National Medal of Science

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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

  • Calderón in front of blackboard

    Alberto Calderón (1920–1998)

    Professor in Mathematics

  • Zygmund smiling

    Antoni Zygmund (1900–1992)

    Gustavus F. and Anne M. Swift Distinguished Service Professor in Mathematics

  • Parker face

    Eugene Parker

    S. Chandrasekhar Distinguished Service Professor Emeritus in Physics, Astronomy & Astrophysics and the Enrico Fermi Institute

  • Browder smiling in front of bookshelf

    Felix Browder

    Max Mason Distinguished Service Professor Emeritus in Mathematics (now at Rutgers University)

  • Becker face

    Gary S. Becker (1930–2014)

    University Professor in Economics and Sociology; Nobel Laureate in Economic Sciences, 1992; Presidential Medal of Freedom, 2007

  • Stigler smiling

    George Stigler (1911–1991)

    Charles R. Walgreen Distinguished Service Professor in Economics; Nobel Laureate in Economic Sciences, 1982

  • Cronin smiling with space background

    James Cronin

    Professor Emeritus in Physics, Astronomy & Astrophysics and the Enrico Fermi Institute; Nobel Laureate in Physics, 1980

  • Rowley smiling

    Janet Davison Rowley (1925–2013)

    Blum-Riese Distinguished Service Professor in Medicine, Molecular Genetics & Cell Biology and Human Genetics

  • Kadanoff face

    Leo Kadanoff

    John D. MacArthur Distinguished Service Professor in Physics, Mathematics, the James Franck Institute and the Enrico Fermi Institute

  • Friedman posing

    Milton Friedman (1912–2006)

    Paul Snowden Distinguished Service Professor in Economics; Nobel Laureate in Economic Sciences, 1982

  • Clayton smiling in front of blackboard

    Robert Clayton

    Enrico Fermi Distinguished Service Professor Emeritus in Chemistry and Geophysical Sciences and the College

  • Mac Lane posing in a suit

    Saunders Mac Lane (1909–2005)

    Max Mason Distinguished Service Professor Emeritus in Mathematics

  • Rice smiling

    Stuart Rice

    Frank P. Hixon Distinguished Service Professor in Chemistry and the James Franck Institute

  • Chandrasekhar face

    Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar (1910–1995)

    Morton D. Hull Distinguished Service Professor in Physics and Astronomy & Astrophysics; Nobel Laureate in Physics, 1983

  • Nambu smiling in a tuxedo

    Yoichiro Nambu

    Harry Pratt Judson Distinguished Service Professor Emeritus in Physics and the Enrico Fermi Institute

  • President Paul Alivisatos

    Paul Alivisatos

    John D. MacArthur Distinguished Service Professor in Chemistry 2014