| National Medal of Science | |
 | |
| Awarded for | Outstanding contributions to the physical, biological, mathematical, engineering, or social and behavioral sciences |
| Presented by | President of the United States |
| Country |  United States |
| Location | Washington, D.C. |
| First awarded | 1963 |
| Official website | |
|---|---|
The National Medal of Science is an honor bestowed by the President of the United States to individuals in science and engineering who have made important contributions to the advancement of knowledge in the fields of behavioral and social sciences, biology, chemistry, engineering, mathematics and physics. The President of the United States is the Head of state and Head of government of the United States and is the highest political official in United States by The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Washington DC ( formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, the District, or simply D The President of the United States is the Head of state and Head of government of the United States and is the highest political official in United States by Science (from the Latin scientia, meaning " Knowledge " or "knowing" is the effort to discover, and increase human understanding Engineering is the Discipline and Profession of applying technical and scientific Knowledge and Behavioural science (or Behavioral science) is a term that encompasses all the disciplines that explore the activities of and interactions among Organisms in the natural The social sciences comprise academic disciplines concerned with the study of the social life of human groups and individuals including Anthropology, Communication studies Foundations of modern biology There are five unifying principles Chemistry (from Egyptian kēme (chem meaning "earth") is the Science concerned with the composition structure and properties Engineering is the Discipline and Profession of applying technical and scientific Knowledge and Mathematics is the body of Knowledge and Academic discipline that studies such concepts as Quantity, Structure, Space and Physics (Greek Physis - φύσις in everyday terms is the Science of Matter and its motion. The twelve member presidential Committee on the National Medal of Science is responsible for selecting award recipients and is administered by the National Science Foundation (NSF). The National Science Foundation (NSF is a United States Government agency that supports fundamental Research and Education in all the non-medical As of February 13, 2006, there have been 425 recipients of the medal. Events 1258 - Baghdad falls to the Mongols, and the Abbasid Caliphate is destroyed Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. On 27 July 2007, President Bush presented the 2005 and 2006 medals. Events 1214 - Battle of Bouvines: In France, Philip II of France defeats John of England. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. George Walker Bush ( born July 6 1946 is the forty-third and current President of the United States. [1]
Contents |
History
The National Medal of Science was established on August 25, 1959, by an act of the Congress of the United States under Public Law 86-209. Events 1248 - The Dutch city of Ommen receives city rights and fortification rights from Otto III the The year 1959 ( MCMLIX) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The United States Congress is the bicameral Legislature of the federal government of the United States of America, consisting of two houses The medal was originally to honor scientists in the fields of the "physical, biological, mathematical, or engineering sciences. " The Committee on the National Medal of Science was established on August 23, 1961 by executive order 10961 of former president John F. Kennedy. Events 79 - Mount Vesuvius begins stirring on the feast day of Vulcan the Roman god of fire Year 1961 ( MCMLXI) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. executive order in the United States is a Directive issued by the President, the head of the executive branch of the federal government John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy (May 29 1917&ndashNovember 22 1963 often referred to by his initials JFK, was the thirty-fifth President of [2]
On January 7, 1979, the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) passed a resolution proposing that the medal be expanded to include the social and behavioral sciences. Events 1325 - Alfonso IV becomes King of Portugal. 