Cornish creativity and innovation celebrated at the RCPS Medal Awards 2026
Cornish creativity and innovation celebrated at the RCPS Medal Awards 2026
Outstanding Cornish achievements in sciences, industry, and the arts werecelebrated by The Royal Cornwall Polytechnic Society (RCPS/The Poly) Medal Awards at a special awards dinner delivered in partnership with The Falmouth Hotel on Thursday 5th February.
Applauded by around a hundred guests, the nine award winners received their certificates from Lord Lieutenant of Cornwall, Colonel Edward Bolitho KCVO OBE, Lord Robin Teverson of Tregony, and Henrietta Boex – while one in each category was also announced as a Medallist cum laude (with distinction), taking home a highly-prized RCPS Medal.
Relaunched in 2023, the Medal Awards played a key role in The Poly’s early history, with Alfred Nobel being one of the recipients in 1865. The current awards spotlight the range of exciting, innovative work taking place across the sciences, industry and the arts in Cornwall today. The aim is to champion excellence and encourage dynamic new relationships across our different sectors.
The winners were selected by expert panels, using broad criteria to make judgements – including the originality and significance of the work, the technical expertise or creativity shown, and the excellence of output produced in recent years.
Edward Cartwright, Director of The Poly, says:
"The RCPS Medal Awards continue the 200-year legacy of celebrating innovation across Cornwall, and most importantly the bringing together of disciplines to ferment creativity and opportunity, in the true spirit of 'Polytechnic'."
Ginny
Button, Chair of The Poly, says:
“Congratulations to our brilliant award winners - all stars in their own right. There are many talented artists, forward-thinking scientists and ambitious businesses in Cornwall. Collectively they’re changing our lives in different ways, and it’s great to recognise this through the awards.
“I’d particularly like to thank our partner, and main sponsor, The Falmouth Hotel for hosting such a fabulous event, and also the Tanner Phoenix Trust [through Cornwall Community Foundation] for generously funding an associated outreach programme. They share The Poly’s aim to promote innovation and excellence within our community, and their support is invaluable.”
The award winners are:
ARTS:
Sarah Ball; Ro Robertson; Lucy Stein
MEDAL
DISTINCTION: Ro Robertson
Sarah - for the significant development of her work and growing international recognition of her painting in recent years, starting with a major show at Frieze New York in 2021, and subsequent solo exhibitions in London and internationally, most recently in Shanghai.
Ro (they/them) - for recent innovations in their work and growing recognition as one of the most interesting artists making sculpture in Britain today, with work featured at Tate St Ives, and in numerous exhibitions across the UK and internationally.
Lucy - for the ongoing development of an expansive body of conceptual work rooted in painting, which embraces performance, film, writing and collaborative projects, notably following ‘Wet Room’, her first major UK institutional solo show (2021-2022), and through international exhibitions.
SCIENCES: Prof Chris Bass; Prof Karen Hudson-Edwards; Dr Toby Talbot
MEDAL
DISTINCTION: Prof Chris Bass
Chris - for his work on insecticide resistance. An applied entomologist (University of Exeter) he was recently awarded an ERC Advanced Researcher Grant, one of only 53 to be awarded in the UK. He works with a global network of specialists identifying ways to target specific crop pests without harming beneficial insects.
Karen - for her work on sustainable mining. She is an environmental geochemist and mineralogist (Camborne School of Mines and Environment and Sustainability Institute, University of Exeter). A global expert in her field, she is noted for innovations involving employing minerals and microbes in environmental clean-ups.
Toby - for revolutionising cancer treatment in Cornwall. As a consultant (Royal Cornwall Hospital Trust) he is best known for his work on clinical trials of novel cancer treatment drugs and has published his ground-breaking research in the world’s leading medical journals.
INDUSTRY: Flann Microwave Ltd; Pendennis Group; Teagle Machinery Ltd
MEDAL
DISTINCTION: Pendennis
Group
Flann Microwave Ltd - for its international reputation as a high-quality producer of electronic components for the global space, defence and telecoms industries. Established in the 1950s, the company has continued to innovate and today best represents Cornwall’s growing and highly competitive tech sector. Ian Burnage is CEO.
Pendennis (Pendennis group incorporating Pendennis Shipyard and Cockwells) - for its international profile as a leading global exporter of excellence in Cornish design, sustainability and maritime values, alongside its outstanding track record as a local employer, providing high quality jobs and apprentice training. Mike Carr is Chair, Group Managing Directors are Toby Allies, Ian Granville, Stephen Hills and Charlie Ross.
ENDS: 10th February 2025
The Tanner Phoenix Trust (through Cornwall Community Foundation) is a donor-directed fund for community projects across Cornwall and the IOS.
Calendar