Nov 24, 2010 09:50 GMT  ·  By
Image showing the ten laureates of the 2010 National Medal of Science awards, flanked by the NSF director (right) and deputy director
   Image showing the ten laureates of the 2010 National Medal of Science awards, flanked by the NSF director (right) and deputy director

In a November 17 ceremony, US President Barack Obama awarded ten of the top scientific minds in the country with the highest distinction that the nation can offer, the National Medal of Science.

The National Science Foundation (NSF) manages the NMS for the White House. The medal was instated in 1959, and has been awarded to the most influential and successful scientists ever since.

Only scientists and researchers who bring outstanding contributions to their respective fields, and to the forwarding of science as a whole, are eligible to receive this distinction, NSF officials say.

Persons who can qualify for NMS consideration conduct research in biological, behavioral, social and physical sciences. More recently, chemistry, engineering, computing and mathematics have been added to the list as well.

A commission made up of presidential appointees is responsible for deciding which scientists made the most impressive contributions to the field in that particular year.

“The achievements of these men and women stand as testament to their ingenuity, to their zeal for discovery and for their willingness to give of themselves and to sacrifice in order to expand the reach of human understanding,” Obama said at the event.

“The scientists and innovators here have saved lives, improved our health and well being, helped unleash whole new industries and millions of jobs, transformed the way we work, learn and communicate,” the President added.

“Their contributions serve as proof not only to their creativity and skill, but to the promise of science itself,” Obama added at the black tie awards dinner that followed the White House ceremony.

“Tonight we acknowledge not only the heritage that you received and have carried on, but even more so, we celebrate the legacy that you bestow to coming generations of explorers, discoverers, inventors, and innovators,” said Subra Suresh.

The official, who is the director of the National Science Foundation, addressed the laureates at the dinner. “You feed our anticipation of continued contributions and leadership,” he adds.

“And, we look forward to the future flowering of science and innovation in your hands and in the hearts and minds of those you mentor and train ... To put the minds and the hands of humanity to work in creating a better world for all,” the NSF leader said.

This year's winners are Yakir Aharonov, Stephen Benkovic, Esther Conwell, Marye Anne Fox, Susan Lindquist, Mortimer Mishkin, David Mumford, Stanley Prusiner, Warren Washington, and Amnon Yariv.