Physicists, others honored with National Medal of Science

Washington, DC — President Obama today named ten eminent researchers as recipients of the National Medal of Science, the highest honor bestowed by the United States government on scientists. The recipients will receive their awards at a White House ceremony later this year. One of them, Yakir Aharonov, is the author of an article in the upcoming November 2010 issue of Physics Today.

“The extraordinary accomplishments of these scientists... are a testament to American industry and ingenuity,” President Obama said. “Their achievements have redrawn the frontiers of human knowledge while enhancing American prosperity, and it is my tremendous pleasure to honor them for their important contributions.”

The National Medal of Science was created by statute in 1959 and is administered for the White House by the National Science Foundation. Awarded annually, the Medal recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to science and engineering. Nominees are selected by a committee of Presidential appointees based on their extraordinary knowledge in, and contributions to, the biological, behavioral/social, and physical sciences, as well as chemistry, engineering, computing, and mathematics.

The recipients of the National Medal of Science are listed below.

• Yakir Aharonov, Chapman University, CA
• Stephen J. Benkovic, Pennsylvania State University, PA
• Esther M. Conwell, University of Rochester, NY
• Marye Anne Fox, University of California San Diego, CA
• Susan L. Lindquist, Whitehead Institute, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, MA
• Mortimer Mishkin, National Institutes of Health, MD
• David B. Mumford, Brown University, RI
• Stanley B. Prusiner, University of California San Francisco, CA
• Warren M. Washington, National Center for Atmospheric Research, CO
• Amnon Yariv, California Institute of Technology, CA