America Awards Trailblazers of Science & Technology Whose Contribution Saved Lives

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US President Joe Biden recently awarded the prestigious ‘White House National Medal for Technology and Innovation’ and the ‘National Medal of Science’ to Ashok Gadgil and Subra Suresh, respectively.

The White House National Medal for Technology and Innovation is given to leading US innovators who have left a lasting imprint on America’s competitiveness, quality of life, and technological workforce.

Ashok Gadgil and Subra Suresh are recognised for their ground-breaking work that has not only advanced scientific knowledge but also improved the quality of life for countless individuals.

Ashok Gadgil, a Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Civil and Environmental Engineering at UC Berkeley, was honoured with the White House National Medal for Technology and Innovation. Gadgil has dedicated his career to developing cost-effective solutions to some of the world’s most persistent problems, particularly in developing regions.

The White House also honoured four MIT affiliates with the nation’s highest awards for scientists and innovators. 

James Fujimoto ’79, SM ’81, PhD ’84, the Elihu Thomson Professor in Electrical Engineering and principal investigator in the Research Laboratory of Electronics (RLE), was a co-recipient of the National Medal of Technology and Innovation along with Eric Swanson SM ’84, a research affiliate at RLE and mentor for the MIT Deshpande Centre for Technological Innovation, and David Huang ’85, SM ’89, PhD ’93, professor of ophthalmology at Oregon Health and Science University.

Subra Suresh, a professor at large at Brown University’s School of Engineering, was awarded the National Medal of Science, the highest honour bestowed upon scientists in the United States. Suresh’s illustrious career has been marked by pioneering research across various domains, including engineering, physical sciences, and life sciences.

“Anything is possible if we put our mind to it, and with you all, you’ve got incredible minds,” President Biden told the honourees. “You’ve saved people’s lives, you’ve changed the way we look at the world, and you made it better. I don’t know that we can ask for anything more.”