1. St. Petersburg Society of Naturalists (SPbOE) reestablished Alexander Kowalevsky Medal, an award dating back to the early 20th century, as an international award in the fields of comparative zoology, comparative embryology and evolutionary developmental biology.
2. The award includes its certificate and a bronze medalcopying the original made in the early 20th century. The full name of the award is “Alexander Kowalevsky Medal for extraordinary achievements in comparative zoology and embryology”.
3. Alexander Kowalevsky Medal is awarded to researchers who have made a outstanding contribution to the modern understanding of the evolutionary relationships between the major groups of the Animal kingdom, to the development of modern approaches in comparative zoology and embryology, as well as evolutionary developmental biology.
4. A. O. Kovalevsky, with his classic works on the embryology of ascidians, lancelets, and many invertebrates, laid the foundations for our understanding of the phylogenetic relationships between major groups of the animal kingdom. More than a century after his death, work that is important for understanding the evolution of Animalia can be conducted not only in such areas as comparative embryology and zoology, but also in molecular biology, genetics, and evolutionary developmental biology. The Society reestablished the medal in recognition that A.O. Kovalevsky's legacy went far beyond the areas in which Alexander Onufrievich himself worked, and the medal in his memory should recognize successes in the use of modern approaches to the study of development and evolution.
5. The decision to award the medal is made by the Scientific Council of the Society by a simple majority of votes.
6. The procedure for selecting a candidate for the award is entrusted to the International Award Committee “A.O. Kovalevsky Medal for outstanding achievements in comparative zoology and embryology" (referred to as the Committee), which is appointed by the Scientific Council of the Society annually and consists of 7-9 members. The Chairman of the Committee is a member of SPbOE. The International Committee asks leading scientists from around the world in the fields of comparative zoology, comparative embryology and evolutionary developmental biology to nominate a candidate for the award. For the purposes of objectivity and fairness, the Committee ensures, where possible, that scientists from different countries working in the above-mentioned fields are invited to nominate. Based on the nominations proposed, the Committee makes a decision selecting one candidate for the award, based on the rating of candidates nominated by international nominators.
7. Alexander Kowalevsky Medal is awarded annually in November.
8. The medal and the certificate are awarded to the winner in person, if possible during a special ceremony, at the plenary meeting of St. PetersburgSociety of Naturalists in St. Petersburg or, if necessary, elsewhere (preferablyat a meeting of an international or national scientific association of which the winner is member) by the person empowered to act for the Society.
9. Each instance of awarding the medal is made known to the scientific community by publication of an information about the award winner in the Society's website.
10. The laureate is simultaneously elected as an honorary member of the SPbOE.
President of St. Petersburg Society of Naturalists A.N. Ostrovsky
Secretary of St. Petersburg Society of Naturalists M.A. Savchenko