Circle of Discovery

Constance Cepko
In recognition of her contributions to our understanding of the development of the central nervous system and diseases that result in blindness.

Gary D. Christian
For his international leadership in electroanalytical chemistry, atomic spectroscopy, and flow methods of analysis, and for his pioneering contributions to chemical education.

Rita R. Colwell
In recognition of her discovery of the environmental source of Vibrio cholerae and her leadership in research on cholera and on emerging water-borne infectious diseases worldwide.

Theodor O. Diener
For his discovery of viroids, single-stranded RNA molecules that cause disease in plants. Dr. Diener's pioneering work in plant pathology has enabled the control of viroid diseases of many crops.

Walter R. Dowdle
For his lifelong leadership in combating global infectious diseases including polio, influenza, herpes, and AIDS through service in the World Health Organization, the Centers for Disease Control, and the Task Force for Child Survival and Development.

Robert E. Fischell
In recognition of his invention of medical devices to improve the lives of millions, and his pioneering contributions to medicine, space discovery, and higher education.

Michael E. Fisher
In recognition of his numerous seminal contributions to statistical physics.

Elisabeth Gantt
In recognition of her pioneering work in understanding quantum efficiency and exciton migration paths in photosynthesis of cyanobacteria and algae.

Sylvester James Gates Jr.
In recognition of his pioneering work in supersymmetry and supergravity, and his outstanding achievements in public communication of science and national advocacy for science education.

William E. "Brit" Kirwan
For his service to the mathematics community, the State of Maryland and the nation as a recognized authority on critical issues in higher education including diversity, access, affordability, economic impact, college athletics reform and gender equity.

George H. Lorimer
In recognition of his work on the mechanism of RuBisCO, the enzyme that fixes CO2 in photosynthesis, and on the chaperonin proteins that assist RuBisCO in forming its three-dimensional structure.

Dilip B. Madan
In recognition of his contributions to modern quantitative finance, including his innovative use of mathematics, economics, and statistics to extract information from financial market data.

Tobin Jay Marks
In recognition of his work in the fields of chemical catalysis, organometallic chemistry, materials science, organic electronics, solar energy, photovoltaics and nanotechnology.

John C. Mather
In recognition of his measurement of the cosmic microwave blackbody spectrum, providing experimental confirmation of the Big Bang theory.

William D. Phillips
In recognition of his seminal contributions to atomic physics, in particular the development of ingenious methods to trap and cool atoms with laser light.

Philip J. Provost
In recognition of his isolation of the hepatitis A virus and research leading to the development of the hepatitis A vaccine.

Geerat J. Vermeij
For his pioneering contributions to evolutionary biology and paleontology, particularly the role animals play in shaping each other's evolutionary fates. Dr. Vermeij is known for chronicling the "arms race" among long-extinct mollusks and their predators.

John D. Weeks
In recognition of his pioneering work on the static and dynamic properties of crystal surfaces and non-uniform and confined liquids.