The Grande Médaille is a distinction awarded each year, alternately, in the disciplines falling within each of the Academy's divisions, to a French or foreign scientist who has made a decisive contribution to the development of science, both through the originality of their personal research and through their international influence and the stimulating influence that it will have had by creating a true school of research. The work carried out will have concerned an important field of fundamental research and brought new light and greater understanding to the discipline undertaken.