News Release 15-151
President Obama honors nation's leading scientists and innovators
Nearly all awardees received NSF support during careers
The National Medal of Science is the nation's highest scientific honor.
May 20, 2016
This material is available primarily for archival purposes. Telephone numbers or other contact information may be out of date; please see current contact information at media contacts.
The White House has awarded medals to the latest recipients of the National Medal of Science and National Medal of Technology and Innovation -- the nation's highest honors for achievement and leadership in advancing the fields of science and technology.
"Science and technology are fundamental to solving some of our Nation's biggest challenges," President Obama said. "The knowledge produced by these Americans today will carry our country's legacy of innovation forward and continue to help countless others around the world. Their work is a testament to American ingenuity."
The National Medal of Science was created by statute in 1959 and is administered for the White House by the National Science Foundation (NSF). Awarded annually, the Medal recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to science and engineering. The President receives nominations from a committee of Presidential appointees based on their extraordinary knowledge in and contributions to chemistry, engineering, computing, mathematics, and the biological, behavioral/social and physical sciences.
Among this year's nine recipients of the National Medal of Science, seven received NSF support at some point in their research careers.
NSF Director France Córdova spoke to the laureates at a May 19 National Medals gala. "Your creativity, your invention, your curiosity is what has brought all of you here tonight -- and what has propelled our nation to leadership in science and innovation," she said.
The National Medal of Technology and Innovation was created by statute in 1980 and is administered for the White House by the U.S. Department of Commerce's Patent and Trademark Office. The award recognizes those who have made lasting contributions to America's competitiveness and quality of life and helped strengthen the Nation's technological workforce. A distinguished independent committee representing the private and public sectors submits recommendations to the President.
Six of the eight National Medal of Technology and Innovation awardees have received NSF funding.
The new recipients are listed below.
National Medal of Science
- Armand Paul Alivisatos, University of California and Lawrence Berkeley National Lab
- Michael Artin, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Albert Bandura, Stanford University
- Stanley Falkow, Stanford University School of Medicine
- Shirley Ann Jackson, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
- Rakesh K. Jain, Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital
- Mary-Claire King, University of Washington
- Simon Levin, Princeton University
- Geraldine Richmond, University of Oregon
National Medal of Technology and Innovation
- Joseph DeSimone, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North Carolina State University, and Carbon3D
- Robert Fischell, University of Maryland at College Park
- Arthur Gossard, University of California, Santa Barbara
- Nancy Ho, Green Tech America Inc. and Purdue University
- Chenming Hu, University of California, Berkeley
- Mark Humayun, University of Southern California
- Cato T. Laurencin, University of Connecticut
- Jonathan Rothberg, 4catalyzer Corporation and Yale School of Medicine
-NSF-
-
NSF Director France Córdova spoke at a May 19 National Medals gala.
Credit and Larger Version -
National Medal winners were presented with their medals at the White House.
Credit and Larger Version -
President Obama honored the awardees for their contributions to America.
Credit and Larger Version -
National Medal of Science is administered by NSF for the White House.
Credit and Larger Version
Media Contacts
Sarah Bates, NSF, (703) 292-7738, email: sabates@nsf.gov
Program Contacts
Sherrie Green, NSF, (703) 292-8040, email: nms@nsf.gov
Related Websites
NSF National Medal of Science home: http://www.nsf.gov/od/nms/medal.jsp
National Medals of Science and Technology Foundation: http://nationalmedals.org/
Medal of Science fact sheet: http://www.nsf.gov/news/news_summ.jsp?cntn_id=100684
NSF National Medals of Science 50th Anniversary Website: http://www.nsf.gov/news/special_reports/medalofscience50/
President Obama to Honor Nation’s Leading Scientists and Innovators: https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2015/12/22/president-obama-honor-nations-leading-scientists-and-innovators
The U.S. National Science Foundation propels the nation forward by advancing fundamental research in all fields of science and engineering. NSF supports research and people by providing facilities, instruments and funding to support their ingenuity and sustain the U.S. as a global leader in research and innovation. With a fiscal year 2023 budget of $9.5 billion, NSF funds reach all 50 states through grants to nearly 2,000 colleges, universities and institutions. Each year, NSF receives more than 40,000 competitive proposals and makes about 11,000 new awards. Those awards include support for cooperative research with industry, Arctic and Antarctic research and operations, and U.S. participation in international scientific efforts.
Connect with us online
NSF website: nsf.gov
NSF News: nsf.gov/news
For News Media: nsf.gov/news/newsroom
Statistics: nsf.gov/statistics/
Awards database: nsf.gov/awardsearch/
Follow us on social
Twitter: twitter.com/NSF
Facebook: facebook.com/US.NSF
Instagram: instagram.com/nsfgov