Professor honoured with prestigious 2026 Dartmouth Medal

Mark O'Shea MBE, Professor of Herpetology at the University of Wolverhampton, has won the prestigious 2026 Dartmouth Medal, one of the highest and most coveted honours in international reference publishing.

Presented annually by the American Library Association (ALA) and the Reference and User Services Association (RUSA), the 2026 Dartmouth Medal recognises the most outstanding reference work published during the previous year. The medal is widely regarded as one of the most respected accolades in the field of reference publishing.

Professor O'Shea received the 2026 Dartmouth Medal for The Book of Frogs: A Life-Size Guide to 600 Species from Around the World (second fully revised edition), co-authored with the late Professor Tim Halliday and published by the University of Chicago Press.

The recognition also honours the contribution of Professor Tim Halliday, a highly respected zoologist and broadcaster, who passed away in 2019. The fully revised second edition brings together extensive research and expertise to provide a comprehensive guide to 600 frog species from around the world.

The 2026 Dartmouth Medal is the latest accolade in a distinguished career spanning zoology, herpetology, conservation, education and research.

Professor O'Shea has spent more than five decades studying herpetology and building an international reputation as one of the world's leading herpetologists. His research and exploration career began while he was a student at the then Polytechnic of Wolverhampton, where he organised his first expedition to Borneo in 1983-84.

His work has combined research, conservation, teaching and public engagement, helping to advance scientific understanding of reptiles and amphibians while inspiring generations of students, researchers and wildlife enthusiasts.

The latest honour adds to an impressive list of achievements and awards. In 2020, Professor O'Shea was appointed MBE in The Queen's Birthday Honours for services to higher education, zoology, reptile conservation and snakebite research. In recognition of his contributions to herpetology, a newly discovered Asian pipesnake was named Cylindrophis osheai in 2018.

His long association with the University of Wolverhampton includes receiving an Honorary Doctor of Sciences in 2001 and the University of Wolverhampton Alumni Association Lifetime Achievement Award in 2023. He also holds a PhD by Published Works, awarded for research on the Papuan snake genus Toxicocalamus.

Professor O'Shea said: "Receiving the 2026 Dartmouth Medal is a tremendous honour. The project involved a significant collaborative effort and brought together expertise from around the world. To see that work recognised by one of the most respected organisations in the field is incredibly rewarding."

The 2026 Dartmouth Medal represents another milestone in a distinguished career that has earned Professor O'Shea international recognition for his contributions to herpetology, conservation, research and education.

Notes

Mark O'Shea MBE is Professor of Herpetology at the University of Wolverhampton and an internationally recognised zoologist, author, broadcaster and conservationist.

Selected honours and awards include:

• 2026 Dartmouth Medal, American Library Association and Reference and User Services Association
• 2023 University of Wolverhampton Alumni Association Lifetime Achievement Award
• 2020 MBE for services to higher education, zoology, reptile conservation and snakebite research
• 2018 Asian pipesnake Cylindrophis osheai named in his honour
• 2001 Honorary Doctor of Sciences, University of Wolverhampton
• 2000 Millennium Award for Services to Zoology, Explorers Club of New York, British and Irish Chapter

Further information:

• 2026 Dartmouth Medal winner announcement