1558 - France takes Calais, the last continental Year 1979 ( MCMLXXIX) was a Common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1979 Gregorian calendar) The American Association for the Advancement of Science (or AAAS) is an organization that promotes cooperation between Scientists defends scientific freedom encourages [3] In response, Senator Ted Kennedy introduced the Science and Technology Equal Opportunities Act into the Senate on March 7, 1979, expanding the medal to include these scientific disciplines as well. Edward Moore "Ted" Kennedy (born February 22 1932 is the senior United States Senator from Massachusetts and a member of the Democratic The United States Senate is the Upper house of the bicameral United States Congress, the Lower house being the House of Representatives Events 161 - Roman Emperor Antoninus Pius dies and is succeeded by co-Emperors Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus Year 1979 ( MCMLXXIX) was a Common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1979 Gregorian calendar) President Jimmy Carter's signature enacted this change as Public Law 96-516 on December 12, 1980. James Earl "Jimmy" Carter Jr (born October 1 1924 was the thirty-ninth President of the United States, serving from 1977 to 1981 and the recipient of the 2002 Events 627 - Battle of Nineveh: A Byzantine army under Emperor Heraclius defeats Emperor Khosrau II 's Persian Year 1980 ( MCMLXXX) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1980 Gregorian calendar)
In 1992, the National Science Foundation signed a letter of agreement with the National Science and Technology Medals Foundation that made the National Science and Technology Medals Foundation the metaorganization over both the National Medal of Science and the very similar National Medal of Technology. The National Medal of Technology and Innovation (formerly known as the National Medal of Technology) is an honor granted by the President of the United States to American
The first National Medal of Science was awarded on February 18, 1963, for the year 1962 by President John F. Events 3102 BC - Epoch (origin of the Kali Yuga. 1229 - The Sixth Crusade: Frederick II Holy Year 1963 ( MCMLXIII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Kennedy to Theodore von Kármán for his work at the Caltech Jet Propulsion Laboratory. The California Institute of Technology (commonly referred to as Caltech) is a private, Coeducational research university located in Pasadena The citation accompanying von Kármán's award reads:
- For his leadership in the science and engineering basic to aeronautics; for his effective teaching and related contributions in many fields of mechanics, for his distinguished counsel to the Armed Services, and for his promoting international cooperation in science and engineering. [4]
Although Public Law 86-209 provides for 20 recipients of the medal per year, it is typical for approximately 12–15 accomplished scientists and engineers to receive this distinction each year. There have been 6 years where no National Medals of Science were awarded between 1962 and 2004. Those years were: 1985, 1984, 1980, 1978, 1977, 1972 and 1971]]. As of February 13, 2006, there have been a total of 425 individuals recognized. Events 1258 - Baghdad falls to the Mongols, and the Abbasid Caliphate is destroyed Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar.
The award's ceremony is organized by the Office of Science and Technlogy Policy and takes place at the White House. See also Executive Office of the President of the United States The White House, formerly known as the Executive Mansion, is the Official residence
Award process
Each year the National Science Foundation sends out a call to the scientific community for the nomination of new candidates for the National Medal of Science. Individuals are nominated by their peers with each nomination requiring three letters of support from individuals in science and technology. Nominations are then sent to the Committee of the National Medal of Science which is a board composed of fourteen presidential appointees comprising twelve scientists, and two ex officio members - the director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) and the president of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS). Congress established the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy ( OSTP) in 1976 with a broad mandate to advise the President and others within the Executive The National Academy of Sciences (NAS is a corporation in the United States whose members serve Pro bono as "advisers to the nation on science [5]
According to the Committee, successful candidates must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents who are applying for U. Article I section 8 clause 4 of the United States Constitution expressly gives the United States Congress the power to establish a uniform rule of naturalization S. citizenship that have done work of significantly outstanding merit or that has had a major impact on scientific thought in their field. The Committee also values those who promote the general advancement of science and individuals who have influenced science education, although these traits are less important than groundbreaking or thought-provoking research. The nomination of a candidate is effective for three years; at the end of three years, the candidates peers are allowed to renominate the candidate. The Committee makes their recommendations to the President for the final awarding decision.
The Medal
The National Medal of Science depicts Man, surrounded by earth, sea, and sky, contemplating and struggling to understand Nature. The crystal in his hand represents the universal order and also suggests the basic unit of living things. The formula being outlined in the sand symbolizes scientific abstraction.
