The National Medal of Science was established by the United States Congress in 1959 and is administered by the United States National Science Foundation (NSF). This medal is the highest recognition the country can give to scientists and engineers. A committee of experts is appointed by the President of the United States to evaluate candidates for the award who, according to a NSF Statementis awarded to “individuals deserving of special recognition because of their exceptional contributions to knowledge in the fields of physics, biology, mathematics, engineering, or the social and behavioral sciences, in the service of the Nation.”
Alley joined the Penn State faculty in 1988 after graduating from the University of Wisconsin in 1987. He said he considered the award a “testament” to decades of work with colleagues and students at Penn State, including Penn State Ice and Climate Group and more broadly in the Earth, environmental and energy sciences of the University.
“This honor is richly deserved recognition of Richard’s lifelong work as a scientist and public educator,” said Andrew Read, senior vice president for research at Penn State. “He has advanced Penn State’s entire research enterprise through his enthusiasm and passion for work with global impact.” I must also recognize his role as a mentor to generations of Penn State students, who come here to learn from distinguished scholars like Richard. His teaching is not limited to our community; he showed the world that the history of our planet is written in layers of ice, a history that will shape our future.
For decades, Alley has been an enthusiastic science communicator. He has authored or co-authored more than 300 peer-reviewed scientific articles, hosted the PBS special “Earth: The Operators’ Manual” and wrote its companion book, and is the author from a popular account of climate change and ice cores called “The Two-Mile Time Machine.” » and appears regularly in national and international media. In recent years, Alley was one of the authors of the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, whose members shared the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize.
Four more Penn State scientists honored the science medal. Stephen Benkovic, Atherton Professor and Eberly Chair in Chemistry, received the medal in 2010 by President Barack Obama for his research contributions in the field of bioorganic chemistry, which have changed our understanding of how enzymes work and advanced the identification of targets and strategies for drug design.
Nina Fedoroff, professor emeritus of biology, received the medal by President George W. Bush in 2007 for her work on the molecular biology of plants and for being the first to clone and characterize corn transposons, segments of DNA capable of changing position in the genome.
Calyampudi Rao, Eberly Family Professor of Statistics Emeritus who died in 2023, received the medal in 2002 from President George W. Bush for his contributions to the foundations of statistical theory and multivariate statistical methodology, as well as ‘to their applications, thus enriching physical study. , biological, mathematical, economic and engineering sciences.
Erwin Müeller, Evan Pugh professor of physics who died in 1977, received the medal posthumously from President Jimmy Carter in 1977 for his invention of the field emission microscope, the field ion microscope and the atomic probe microscope, which helped to resolve the atomic structures of solids and allowed him to “see” an atom for the first time.
“Those who win these awards embody the promise of America by pushing the boundaries of what is possible,” according to a declaration published by the White House. “These pioneers harnessed the power of science and technology to solve difficult problems and bring innovative solutions to Americans and communities around the world. Their achievements advance American leadership in science, technology, and innovation, and their work inspires the next generation of American leaders. »