medal of science

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Nomination Information
Background and Eligibility
National Medals of Science are awarded by the President of the United States to individuals
deserving of special recognition by reason of their outstanding cumulative contributions to
knowledge in the physical, biological, mathematical, engineering, or behavioral or social sciences,
in service to the Nation.
Many more nominations are received than awards may be given. Ideal nominations make a strong
case for scientific or engineering achievement as well as broader impacts in promoting the
progress of science; advancing the national health, prosperity, and welfare; securing the national
defense; and other purposes.
Please note the following eligibility guidelines:
• Self-nominations are not eligible, nor are nominations from immediate family members.
Teams are not eligible for consideration.
• Deceased nominees are eligible for the award until the fifth anniversary of the day of death.
• Nobel Prize winners are eligible for awards and are evaluated according to the same
considerations as those applied to nominees who have not received a Nobel Prize.
• 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 the candidate for later
consideration, if he or she is still eligible.
The President's Committee on the National Medal of Science (committee.jsp) is comprised of
experts from a variety of disciplines. Please ensure that the nomination clearly conveys cumulative
scientific achievement and broader impacts to a Committee with a wide spectrum of expertise.

Award Selection Considerations
The Committee has established the following considerations for selection of candidates:
a. The impact of an individual's body of work on the current state of his or her field of science
or engineering;

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b. Whether the individual's achievements are of an unusually significant nature in relation to
the potential effects on the development of thought in his or her field of science or
engineering;
c. Whether the nominee has demonstrated unusually distinguished service in the general
advancement of science and/or engineering for the Nation, especially when accompanied
by substantial contributions to the content of science;
d. The recognition of the nominee by peers within his or her community, and whether s/he is
recognized for substantial impact in fields in addition to his/her discipline;
e. If the nominee has made contributions to innovation and industry;
f. Whether the nominee has demonstrated sustained influence on education through
publications, teaching activities, outreach, mentoring, etc. and;
g. Whether the nominee's contributions have created significant positive impact for the Nation.
Nominations and Letters of Support Requirements
The nomination process is completely electronic and must be accessed via the FastLane honorary
awards module. There is no paper equivalent of the nomination form. A complete description of
the nomination form is available at nomination-form-description.jsp (nomination-formdescription.jsp).
a. A complete nomination consists of a nomination form and three to five letters of support.
Nominations with fewer than three letters of support will not be forwarded to the committee
to review, and no more than five letters of support will be accepted. Please be aware that
the nomination will allow for only 3 references. Additional references should send the letters
directly to Sherrie Green, Medal of Science Program Officer (contact information below), for
processing.
b. The nomination package should also include a list of no more than ten publications and
patents, each accompanied by a brief explanation of their significance. Please do not submit
full publications or patents. Please submit materials in PDF format only.
c. Nominations and letters are to be submitted electronically — in PDF format only — via the
FastLane website. Letters of support must be uploaded by the letter writers, not by the
nominator. The nominator and each of the letter writers will need to create a user id and
password if new to the system. Please contact Sherrie Green, Medal of Science Program
Officer (contact information below), for assistance. Please ensure that letters of support and
all other materials are uploaded in PDF format.
d. Under exceptional circumstances, letters may also be sent separately via regular mail or
e-mail as an attachment.
e. All letters of support should be addressed to the President's Committee on the National
Medal of Science.

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f. Nominators are responsible for ensuring that letter writers submit their information
references in a timely fashion. Please inform letter writers of the exact spelling of the
nominee's name and the designated primary discipline. This will allow the system to
automatically link the letters to the nomination.
g. Institutions may submit an unlimited number of nominations.
h. Nominators have the option to identify a secondary research discipline on the nomination
form.

Inquiries
For further information concerning the award program or nomination process, contact:
Sherrie Green, PhD
Office of Integrative Activities
National Science Foundation
2415 Eisenhower Avenue, Suite 17100
Alexandria, VA 22314
Phone: 703-292-8040
Fax: 703-292-9040
Email: [email protected] (mailto:[email protected])

National Science Foundation, 2415 Eisenhower Avenue, Alexandria, Virginia 22314, USA Tel: (703) 292-5111,
FIRS: (800) 877-8339 | TDD: (800) 281-8749

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National Medal of Science

Privacy Act and Public Burden Statements
Privacy Act Statement
The information requested on the application materials is solicited under the authority of the National
Science Foundation Act of 1950, as amended. It will be used in connection with the selection of qualified
applicants and may be disclosed to qualified reviewers and staff assistants, and to other government
agencies as part of the review process; to government contractors as necessary to complete assigned
work; and to another Federal agency, court or party in a court or Federal administrative proceeding if the
government is a party.
Notice of the decision may be given to nominators, and disclosure may be made of awardees? names,
home institutions, and field of study for public information purposes including press releases. See Systems
of Records, NSF-12, "Fellowships and Other Awards," 63 Federal Register 265 (January 5, 1998).
Submission of the information is voluntary; however, failure to provide full and complete information may
reduce the possibility of receiving an award.

Public Burden Statement
Pursuant to 5 CFR 1320.5 (b), an agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to
respond to an information collection unless it displays a valid OMB control umber. The OMB control number
for this collection is 3145-0035. Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to
average 20 hours per response, including the time for reviewing instructions. Send comments regarding
this burden estimate and any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for
reducing this burden, to:
Suzanne H. Plimpton
Reports Clearance Officer
Office of the General Counsel
Office of the Director
National Science Foundation
Email: [email protected]

National Science Foundation
2415 Eisenhower Avenue, Alexandria, Virginia 22314, USA
Tel: 703-292-5111, FIRS: 800-877-8339 | TDD: 703-292-5090

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