Notable laureates
| Year | Laureate | Citation |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | James D. Watson | "For five decades of scientific and intellectual leadership in molecular biology, ranging from his co-discovery of the double helical structure of DNA to the launching of the Human Genome Project. The Human Genome Project (HGP was an international Scientific research project with a primary goal to determine the sequence of chemical base pairs which make up DNA " |
| 1990 | Stephen Cole Kleene | "For his leadership in the theory of recursion and effective computability and for developing it into a deep and broad field of mathematical research. Stephen Cole Kleene ( January 5, 1909, Hartford Connecticut, USA &ndash January 25, 1994, Madison Wisconsin " |
| 1990 | Leonid Hurwicz | "For his pioneering work on the theory of modern decentralized allocation mechanisms. Leonid “Leo” Hurwicz ( August 21, 1917 June 24, 2008) was an American Economist and Mathematician. " |
| 1987 | James Van Allen | "For his central role in the exploration of outer space, including the discoveries of the magnetospheres of Earth, Jupiter, and Saturn. James Alfred Van Allen ( September 7 1914 &ndash August 9, 2006) was an American space scientist at the University of Iowa History First orbital flights The first successful orbital launch was of the Soviet unmanned Sputnik A magnetosphere' is a highly magnetized region around and possessed by an Astronomical object. EARTH was a short-lived Japanese vocal trio which released 6 singles and 1 album between 2000 and 2001 " |
| 1986 | Chen-Ning Yang | "For his pathbreaking research in theoretical physics, which he has influenced for many years by his profound questions and deep mathematical insight. Chen-Ning Franklin Yang ( (born October 1, 1922) is a Chinese -born American Physicist who worked on Statistical mechanics Theoretical physics employs Mathematical models and Abstractions of Physics in an attempt to explain experimental data taken of the natural world His ideas have had great impact not only on theoretical developments but also on experiments in elementary particles and condensed matter. In Particle physics, an elementary particle or fundamental particle is a particle not known to have substructure that is it is not known to be made Condensed matter physics is the field of Physics that deals with the macroscopic physical properties of Matter. " |
| 1976 | Edward O. Wilson | "For his pioneering work on the organization of insect societies and the evolution of social behavior among insects and other animals. Edward Osborne Wilson (born June 10, 1929) is an American biologist researcher ( Sociobiology, Biodiversity) theorist ( " |
| 1975 | Wernher von Braun | "For his work in making the liquid-fuel rocket a practical launch vehicle and for individual contributions to a series of advanced space vehicles, culminating in the Saturn series that made the Apollo program possible. Wernher Magnus Maximilian Freiherr von Braun (March 23 1912 &ndash June 16 1977 a German rocket physicist and astronautics engineer became one of the leading figures in A rocket or rocket vehicle is a Missile, Aircraft or other Vehicle which obtains Thrust by the reaction of the The Saturn family of Rockets were developed by a team of mostly German rocket scientists led by Wernher von Braun to launch heavy payloads to Earth orbit and beyond "* |
| 1974 | Kurt Gödel | "For laying the foundation for today's flourishing study of mathematical logic. Kurt Gödel (kʊɐ̯t ˈgøːdl̩ (April 28 1906 – January 14 1978 was an Austrian American Logician, Mathematician and Philosopher Logic is the study of the principles of valid demonstration and Inference. " |
| 1974 | Linus Pauling | "For the extraordinary scope and power of his imagination, which has led to basic contributions in such diverse fields as structural chemistry and the nature of chemical bonding, molecular biology, immunology, and the nature of genetic diseases. Linus Carl Pauling (February 28 1901 – August 19 1994 was an American Scientist, Peace activist, Author and educator. A chemical bond is the physical process responsible for the attractive interactions between Atoms and Molecules and which confers stability to diatomic and polyatomic Molecular biology is the study of Biology at a molecular level Immunology is a broad branch of biomedical Science that covers the study of all aspects of the Immune system in all Organisms It deals with A genetic disorder is a condition caused by abnormalities in Genes or Chromosomes While some diseases such as Cancer, are due to genetic abnormalities acquired " |
