National Medal of Science

BACK DEVICE(s) None

Description:

1. Authorized by
2. Established in 1959 by the U.S. Congress, the National Medal of Science is the highest recognition thenation can bestow on scientists and engineers. The presidential award is given to individualsdeserving of special recognition by reason of their outstanding contributions to knowledge in thephysical, biological, mathematical, engineering, or social and behavioral sciences, in service to theNation. These broad areas include such disciplines as astronomy, chemistry, computer andinformation science and engineering, geoscience, materials research, and research on STEM education.
3. A committee of distinguished scientists and engineers is appointed by the president of the UnitedStates to evaluate the nominees for the award. Medals are presented to recipients by the presidentduring an awards ceremony at the White House.
4. Nominees must be a U.S. citizen or national, or a permanent resident who is applying for U.S.citizenship.
5. Deceased nominees are eligible for the award until the fi fth anniversary of the day of theirdeath.
6. Nobel Prize winners are eligible for awards and are evaluated according to the sameconsiderations as nominees who have not received a Nobel Prize. 
7. Nominations will be carried over for a period of three years, including the year of nomination.After that time, it is possible to re-nominate an individual for consideration, if they are stilleligible.

Background:

1. The National Medal of Science is a medallion, rather than an actualt medal.
2. the medallion depicts a human form, surrounded by Earth, sea and sky, contemplating and seeking to understand nature. The crystal in the figure's hand symbolizes the universal order and also suggests the basic unit of living things. The formula the figure is sketching in the sand symbolizes scientific abstraction.