What a proud moment! Two Indian-American scientists achieved one of the highest scientific honors on Tuesday, October 24th. The president of the USA presented the prestigious White House national medal to Dr. Subhra Suresh and Ashok Gadgil in Washington. On the same day, Dr. Subhra Suresh got this prestigious award for pioneering research across engineering, physical science, and life sciences. Dr. Gadgil was awarded a national medal for technology and innovation for providing life-sustaining resources to communities around the world.
What is national Medal of science?
The National Medal of Science was established on August 25, in 1959. by an act of the Congress of the United States. The first National Medal of Science was awarded on February 18, 1963, for the year 1962 by President John F. Kennedy to Theodore von Kármán for his work at the Caltech Jet Propulsion Laboratory. According to the White House, these awards are given to individuals to recognize their outstanding contributions to knowledge in the physical, biological, mathematical, engineering, or social and behavioral sciences in service to the nation. Each year, the National Science Foundation sends out a call to the scientific community for the nomination of new candidates for the National Medal of Science. According to the Committee, successful candidates must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents who are applying for U.S. citizenship and who have done work of significantly outstanding merit or that has had a major impact on scientific thought in their field.
what is national medal of technology and innovation
According to Wikipedia, the National Medal of Technology and Innovation (formerly the National Medal of Technology) is an honor granted by the President of the United States to American inventors and innovators who have made significant contributions to the development of new and important technology. The award may be granted to a specific person, to a group of people, or to an entire organization or corporation. It is the highest honor the United States can confer on a US citizen for achievements related to technological progress.he National Medal of Technology was created in 1980 by the United States Congress under the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act. It was a effort to glorify technological innovation and the technological competitiveness of the United States in the international arena. The first National Medals of Technology were issued in 1985 by then U.S. President Ronald Reagan to 12 individuals and one company.
Works and achievement of Dr. Suresh Suresh was born as an Indian. At the age of 25, he earned a PhD in mechanical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute. Then he became a faculty at Brown University. He earned the title of the first Asian-born American to lead the National Science Foundation, and was nominated by President Barack Obama as the 13th director of the NSF. NSF launched the virtual organization Global Research Council, heads of science and engineering funding agencies with 50 countries, aimed for global collaboration and data sharing. He also oversaw the establishment of the Center-Life Balance program. Suresh was awarded the medal for pioneering research across in engineering, physical sciences, and life sciences, and particularly for advancing the study of material science and its application to other disciplines.
Works and achivement of Dr. Gadgil
Gadgil earned degrees in physics from the University of Bombay (now Mumbai), the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, and earned his Ph.D. degree from UC Berkeley. Gadgil is now a Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Civil and Environmental Engineering at UC Berkeley. Gadgil’s award is the 17th national medal overall and the second National Medal of Technology and Innovation .Gadgil was presented the medal for providing life-sustaining resources to communities around the world. He told his audience that he is now working on removing arsenic from groundwater in an effective and affordable way.
