Oct. 24 (UPI) — President Biden bestowed the nation’s highest scientific and technological accolades on nearly two dozen individuals during a White House ceremony Monday, recognizing their exemplary achievements in their respective fields.
Biden presented nine individuals with the National Medal of Science, an award given for exceptional contributions across various scientific fields. Ten individuals also were given the National Medal of Technology and Innovation, which acknowledges American innovators for their contributions to the nation’s economy and quality of life.
The medal recipients have a wide-ranging list of accomplishments that include breakthroughs in life-saving medical treatments, solutions to help combat the opioid epidemic, methods to enhance food security and more.
Biden says their achievements serve as inspiration for future generations of American thinkers.
Among the science honorees was Shelley Taylor, a UCLA distinguished professor emeritus of psychology, who was acknowledged by the president for her “pioneering research on mental health and the influence of human connections.”
Her work helped shed light on the importance of cognitive bias in social interactions, and she is well-regarded for her substantial contributions to comprehending the effect of stress on our overall health.
Steven A. Rosenberg, M.D., Ph.D., an immunotherapy trailblazer, was also among those recognized Monday. He was given a National Medal of Technology and Innovation for his role in advancing a treatment method that harnesses the patient’s immune system to combat cancer.
Rosenberg’s research helped lead to the first cancer immunotherapy treatment approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Ashok Gadgil, distinguished professor emeritus of civil and environmental engineer, was awarded the National Medal of Technology and Innovation for his cost-effective solutions for challenges in the developing world.
Gadgil’s notable achievements include the invention of safe drinking water technologies, such as UV Waterworks, and an advanced arsenic removal technology.
Other recipients of recognition include:
Recipients of the National Medal of ScienceHuda Akil, University of MichiganBarry C. Barish, California Institute of TechnologyGebisa Ejeta, Purdue UniversityEve E. Marder, Brandeis UniversityGregory A. Petsko, Harvard Medical School, Brigham & Women’s HospitalMyriam Sarachik, (posthumously) The City College of New YorkSubra Suresh, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Brown UniversityShelley E. Taylor, University of California, Los AngelesSheldon Weinbaum, The City College of New York’
Recipients of the National Medal of Technology and InnovationMary-Dell Chilton, Syngenta Biotechnology, Inc.John M. Cioffi, Stanford University, ASSIA, Inc.Rory A. Cooper, University of Pittsburgh, U.S. Department of Veterans AffairsAshok Gadgil, University of California, Berkeley, Lawrence Berkeley National LaboratoryJuan E. Gilbert, University of FloridaCharles W. Hull, 3D SystemsJeong H. Kim, Kiswe Mobile, Inc.Steven A. Rosenberg, National Cancer InstituteNeil Gilbert Siegel, University of Southern CaliforniaJames G. Fujimoto and Eric Swanson, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and David Huang, Oregon Health & Science University (team)
