National Academy of Engineering to Present $1.5 Million for Engineering's Highest Honors

The engineering profession's highest honors for 2013, presented by the National Academy of Engineering, recognize three outstanding achievements: creation of first-generation cellular telephony; advancements that enabled LASIK and PRK eye surgery; and a bold new way of educating engineering students. The awards will be presented at a gala dinner event in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 19.Martin Cooper, Joel S. Engel, Richard H. Frenkiel, Thomas Haug, and Yoshihisa Okumura will receive the Charles Stark Draper Prize -- a $500,000 annual award given to engineers whose accomplishments have significantly benefited society -- "for their pioneering contributions to the world's first cellular telephone networks, systems, and standards." Rangaswamy Srinivasan, James J. Wynne, and Samuel E. Blum will receive the Fritz J. and Dolores H. Russ Prize -- a $500,000 biennial award recognizing a bioengineering achievement that significantly improves the human condition -- "for the development of laser ablative photodecomposition, enabling LASIK and PRK eye surgery." Richard K. Miller, David V. Kerns Jr., and Sherra E. Kerns will receive the Bernard M. Gordon Prize -- a $500,000 award issued annually that recognizes innovation in engineering and technology education -- "for guiding the creation of Olin College and its student-centered approach to developing effective engineering leaders." Half of each Gordon Prize is awarded to the winner's institution to support the ...
Source: News from the National Academies - Category: Science Source Type: news