text: * Clayton Prize, Institute of Mechanical Engineers, 1957
  * Alexander von Humboldt Senior US Scientist Award, University of Bonn, Germany, 1984
  * Fellow of the National Academy of Sciences, 1997
  * Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement, 1997
  * Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, 1998
  * International Prize for New Materials, American Physical Society, 1992
  * Nobel Prize in Chemistry, Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, 1996
  * Johannes Marcus Marci Award in Spectroscopy, 1998
  * Centenary Medal, Royal Society of Chemistry, 1999
  * Honorary Fellow, The Royal Society of New Zealand, 2001
  * University of Bochum Research Prize, 2004
  * National Historic Chemical Landmark, American Chemical Society, 2010
  * Citation for Chemical Breakthrough Award, Division of History of Chemistry, American Chemical Society, 2015
  * Fellow of the Optical Society of America