This is a list of recipients of the Polar Medal, which is awarded by the Sovereign of the United Kingdom. It was instituted in 1857 as the Arctic Medal and renamed the Polar Medal in 1904.
The years given indicate when the award was announced in the London Gazette, rather than the year of presentation.
A Clasp indicates a subsequent award to a Polar Medal that was awarded earlier.
21st century 2020s Year Recipient Details 2026 Captain William Whatley Antarctic to 2025. Master RRS Sir David Attenborough. Professor John Marshall, MA, PhD, FGS Arctic to 2024. Geologist and Palynologist. Professor John Woodward, MSc, BSc, PhD, PGHEP, FHEA Arctic and Antarctic to 2022.Glaciologist. Professor Colm O’Cofaigh, BA, MSc, PhD, FGS Arctic and Antarctic to 2024. Glacial and Marine Geologist. Mr Craig Mathieson Arctic to 2025. Polar Explorer. Professor David Roberts, BSc, PhD Arctic to 2024. Glacial Geologist. Note that an error in the initial Gazette entry was later corrected. Dr Samuel Doyle, BSc, MSc, PhD Arctic to 2025. Glaciologist. Mr Nigel Blenkharn Antarctic to 2025. Mechanic and Plant Operator. 2025 Dr Gabriele Stowasser, PhD Antarctic to 2024. Marine Ecologist. Dr Iain Rudkin, BSc, PhD, FRGS Dr Iain Rudkin, BSc, PhD, FRGS. Arctic Operations Manager. Mr Jeremy Robst Antarctic to 2023. IT Engineer. Mr John Davies Antarctic to 2024. Electrician. Mr Steve Stiglic-Buxton Antarctic to 2024. Electronics Officer (Communications). Mrs Sarah Lurcock, BSc Antarctic to 2024. Museum Manager, Registrar, and Postal Officer South Georgia. 2024 Claus-Dieter Hillenbrand Antarctic to 2023. Marine Geologist. Nicholas Gregory Antarctic to 2023. Facilities Engineering Manager. Simon Wright Antarctic and Arctic to 2023. Polar Deck Engineer. Mark Brandon Antarctic and Arctic to 2022. Polar Oceanographer. Steven Andrews Arctic to 2018. Arctic Geologist. Victoria Auld 2nd Clasp. Antarctic and Arctic to 2023. Pilot. 2023 David Keith Alan Barnes Antarctic to 2022. Polar Marine Ecologist. Ian William Drummond Dalziel Antarctic to 2014. Polar Geologist. Joanne Susan Johnson Antarctic to 2020. Polar Geochemist. Julius James Rix Antarctic to 2018. Polar Drilling Engineer. Richard Anthony Phillips Antarctic to 2018. Seabird Ecologist. Thomas Jordan Antarctic to 2020. Polar Geophysicist. Steven Paul Brown Antarctic to 2021. Polar Engineer. David Hempleman-Adams 2nd Clasp. Arctic and Antarctic to 2022. Polar Explorer/Ambassador. John Laidlaw Smellie 2nd Clasp. Antarctic to 2017. Polar Volcanologist. Simon Richard Appleton Kelly 2nd Clasp. Arctic to 2019. Polar Palaeontologist. 2022 Melody Susan Clark Antarctic And Arctic to 2019. Molecular Scientist. John William Eager Antarctic to 2020. Head of Polar Operations. Markus Michael Frey Antarctic and Arctic to 2020. Atmospheric and Glaciochemist. David Neville Thomas Antarctic and Arctic to 2006. Sea Ice Ecologist and Biogeochemist. Ian Morley Brooks Arctic and Antarctic to 2020. Atmospheric Scientist. 2021 Anker, Paul Gavin David Antarctic to 2020. Drilling Engineer. Bowen, Albert Martin Arctic and Antarctic to 2020. CPO Science Operations. Wilkinson, Jeremy Paul Arctic and Antarctic to 2019. Polar Oceanographer (Sea Ice). 2020 Massey, Alison Joanne Antarctic to 2019. Marine Assistant, Station Leader and Laboratory Manager. Meredith, Michael Paul Antarctic to 2016. Polar Oceanographer. Harper, John Reynolds 2nd Clasp. Antarctic to 2019. Captain of Polar research vessels. Whitham, Andrew Gordon 2nd Clasp. Polar Geologist.
