on february 1, 2013, president barack obama presented allen bard and john goodenough with national medals of science, one of the highest honors a scientist can hope to receive from the united states government. the medal honors people who have made incredible contributions to either science or engineering. "i am proud to honor these inspiring american innovators," obama said. "they represent the ingenuity and imagination that has long made this nation great – and they remind us of the enormous impact a few good ideas can have when these creative qualities are unleashed in an entrepreneurial environment (the university of texas at austin know)."