National Medal of Science

University Leadership

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The National Medal of Science is the nation’s highest scientific honor. The award, established by Congress in 1959 and bestowed by the President, initially recognized outstanding contributions in the physical, biological, mathematical or engineering sciences. In 1980, Congress expanded the award to include the social and behavioral sciences.

National Medal of Science Recipients

  • President Paul Alivisatos

    Paul Alivisatos

  • Becker face

    Gary S. Becker

  • Browder smiling in front of bookshelf

    Felix Browder

  • Calderón in front of blackboard

    Alberto Calderón

  • Chandrasekhar face

    Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar

  • Clayton smiling in front of blackboard

    Robert Clayton

  • Cronin smiling with space background

    James Cronin

  • Wendy Freedman

    Wendy Freedman

  • Friedman posing

    Milton Friedman

  • Kadanoff face

    Leo Kadanoff

  • Mac Lane posing in a suit

    Saunders Mac Lane

  • Nambu smiling in a tuxedo

    Yoichiro Nambu

  • Parker face

    Eugene Parker

  • Rice smiling

    Stuart Rice

  • Rowley smiling

    Janet Davison Rowley

  • Stigler smiling

    George Stigler

  • Zygmund smiling

    Antoni Zygmund