| 1973 | Carl Djerassi | "In recognition of his major contributions to the elucidation of the complex chemistry of the steroid hormones and to the application of these compounds to medicinal chemistry and population control by means of oral contraceptives. Carl Djerassi (born October 29, 1923 in Vienna, Austria) is a chemist, Novelist, and Playwright best known Chemistry (from Egyptian kēme (chem meaning "earth") is the Science concerned with the composition structure and properties A steroid is a Terpenoid Lipid characterized by a Carbon skeleton with four fused rings generally arranged in a 6-6-6-5 fashion Hormones (from Greek ὁρμή - "impetus" are chemicals released by cells that affect cells in other parts of the body Population control is the practice of limiting population increase usually by reducing the Birth rate. " |
| 1973 | Earl Sutherland | "For the discovery that epinephrine and hormones of the pituitary gland occasion their diverse regulatory effects by initiating cellular synthesis of cyclic adenylic acid, now recognized as a universal biological second messenger, which opened a new level of understanding of the subtle mechanisms that integrate the chemical life of the cell while offering hope of entirely new approaches to chemotherapy. Earl Wilbur Sutherland Jr ( November 19, 1915 &ndash March 9, 1974) was an American pharmacologist and biochemist The pituitary gland, or hypophysis, is an Endocrine gland about the size of a Pea. The cell is the structural and functional unit of all known living Organisms It is the smallest unit of an organism that is classified as living and is often called Foundations of modern biology There are five unifying principles The cell is the structural and functional unit of all known living Organisms It is the smallest unit of an organism that is classified as living and is often called Chemotherapy, in its most general sense refers to treatment of disease by chemicals that kill cells specifically those of micro-organisms or Cancer. " |
| 1971 | Barbara McClintock | "For establishing the relations between inherited characters in plants and the detailed shapes of their chromosomes, and for showing that some genes are controlled by other genes within chromosomes. Barbara McClintock (June 16 1902 – September 2 1992 the 1983 Nobel Laureate in Physiology or Medicine, was an American scientist and one of the world's most distinguished A chromosome is an organized structure of DNA and Protein that is found in cells. " |
| 1970 | John Archibald Wheeler | "For his basic contributions to our understanding of the nuclei of atoms, exemplified by his theory of nuclear fission, and his own work and stimulus to others on basic questions of gravitational and electromagnetic phenomena. John Archibald Wheeler ( July 9, 1911 &ndash April 13, 2008) was an eminent American Theoretical physicist. History See also Atomic theory, Atomism The concept that matter is composed of discrete units and cannot be divided into arbitrarily tiny Nuclear fission is the splitting of the nucleus of an atom into parts (lighter nuclei) often producing Free neutrons and other smaller nuclei which may Gravitation is a natural Phenomenon by which objects with Mass attract one another Electromagnetism is the Physics of the Electromagnetic field: a field which exerts a Force on particles that possess the property of " |
| 1969 | Ernst Mayr | "For notable contributions to systematics, biogeography, and the study of birds, and especially for great work on the evolution of animal populations. Ernst Walter Mayr ( July 5, 1904, Kempten, Germany &ndash February 3, 2005, Bedford Massachusetts U Biological systematics is the study of the diversity of Life on the planet Earth both past and present and the relationships among living things through time Biogeography is the study of the distribution of Biodiversity over Space and Time. Birds ( class Aves) are bipedal endothermic ( Warm-blooded) Vertebrate animals that lay eggs. eVolution is the third Album by eLDee, it was due to be released in 2008 " |
| 1968 | B.F. Skinner | "For basic and imaginative contributions to the study of behavior which have had profound influence upon all of psychology and many related areas. Burrhus Frederic Skinner ( March 20, 1904 &ndash August 18 1990) was an influential American Psychologist, author Behavior or behaviour (see spelling differences) refers to the actions or Reactions of an object or Organism, usually Psychology (from Greek grc ψῡχή psȳkhē, "breath life soul" and grc -λογία -logia) is an Academic and " |
| 1967 | Paul J. Cohen | "For epoch-making results in mathematical logic which have enlivened and broadened investigations in the foundation of mathematics. Paul Joseph Cohen ( April 2, 1934 &ndash March 23, 2007) was an American Mathematician best known for his proof of Logic is the study of the principles of valid demonstration and Inference. " |
