The ETH medal is a prestigious award presented by the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich (ETH Zurich) to recognize outstanding Master's and doctoral theses. This selective honor is capped at 2.5% of Master's theses and 8% of doctoral theses per field of study, and it includes a silver medal along with a cash prize. First proposed in 1866, the initial silver medal was awarded in 1870, and the design has been updated twice—in 1955 by Franz Fischer and in 1980 by Hans Erni, whose current version features a Swiss cross, stylized alps, and a depiction of ovum fertilization. Earlier designs included Antoine Bovy's original, which showcased the ETH main building and Swiss coat of arms, as well as Fischer's tree and compass motif. Notable recipients of this honor include Nobel laureate Richard R. Ernst (1962) and mathematician Friedrich Hirzebruch (1950).