Prizes and Medals
The Academy fulfils its task of promoting science and the coming generation of scientists for example by awarding prizes. Every year it awards the Max Weber Prize for outstanding achievements in the field of the humanities and the Arnold Sommerfeld Prize for those in the field of natural science. Similarly, it annually awards the Academy's Prize for scientific achievements by part-time staff and the Academy's Prize of the Karl Thiemig-Stiftung for the Promotion of Young Scientists, every two years alternately the Peregrinus Prize for publications by young scientists which serve the understanding of interdisciplinary correlations or are of socio-political relevance and the Robert Sauer Prize for outstanding achievements in the field of mathematics or natural science. The Wilhelm Joseph von Schelling Prize, which was endowed in 2006, is awarded to top researchers. People who have rendered outstanding services to the Academy can be rewarded with the Bene Merenti Medal in gold, silver or bronze.
From 2006 to 2010 the Academy awarded the Rotary Prize 'Hofgarten', from 2007 to 2009 the Rotary Prize 'Friedensengel'.
The president of the Academy awards all these prizes and medals during the Annual Ceremonial Session of the Academy, which traditionally takes place at the start of December. They are awarded in accordance with the currently valid statutes. Candidates cannot nominate themselves.
Since 2003, the Academy also awards the silver medal of special merits to those members, employees and former employees who have shown themselves particularly loyal to the Academy's principles.
Medal commemorating the foundation of the Bavarian Academy of Sciences and Humanities by Franz Andreas Schega. Seated Minerva with a staff and a liberty cap is holding a shield with the arms of the Academy (a horizontal lozenge with the motto "Tendit ad aequum"); to the right of the block she is sitting on is an owl. The lower inscription reads (in translation): "Electoral Bavarian Academy of Sciences and Humanities, founded in Munich on March 28, 1759, the Elector's birthday."