W S Bruce Medal: for some notable contribution to Zoology, Botany, Geology, Meteorology, Oceanography or Geography, where new knowledge has been gained through a personal visit to polar regions. This was awarded first in 1923, and is jointly awarded with the Royal Society of Edinburgh and the Royal Physical Society. Its recipients include James Wordie, and Dr Martin Holdgate.

• 2020           Professor Peter Nienow
• 2019           Professor Julian Dowdeswell
• 2016           Dr Andy Hein
• 2010           Alison Cook
• 2004           Dr Mike J Bentley
• 1994           Dr I L Boyd
• 1987           Dr J E Gordon
• 1980           Dr Andrew Clarke
• 1977           Dr Peter Wadhams
• 1972           Dr Peter Friend
• 1968           Dr W S B Paterson
• 1966           Dr Stanley Evans
• 1964           Dr Martin W Holdgate
• 1962           Ken V Blaiklock
• 1960           J MacDowall
• 1958           Dr Hal Lister
• 1956           J W Cowie
• 1954           Dr Richard M Laws
• 1952           G de Q Robin
• 1950           Dr M J Dunbar
• 1948           Dr W A Deer
• 1946           Lt-Col P D Baird
• 1944           Lieutenant T H Manning RCNVR
• 1942           Dr G C L Bertram
• 1940           Brian Roberts
• 1938           Alexander R Glen
• 1936           James William Slessor Marr
• 1932           Henry Gino Watkins
• 1930           N A MacKintosh
• 1928           Dr Harald Ulrik Sverdrup
• 1926           James Mann Wordie