2010s Year Recipient Details 2019 Fielding, Sophie Antarctic to 2018. Biological Oceanographer specialising in fisheries acoustics. Mulvaney, Robert 2nd Clasp. Antarctic to 2016. Antarctic Scientist specialising in ice core drilling. Shears, John Richard Antarctic to 2015. Polar Geographer and Expedition Leader. Thomas, Catrin Sian Antarctic to 2017. Polar Field Guide. 2018 Beasley, Capt Mark Grant Antarctic to 2017. Antarctic Pilot and Training Captain, flying specialist Aircraft in support of Polar Science. Newsham, Kevin Kerr Antarctic and Arctic to 2017. Polar Soil Biologist specialising in soil fungi and nutrient cycling. Wake, James Michael Stewart Antarctic and Arctic to 2017. Polar Expedition Leader and Base Commander. Cox, Nicholas Ievers 2nd Clasp. Arctic to 2017. Station Leader developing an international research community at Ny-Ålesund in the Arctic. 2017 King, Stephen Mark Arctic and Antarctic to 2016. Arctic and Antarctic Pilot flying flying specialist Aircraft in support of Polar Science. Ian Lamont Boyd Arctic and Antarctic to 2016. Marine Scientist specialising in the ecology of the Southern Ocean. Gerrard, Isabelle Antarctic to 2016. Antarctic Base Chef. Nienow, Peter Arctic to 2013. Glaciologist specialising in glacier hydrology, ice-dynamics and ice mass response to climate change. Michael Paul Smith Arctic to 2012. Arctic Geologist and Polar Scholar in Palaeobiology and Earth History. Myrtle Lillias Simpson Arctic to 2007. Explorer of Arctic regions; sea canoeist, climber and writer. Alastair Edward Henry Worsley Antarctic to 2016. Antarctic explorer. Andrew Mark Smith 2nd Clasp. Antarctic to 2015. Polar Glaciologist. 2016 Derek Ernest Fordham Arctic to 2015. Arctic Expedition leader, mountaineer and ambassador. Kim Crosbie Antarctic and Arctic to 2015. Antarctic Environmental Scientist and Conservationist. Specialising in wildlife/human interactions, visitor management, education and outreach. Bryn Pugh Hubbard Arctic and Antarctic to 2015. Polar Scholar in Glaciology, Glacial Geology and the Structure and Motion of ice masses. Clement Peter Collins Antarctic to 2015. Antarctic Base Cook, Base Assistant, Field Assistant and Air Unit Assistant. Agnieszka Genowefa Fryckowska Antarctic to 2015. Meteorologist, Antarctic Winter and Summer Station Leader. Ian William Potten Antarctic to 2015. Antarctic Pilot flying specialist Aircraft in support of Polar science. Jérôme Pierre Poncet Antarctic to 2015. Antarctic Vessel Master, supplying logistics in support of Polar Science and Antarctic wildlife documentaries. 2015 Geoffrey Stuart Boulton Arctic and Antarctic to 2012. Polar Scholar in Glaciology, Glacial Geology & Geomorphology, Glacio marine Systems and Quaternary Glacial History. lain Hugh Murray Smart Arctic to 2002. Arctic Scientist, Expedition Leader, Mountaineer and Ambassador. Felicity Ann Dawn Aston Arctic and Antarctic to 2012. Antarctic Meteorologist, Polar Explorer, Expedition Leader and Ambassador. Peter Furneaux Friend Arctic to 1970. Arctic Geologist, Expedition Leader and Chair of Cambridge Arctic Shelf Programme. Sally Elizabeth Poncet Antarctic to 2012. Antarctic Environmentalist, Wildlife & Heritage Surveyor and Ambassador. Patrick Murray Lurcock Antarctic to 2014. Antarctic Physicist, South Georgia Marine and Government Officer. 2013 Dominic Adam Hodgson Antarctic to 2013. Palaeolimnologist—British Antarctic Survey. Stephen William Canham Antarctic to 2013. Senior Buildings Engineer—British Antarctic Survey. Robert George Bingham Arctic and Antarctic to 2013. Glaciologist— Natural Environment Research Council, Antarctic Funding Initiative; Polar Glaciologist and Geophysicist—University of Edinburgh. Phillippe Whitaker Francis Gribbon Arctic to 1977. Arctic Explorer, Mountaineer and Scientist. David Kim Hempleman-Adams Arctic and Antarctic to 2012. Polar Explorer and Ambassador. 2012 Steven Richard Colwell Antarctic to 2012. Meteorologist, British Antarctic Survey. John Cameron Withers Antarctic to 2011. Base Commander, British Antarctic Survey. Simon Martin Garrod Antarctic to 2012. Polar Field Leader—British Antarctic Survey/Antarctic, Logistics and Expeditions. Terrence Vincent Callaghan Arctic to 2012. Professor in Arctic Ecology, University of Sheffield. Director, Swedish Royal Academy of Science—Abisko Station. Tudor Morgan Antarctic to 2012. Field Operations Manager—British Antarctic Survey, Operations Manager—United Kingdom Antarctic Heritage Trust. Edward Christopher John Clapp Antarctic 1957–60. Radio Operator, Base Commander—Falkland Island Dependencies Survey. 2011 Paul William Cousens Antarctic to 2011. Deputy Project Manager, British Antarctic Survey. Benjamin Richard Norrish Antarctic to 2011. Vehicle Engineer, British Antarctic Survey. Michael Lance Curtis Antarctic to 2011. Field Geologist, British Antarctic Survey. Michael James Bentley Antarctic to 2011. Professor in Quaternary Environmental Change, Durham University. Christian Kevin David Jacobs Antarctic to 2011. Field Facilities Manager, Antarctic Logistics and Expeditions. David Thomson Meldrum Arctic & Antarctic to 2011. Polar Sciences Support Technician, Scottish Association for Marine Science. Michael John Hambrey 2nd Clasp. Arctic & Antarctic to 2011. Professor of Glaciology, Aberystwyth University. 2010 Duncan Evan Anderson Antarctic to 2010. Chief Engineer, RRS James Clark Ross. David John Maxfield Antarctic to 2010. Electronics Engineer, British Antarctic Survey. Andrew Charles McConnachie Antarctic to 2010. Plant Technician, British Antarctic Survey. Teal Riley Antarctic to 2010. Geologist, British Antarctic Survey. Peter Ward Antarctic to 2010. Marine Research Scientist, British Antarctic Survey. Graham Phillip Chapman Antarctic & Arctic to 2010. Master, RRS James Clark Ross. Martyn Tranter Antarctic & Arctic to 2010. Professor of Physical Geography, Bristol University. Jonathan Ralph Ineson Arctic & Antarctic to 2010. Geologist, Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland. Douglas George Allan 2nd Clasp. Antarctic & Arctic to 2009. Cameraman, BBC Natural History Unit.
2000s