| 1966 | Claude Shannon | "For brilliant contributions to the mathematical theories of communications and information processing and for his early and continuing impact on the development of these disciplines. Claude Elwood Shannon (April 30 1916 – February 24 2001 an American Electronic engineer and Mathematician, is "the father of Information Information theory is a branch of Applied mathematics and Electrical engineering involving the quantification of Information. Information processing is the change (processing of Information in any manner detectable by an observer. " |
| 1964 | Harold Urey | "For outstanding contributions to our understanding of the origin and evolution of the solar system and the origin of life on Earth and for pioneering work in the application of isotopes to the determination of the temperatures of ancient oceans. Harold Clayton Urey ( April 29, 1893 &ndash January 5, 1981) was an American Physical chemist whose pioneering work The Solar System consists of the Sun and those celestial objects bound to it by Gravity. In the Natural sciences, Abiogenesis, or origin of life, is the study of how Life on Earth emerged from Inanimate Organic Isotopes (Greek isos = "equal" tópos = "site place" are any of the different types of atoms ( Nuclides An ocean (from Greek, ''Okeanos'' (Oceanus) is a major body of saline water, and a principal component of the Hydrosphere. " |
| 1963 | Vannevar Bush | "For his distinguished achievements in electrical engineering, in the technology of computing machines, in the effective coupling of the physical and life sciences; and in his mobilizing science, engineering and education in enduring ways in the service of the Nation. Vannevar Bush ( March 11, 1890 &ndash June 30, 1974; pronounced "VAN-ee-var" ˈvæˌniː " |
| 1963 | Norbert Wiener | "For his marvellously versatile contributions, profoundly original, ranging within pure and applied mathematics, and penetrating boldly into the engineering and biological sciences. Norbert Wiener ( November 26, 1894, Columbia Missouri – March 18, 1964, Stockholm, Sweden) was an American " |
See also
- National Medal of Technology
- List of National Medal of Science laureates
- Searchable Database of ALL National Medal of Science Recipients
References
- ^ National Science Foundation (17 July 2007). The National Medal of Technology and Innovation (formerly known as the National Medal of Technology) is an honor granted by the President of the United States to American The National Medal of Science is an honor bestowed by the President of the United States to individuals in science and engineering who have made important contributions "Press Release 07-079 President to Award 2005-2006 National Medals of Science and National Medals of Technology Honoring Nation's Leading Researchers, Inventors and Innovators". Press release. A news release, media release, press release or press statement is a written or recorded Communication directed at members of the News Retrieved on 2007-10-10. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 680 - Battle of Karbala: Shia Imam Husayn bin Ali, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, is decapitated
- ^ John F. Kennedy (21 August 1961). Executive Order 10961 Providing Procedures for the Award of the National Medal of Science. The White House. Retrieved on 2007-10-10. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 680 - Battle of Karbala: Shia Imam Husayn bin Ali, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, is decapitated
- ^ AAAS Council (7 January 1979). AAAS Resolution: National Medal of Science. American Association for the Advancement of Science. Retrieved on 2007-10-10. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 680 - Battle of Karbala: Shia Imam Husayn bin Ali, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, is decapitated
- ^ 2008 Call for Nominations through December 7, 2007. National Science Foundation (24 Sep 2007). Retrieved on 2007-10-10. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 680 - Battle of Karbala: Shia Imam Husayn bin Ali, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, is decapitated
- ^ President's Committee, 2007. National Science Foundation (15 Aug 2007). Retrieved on 2007-10-10. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 680 - Battle of Karbala: Shia Imam Husayn bin Ali, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, is decapitated
External links
- National Science Foundation
- National Science & Technology Medals Foundation
- Using the National Medal of Science to recognize advances in psychology
Dapyx Software network: MP3 Explorer | Ebook Manager | Zenithic