Joseph H. Taylor, James S. McDonnell Distinguished University Professor of Physics, Emeritus, at Princeton University and recipient of the 1993 Nobel Prize in Physics, was presented with the 2008 Priestley Award for his discovery of the first binary pulsar and its unprecedented value in testing Einstein's theory of general relativity.
Vinton G. Cerf, Vice President and Chief Internet Evangelist for Google, was presented the 2007 Priestley Award for his key technical and managerial role in the creation of the internet, particulary for leading the development of the TCP/IP protocols. At the ceremony, Cerf gave an address titled "Social, Technical, and Economic Consequences of the Internet Evolution."
David Pimentel, Professor of Ecology and Agricultural Science at Cornell University, was presented the 2006 Priestley Award for his ground Breaking applied research in agricultural, biodiversity, and biomass energy systems. Dr. Pimentel gave an address at the ceremony.
Peter Agre, Vice-Chancellor for Science and Technology and Professor of Cell Biology at Duke University School of Medicine, was presented the 2005 Priestley Award for his distinguished contributions to cell biology, in particular his groundbreaking discovery of aquaporins.
Jaqueline K. Barton, Arthur and Marion Hanisch Memorial Professor of Chemistry at the California Institute of Technology, was presented the 2004 Priestley Award for her pioneering work in the application of transition metal complexes as tools. At the ceremony, Dr. Barton gave an address titled "The DNA Double Helix: A Different Perspective."
Geologist Orrin H. Pilkey, Professor Emeritus of Geology and former Director of the Program for the Study of Developed Shorelines at Duke University, was presented the 2003 Priestley award for his distinguished research in coastal geology and public service in policy formation and education about America's coastal resources. At the ceremony, Dr. Pilkey gave an address titled "Rising Seas and Shifting Shores:Science in a Political Maelstrom."
Jocelyn Bell Burnell, head of the physic department at the Open University in England, was presented the 2002 Priestley Award for her discovery of the Pulsar, and subsequent research on the subject, just the second women to receive the prize. Dr. Burnell gave an address titled "In Pursuit of Pulsars" at the ceremony held in the Anita Tuvin Schlechter Auditorium.
Mathematician John Conway, John von Neumann Distinguished Professor of Mathematics at Princeton University, was awarded the 2001 Priestley Award for his contributions to the study of theoretical mathematics, including knot theory, as well as his discovery of "Surreal Numbers." At the ceremony, Dr. Conway gave an address titled "Knots, Tangles, And Numbers."
Biologist E. O. Wilson, University Research Professor and Honorary Curator in Entomology of the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard University, was presented the 2000 Priestley Award for his contributions to the field of conservation biology. At the ceremony, which was held in the Anita Tuvin Schlechter Auditorium, Dr. Wilson gave an address titled "The Future of Life."
J. Michael Bishop, cancer researcher and recipient of the Nobel Prize for Medicine, was awarded the 1999 Priestley Award for his contributions to the understanding of the molecular mechanisms of cancer. At the ceremony, Dr. Bishop gave an address titled "Opening the Black Box of Cancer. "
Bruce N. Ames, Professor of Biochemestry and Molecular Biology and Director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences Center at the University of California, Berkeley, was presented the 1998 Priestley Award for his contributions to the study of cancer. At the ceremony, which was held in the Anita Tuvin Schlechter Auditorium, Dr. Ames gave an address titled "Micronutirents & Degenerative Diseases of Aging."
Geophysicist Frank Press, the Cecil and Ida Green senior Fellow at the Carnegie Institute of Washington and President Emeritus of the National Academy of Sciences, received the 1997 Priestley Award for his work as a Presidential advisor for science policy and an advocate for the support of science. At the ceremony, which was held in the Anita Tuvin Schlechter Auditorium, Dr. Press gave an address titled "Can Scientists Provide Credible Evidence to Policy Makers?"
