A Royal Irish Academy Gold Medal was presented to Professor Vincent Fusco, MRIA, professor of electronic engineering and head of high frequency electronics research at Queen’s University Belfast, to honour his outstanding contribution to the engineering sciences.

The medal was presented by Professor Gerry McKenna, senior vice-president, Royal Irish Academy with Professor Ian Greer, president and vice-chancellor, Queen’s University Belfast, at a private ceremony at Queen’s on September 14, in line with public health guidelines. 

Professor Richard English, MRIA, professor of politics at Queen’s, was also presented with a gold medal for his contribution to the social sciences.

Exceptional quality of scholarship on this island

Royal Irish Academy Gold Medals are sponsored by the Higher Education Authority (HEA) and they recognise leading scholars in Ireland whose work has made an international impact, demonstrating the global reach and recognition of the exceptional quality of scholarship taking place on this island. The gold medals have become the ultimate accolade in scholarly achievement in Ireland.

President of the Royal Irish Academy, Dr Mary Canning, said: "This is the first time that the awards have been presented to leading academics in the same institution in the same year and I congratulate these two exceptional recipients." 

Prof Fusco said: "The microwave wireless communications expertise developed here at Queen’s University Belfast is systemically important to modern life and working practices.

'Technologies that will make daily digital interactions seamless'

"It creates technologies that will make our daily digital interactions seamless by enabling future mobile phones, autonomous vehicles, and satellite communications. This award is recognition not only for myself but also for those bright minds that I have been fortunate to engage with over my career."

Prof Greer said: "Queen's is renowned for excellence in scholarship and research on the island of Ireland and internationally. I am delighted that these highly esteemed academics, Professor Richard English and Professor Vincent Fusco, have been honoured by the Royal Irish Academy for their outstanding academic research and achievements in the social sciences and engineering, respectively.

"This is a special year for our university as we mark the 175^thanniversary of our foundation as one of three Queen’s Colleges in Ireland.  

"It is fitting that two of our academics are being honoured with the highest accolade in scholarly achievement in Ireland in the same year we are celebrating 175 years of academic excellence. I warmly congratulate each of them on this great honour."