907?

The Musgrave Medal Award is awarded by the Institute of Jamaica (IOJ) in recognition of achievement in art, science and literature. One of the oldest such awards in the Western Hemisphere, it was conceived in 1889 and named in memory of Sir Anthony Musgrave, the founder of the Institute (1879) and the former Governor of Jamaica (1877 – 1883) who had died the previous year. The medal was designed by British sculptor, Alfred Toft and features the image of Sir Anthony Musgrave.

Originally, the medals were awarded as prizes in IOJ cultural competitions with the first medal being awarded for science in 1907. The medals are awarded in categories of gold, silver and bronze (and "special" for non-Jamaicans) but the first gold medal was not awarded until 1941 and the first Gold medal for a Jamaican scientist was awarded to Dr. Alfred Sangster in 1988. Although the awards are usually made annually, there are many years in which no awards are made and it is considered a significant honour to be conferred with a Musgrave Medal Award.

See the List of Musgrave Medal Awardees for eminence in Science  
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Professor Kenneth Magnus

Professor Emeritus Kenneth "Ken" Magnus was an applied chemist who made significant contributions to the study of chemistry and STEM subjects and to the development of The University of the West Indies and Jamaica. Graduating with a B.Sc. first class honours in 1952, he was one of the first graduates of the then University College of the West Indies. His research was varied from sugar-cane to bauxite processing to the isolation of an antibiotic - Monamycin (together with the first head of the Chemistry Dept. Professor Cedric Hasall, from New Zealand) which was patented in Canada, Germany and the UK. Major work on Monamycin led to the development of the drug cilazapril which is still widely used in the treatment of hypertension. During his tenure as Head of the Chemistry Department (1977 to 1986) recognising the importance of Information Technology, he fostered its development in the Department. Later as Dean of the then, Faculty of Natural Sciences (1985 – 1993) he lead the computerisation of the Faculty office and student record management. His approach to technology led to the evolution of the Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences, now Faculty of Science and Technology. Not surprisingly, the Chemistry Department’s website (http://wwwchem.uwimona.edu.jm) became in 1994, the first website in the Caribbean. Between 1969 and 1970, he helped develop the science curriculum for Jamaica's primary and secondary schools contributing to the early development of STEM education in Jamaica. For this and the national impact of his service at The UWI, he was awarded Jamaica's Order of Distinction, Commander Class in addition to other awards such as the Silver Musgrave Medal.

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