Biden names 25 recipients of national science and technology medals

President Joe Biden announced the latest recipients of the National Medal of Science and the National Medal of Technology and Innovation, the nation’s highest honors for exemplary achievement and leadership in science and technology.

Established in 1959, the National Medal of Science is administered for the White House by the National Science Foundation. The medal recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to science and engineering.

The National Medal of Technology and Innovation was established in 1980 and is administered for the White House by the Patent and Trademark Office of the U.S. Department of Commerce. It recognizes individuals and organizations for their lasting contributions to America’s competitiveness and quality of life and has helped strengthen the nation’s technology workforce.

The National Medal of Science was awarded to 14 recipients. Nine individuals received the National Medal of Technology and Innovation, along with two organizations: Moderna, Inc. and Pfizer Inc.

Four of the recipients were faculty members at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The University of Minnesota, Stanford University, Harvard University and Vanderbilt University each received two medals.

In a White House statement, Biden said: “Those who win these awards embody the promise of America by pushing the boundaries of what is possible. These pioneers harnessed the power of science and technology to solve difficult problems and bring innovative solutions to Americans and communities around the world.

He cited their discoveries in areas such as the climate crisis, medical treatments, vaccine development, changes in communication and improving understanding of the universe and our place within it. “Their achievements advance American leadership in science, technology and innovation, and their work inspires the next generation of American leaders,” the press release said.

The 14 recipients of the National Medal of Science are:

• Richard B. Alley, Evan Pugh Professor of Geosciences at Pennsylvania State University. Alley studies large ice sheets to help predict future changes in climate and sea level.
• Larry Martin Bartels, professor emeritus of political science and law and May Werthan Shayne Professor of Public Policy and Social Sciences at Vanderbilt University. His research focuses on public opinion, public policy, electoral science, and political economy.
• Bonnie L. Bassler, Squibb Professor of Molecular Biology and chair of the Department of Molecular Biology at Princeton University, for her research on the molecular mechanisms used by bacteria for intercellular communication.
• Angela Marie Belcher, James Mason Crafts Professor of Biological Engineering and Materials Science and Engineering at MIT and member of the Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research. She was honored for designing materials for applications in solar cells, batteries and medical imaging.
• Helen M. Blau, Donald E. and Delia B. Baxter Foundation Professor and director of the Baxter Laboratory for Stem Cell Biology at Stanford University for her research in muscle disease, regeneration, and aging, including the use of stem cells for tissue repair.
• Emery Neal Brown, Edward Hood Taplin Professor of Medical Engineering and Computational Neuroscience at MIT, was recognized for his work revealing the impact of anesthesia on the brain.
• John O. Dabiri, Centennial Chair Professor at the California Institute of Technology in the Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering Graduate Laboratories. His research focuses on fluid mechanics and flow physics, with emphasis on topics related to biology, energy, and the environment.
• Ingrid Daubechies, James B. Duke Distinguished Professor of Mathematics at Duke University, was honored for her pioneering work in signal processing.
• Cynthia Dwork, Gordon McKay Professor of Computer Science at Harvard University, was recognized for her research that transformed how data privacy is managed in the era of Big Data and AI.
• R. Lawrence Edwards, Regents and McKnight University Distinguished Professor, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Minnesota. Edwards is known for his refinement of radiocarbon dating techniques to study climate history and ocean chemistry.
• Wendy L. Freedman, John and Marion Sullivan Professor of Astronomy and Astrophysics at the University of Chicago, for her research in observational cosmology, including pioneering uses of the Hubble Space Telescope.
• Keivan G. Stassun, Stevenson Professor of Physics and Astronomy at Vanderbilt University for his work in astrophysics, including the study of star formation and exoplanets.
• G. David Tilman is Regents Professor and McKnight Presidential Chair in Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior at the University of Minnesota. It studies biological diversity, the structure and benefits of ecosystems, and ways to ensure sustainability despite global increases in human consumption and population.
• Teresa Kaye Woodruff is a professor of obstetrics, gynecology, reproductive biology, and biomedical engineering at Michigan State University. She is an internationally renowned expert in ovarian biology and reproductive sciences.

The nine individual recipients of the National Medal of Technology and Innovation are:

• Martin Cooper for his work advancing wireless personal communications for over 50 years. Cited in the Guinness Book of World Records for making the first phone call on a cell phone, Cooper, nicknamed the “Father of the Cell Phone,” spent much of his career at Motorola.
• Jennifer A. Doudna, Nobel Laureate in Chemistry and Li Ka Shing Chancellor Chair in Biomedical and Health Sciences at the University of California, Berkeley. She is a pioneer in CRISPR gene editing.
• Eric R. Fossum is the John H. Krehbiel Sr. Professor for Emerging Technologies at Dartmouth College. He invented the CMOS active pixel image sensor used in cell phone cameras, webcams and medical imaging.
• Paula T. Hammond, MIT Institute professor, vice provost and member of the Koch Institute, was honored for developing methods for assembling thin films that can be used for drug delivery, wound healing wounds and other applications.
• Kristina M. Johnson, former president of Ohio State University, was recognized for her research in photonics, nanotechnology and optoelectronics. His discoveries have contributed to sustainable energy solutions and advanced manufacturing technologies.
• Victor B. Lawrence spent much of his career at Bell Laboratories, working on new developments in multiple forms of communications. He is a research professor and director of the Center for Intelligent Networked Systems at Stevens Institute of Technology.
• David R. Walt is a faculty member at the Wyss Institute at Harvard University and is the Hansjörg Wyss Professor of Bioinspired Engineering at Harvard Medical School and Professor of Pathology at Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital. He was honored for co-inventing the DNA chip, enabling large-scale genetic analysis and better personalized medicine.
• Paul G. Yock is a distinguished faculty member at Stanford University. A physician, Yock is known for having invented, developed and tested new cardiovascular intervention devices, including the stent.
• Feng Zhang, the James and Patricia Poitras Professor of Neuroscience at MIT and professor of brain science, cognitive science, and biological engineering, was recognized for his work developing molecular tools, including the CRISPR genome editing system.