The Cochrane Medal was a prestigious honor that was awarded by members of the United Federation of Planets. Created on Stardate 2/0001 by the Alpha Centauri Academy of Science and Technology, it was presented to a scientist who, in the spirit of Zefram Cochrane, had contributed to the Federation by their outstanding performance in the physical sciences or advanced engineering application or some other technological achievement. It appeared as a silver filigree with precious stones which detonated the atomic structure of a Dilithium nucleus. In addition to this, a parchment inscribed in gold ink described the individual's scientific accomplishment.