Leon M. Lederman, Director Emeritus of the Dermi National Accelerator Laboratory and Pritzker Professor of Science at the Illinois Institute of Technology, was presented with the 1996 Priestley Award for his work in particle physics. At the ceremony, which was held in the Anita Tuvin Schlechter Auditorium, Dr. Lederman gave an address titled "The Unnatural Union of Particle Physics and Cosmology."
Cognitive Scientist Marvin Minsky, Toshiba Professor of Media Arts and Sciences at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, was presented the 1995 Priestley Award for his pioneering work in the field of artificial intelligence. At the ceremony, Dr. Minsky gave an address titled "The New Science of Artificial Intelligence."
Gerald Holton, Mallinckrodt Professor of Physics and Professor of History of Science, at Harvard University, was presented the 1994 Priestley Award for his unique contributions to understanding the complex dimensions of the interplay of science and society. At the ceremony, Dr. Holton gave an address titled "What Einstein Really Wanted."
George M. Woodwell, President and Director of the Woods Hole Research Center in Woods Hole, Massachusetts, was presented the 1993 Priestley Award for his research on the structure and function of Natural Communities and their role as segments of the biosphere. At the ceremony, Dr. Woodwell gave an address titled "Science and Government: A Time to Question Public Purpose."
Solomon H. Snyder, Distinguised Service Professor of Neuroscience, Pharmacology, and Psychiatry at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, was presented the 1992 Priestley Award for his work to isolate the brain's opiate receptor, leading to the development of new pain management techniques. At the ceremony Dr. Snyder gave an address titled "Gases as Novel Messenger Molecules in the Brain."
Harry B. Gray, Director of the Beckman Institute and Arnold O. Beckman Professor of Chemistry at the California Institute of Technology, was presented the 1991 Priestley Award for his research in inorganic photochemistry and bioinorganic chemistry. At the ceremony Dr. Gray gave an address titled "The Chemistry Revolution."
Wallace S. Broecker, Professor of Geochemistry at the Lamont Doherty Geological Observatory of Columbia University, was awarded the 1990 Priestley Award for his contributions to the study of climate change. At the ceremony Dr. Broecker gave an address titled "What Drives Glacial Cycles?"
Arno A. Penzias, Vice President of Research at Bell Laboratories and recipient of the 1978 Nobel Prize for Chemistry, was awarded the 1989 Priestley Award for his discovery of cosmic microwave background radiation, leading to the establishment of the Big Bang theory of cosmology. At the ceremony, Dr. Penzias gave an address titled "Preparing for Tomorrow's World."
Francis Harry Compton Crick, Kieckhefer Distinguished Professor at the Salk Institute of Biological Studies and 1962 Nobel Laureate in Medicine, was presented the 1988 Priestley Award for his discovery of the structure of DNA and his subsequent work on the genetic code and the mechanism of Protein synthesis, which laid the foundation for the rise of fmodern molecular biology. At the ceremony, Dr. Crick gave an address titled "The Double Helix, Yesterday and Today."
Thomas Francis Banchoff, Professor of Mathematics at Brown University, was presented the 1987 Priestley Award for his use of computer graphics to visualize four dimensional objects. At the ceremony Dr. Banchoff gave an address titled "Visualizing the Fourth Dimension."
Roald Hoffman, John A. Newman Professor of Physical Science at Cornell University and recipient of the 1981 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, was presented the 1986 Priestley Award for his contributions to applied theoretical chemistry. At the ceremony Dr. Hoffman gave an address titled "One Culture."
Harold P. Furth, Director of the Plasma Physics Laboratory and Professor of Astrophysical Sciences at Princeton University, was presented the 1985 Priestley Award for his pioneering research in the field of plasma physics and leadership in the pursuit of a fusion energy source. At the ceremony, Dr. Furth gave an address titled "Progress Toward a Fusion Energy Source."
Hubert N. Alyea, Professor of Chemistry Emeritus at Princeton University, is presented the 1984 Priestley Award for his contributions to chemical education with legendary "demonstrated chemistry" lectures and his "Tested Overhead Projection Series" (TOPS) curriculum. At the ceremony, Dr. Alyea gave an address titled " The Spirit of Research in Teaching - A Demonstrated Lecture."