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THE ISF AWARDS FOR HUMAN ACHIEVEMENT

ISF has been proud to establish a series of Gold Medal Awards for Human Achievement to celebrate the contributions of certain individuals to the humanities and natural sciences. Drawing on Idries Shah’s life-long interest in selflessness and being the very best form of oneself possible, the awards celebrate the accomplishments and thinking of four men and four women each year.

In addition, a posthumous award will be presented, as well as one to an NGO or Foundation. Taking the form of gilded ormolu medallions, the awards are minted by Spink & Son, medal-makers to the British Crown. Each honour is accompanied by a hand-drawn calligraphic certificate.

2019 ISF GOLD MEDAL AWARD LAUREATES

The ISF Award Committee has the pleasure to announce the nominations of the very first recipients, each one of whom has made a huge contribution to the humanities or the natural sciences.

In making their selection, the Award Committee focused in particular on certain individuals who either knew Idries Shah personally, or whose work has espoused the ideals so central to Shah’s thinking.

FEMALE LAUREATES

Dame Jane Goodall DBE

Dame Jane Goodall DBE

Primatologist & anthropologist

Lisa Alther

Novelist & best-selling author

Lisa Alther
Herta Müller

Herta Müller

Novelist & Nobel Laureate

Robyn Davidson

Explorer & best-selling author

Robyn Davidson

MALE LAUREATES

Sir David Attenborough

Sir David Attenborough

Legendary environmentalist

Dr. James Lovelock

Originator of ‘The Gaia Hypothesis’

Dr. James Lovelock
Cmdr. Chris Hadfield

Cmdr. Chris Hadfield

Astronaut & former Space Station Commander

Dr. Desmond Morris

Anthropologist & author

Dr. Desmond Morris

POSTHUMOUS

Jorge-Luis Borges

Jorge-Luis Borges

Argentine author & man of letters

NGO

International Crisis Group

Leading think-tank devoted to building a more peaceful world