This week President Joseph Biden honored seven members of the National Academy of Medicine (NAM) with the National Medal of Science and the National Medal of Technology and Innovation. The medals represent the highest honors in the United States for achievements in science and technological achievement.
The four NAM members who received the National Medal of Science and details about their achievements are listed below:
- Bonnie L. Bassler (Princeton University). Bassler was elected to the NAM in 2016 and to the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) in 2006.
- Helen M. Blau (Stanford University). Blau was elected to the NAM in 1995 and to the NAS in 2016.
- Emery Neal Brown (Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital). Brown was elected to the NAM in 2007, to the NAS in 2014, and to the National Academy of Engineering (NAE) in 2015.
- Teresa Kaye Woodruff (Michigan State University). Woodruff was elected to the NAM in 2018.
The three NAM members who received the National Medal of Technology and Innovation and details about their achievements are listed below:
- Jennifer A. Doudna (University of California, Berkeley). Doudna was elected to the NAM in 2010 and to the NAS in 2002.
- Paula T. Hammond (Massachusetts Institute of Technology). Hammond was elected to the NAM in 2016, to the NAS in 2019, and to the NAE in 2017.
- Feng Zhang (Massachusetts Institute of Technology). Hammond was elected to the NAM in 2021 and to the NAS in 2018.
About the National Medals
The National Medal of Science was established in 1959 by the U.S. Congress and serves as the highest recognition the nation can confer on scientists and engineers. It is awarded for outstanding contributions to knowledge in the physical, biological, mathematical, engineering, or social and behavioral sciences, in service to the country.
The National Medal of Technology and Innovation was established in 1980 by the U.S Congress. It is the nation’s highest honor for technological achievement and recognizes outstanding contributions to the United States’ economic, environmental, and social well-being.
