The William Smith, Murchison and Lyell Medals are of equal status. The Society regards them very highly and they are not normally awarded on the basis of a few good papers or achievements. In the past, Council has often looked for some breadth as well as depth in the contributions before awarding these Medals. The William Smith Medal is awarded for contributions to applied or economic aspects of geoscience. It is named after the ‘Father of English Geology’, William Smith (1769-1839), maker of the first geological map of Britain and arguably the pioneer of applied geology. Candidates must have made significant contributions, which will normally be published papers and verifiable achievements, in the application of geoscience, although in view of the confidential nature of the work in the case of some candidates, other criteria may be used as the basis of the award.