High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! The Hector Memorial Medal (formerly known as the Hector Memorial Medal and Prize) is awarded annually for outstanding contribution to the advancement of the particular branch of science. It is awarded by the Royal Society of New Zealand in memory of Sir James Hector. It is less prestigious than the government-funded Rutherford Medal, which is given for exceptional contributions to the advancement and promotion of public awareness, knowledge and understanding in addition to eminent research or technological practice by a person or group in any field of science, mathematics, social science, or technology