Science Fair Project Encyclopedia National Medal of Science The
National Medal of Science, also called the Presidential Medal of
Science, is an honor given by the President of the United States
to individuals in science and engineering who have made
important contributions to the advancement of knowledge in the
fields of behavioral and social sciences, biology, chemistry,
engineering, mathematics and physics. The Committee on the
National Medal of Science under the National Science Foundation
(NSF) is responsible for recommending medal candidates to the
President. As of March 14, 2005, there have been 417 recipients
of the medal. The National Medal of Science was established on
August 25, 1959, by an act of the United States Congress under
Public Law 86-209. The medal was originally to honor scientists
in the fields of the "physical, biological, mathematical, or
engineering sciences." The Committee on the National Medal of
Science was established on August 23, 1961 by U.S. President
John F. Kennedy through ex