The National Medal of Science is the nation’s highest scientific honor. Established by Congress in 1959, it was intended to be bestowed annually by the President of the United States on a select group of individuals deserving of special recognition by reason of their outstanding contributions
Congress expanded this definition in 1980 to recognize outstanding work in the social and behavioral sciences. In 1962, President John F. Kennedy awarded the first Medal of Science to the late Theodore Von Karman, professor emeritus, California Institute of Technology.
| 2010 | Ralph Lawrence Brinster, Richard King Mellon Professor of Reproductive Physiology |
| 2007 | Fay Ajzenberg-Selove, Professor Emerita of Physics |
| 2001 | Raymond Davis, Jr., Research Professor of Physics and Astronomy |
| 2000 | Ralph S. Hirschmann, Rao Makineni Professor of Bioorganic Chemistry |
| 1983 | Robert L. Schrieffer, Professor of Physics |
| 1982 | Mildred Cohn, Professor of Biophysics and Physical Biochemistry |
| 1975 | Paul Gyorgy, Professor of Pediatrics, School of Medicine |
| 1974 | Britton Chance, Professor of Biophysics |