It is named after Thomas Ranken Lyle , an Irish mathematical physicist who became a professor at the University of Melbourne , and takes the form of a bronze medal bearing the design of the head of Thomas Lyle , as sculpted by Rayner Hoff .
It is named after Thomas Ranken Lyle , an Irish mathematical physicist who became a professor at the University of Melbourne . 
 The award takes the form of a bronze medal bearing the design of the head of Thomas Lyle , as sculpted by Rayner Hoff .