The National Science Foundation (NSF) and the National Science Board (NSB) honored three outstanding scientists and one innovative organization at a black-tie ceremony, held at the State Department in Washington, D.C., on May 10, 2011. NSF Director Subra Suresh presented the Alan T. Waterman Award, the agency's highest honor, to Casey Dunn, an assistant professor of biology at Brown University whose work involves understanding relationships between groups of animals. Charles Vest, president of the National Academy of Engineering received NSB's 2011 Vannevar Bush Award for distinguished public service leadership in science and technology. NSB's Public Service Award for an individual was presented to Moira Gunn, the founder and host of the public radio programs "Tech Nation" and "BioTech Nation." The San Francisco-based Exploratorium was honored with NSB's Public Service Award for a group. Dennis Bartels, the Exploratorium's executive director accepted the award on behalf of the museum. The NSB awards were presented by France A. Córdova, chairman of NSB's ad hoc Committee on Honorary Awards. Speakers included NSB Chairman Ray M. Bowen and John P. Holdren, assistant to the President for science and technology and the director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP). Among the guests were former NSF directors Arden L. Bement, Jr., Walter E. Massey, Rita R. Colwell and Erich Bloch, who joined current NSF Director Suresh for a historic photo opportunity. For more information about the award ceremony, see the NSF news release.

Credit: Sandy Schaeffer for NSF