National Medal of Science Recipients
Luis W. Alvarez
1963 National Medal of Science
Area: Physical Sciences
Key Contributions: Theoretical physics; the bubble chamber; revolutionized the study of charged particles; the Manhattan Project
Awarded by: Lyndon B. Johnson
Kenneth S. Pitzer
1974 National Medal of Science
Area: Physical Sciences
Key Contributions: Thermodynamic properties of molecules
Awarded by: Gerald R. Ford
George C. Pimentel
1983 National Medal of Science
Area: Chemistry
Key Contributions: Inventor of the chemical laser
Awarded by: Ronald W. Reagan
Yuan T. Lee
1986 National Medal of Science
Area: Chemistry
Key Contributions: Quantitative bridge between the laws of mechanics and complex macroscopic phenomena
Awarded by: Ronald W. Reagan
Melvin E. Calvin
1989 National Medal of Science
Area: Chemistry
Key Contributions: Light-independent reactions in plants; discovered the Calvin cycle
Awarded by: George H. W. Bush
Edwin M. McMillan
1990 National Medal of Science
Area: Physical Sciences
Key Contributions: Scientific achievements including the identification of the first transuranic element (neptunium) and the invention of the phase stability principle incorporated in the synchrotron
Awarded by: George H. W. Bush
Glenn T. Seaborg
1991 National Medal of Science
Area: Chemistry
Key Contributions: Worked on the Manhattan Project; discovered 10 elements
Awarded by: George H. W. Bush
Darleane C. Hoffman
1997 National Medal of Science
Area: Chemistry
Key Contributions: Discovered the element Seaborgium
Awarded by: William J. Clinton
Harold S. Johnston
1997 National Medal of Science
Area: Chemistry
Key Contributions: Research on causes of smog; proposed that aircraft exhaust was responsible for ozone deterioration
Awarded by: William J. Clinton
Bruce N. Ames
1998 National Medal of Science
Area: Biological Sciences
Key Contributions: The Ames test
Awarded by: William J. Clinton
Marvin L. Cohen
2001 National Medal of Science
Area: Physical Sciences
Key Contributions: Research on pseudopotentials
Awarded by: George W. Bush
Gabor A. Somorjai
2001 National Medal of Science
Area: Chemistry
Key Contributions: Sum frequency generation spectroscopy
Awarded by: George W. Bush
John M. Prausnitz
2003 National Medal of Science
Area: Engineering
Key Contributions: Development of molecular thermodynamic models
Awarded by: George W. Bush
Alexandre J. Chorin
2012 National Medal of Science
Area: Mathematics and Computer Sciences
Key Contributions: Research integral to modern engine design; research integral to understanding blood flow
Awarded by: Barack H. Obama
A. Paul Alivisatos
2014 National Medal of Science
Area: Chemistry
Key Contributions: Nanocrystals
Awarded by: Barack H. Obama
National Medal of Technology and Innovation Recipient
Arthur H. Rosenfeld
2011 National Medal of Technology and Innovation
Area: Environment
Key Contributions: Energy-efficient building technologies and policies; the Rosenfeld Effect
Awarded by: Barack H. Obama