The academy is presenting its highest honor, the Public Welfare Medal, to David A. Hamburg, president emeritus of the Carnegie Corp. of New York. Hamburg, 72, is being recognized "for his effective leadership of the Carnegie Corp., which brings science and technology to bear on the paramount issues of our time; for his dedication to improving the quality of life of our nation's youth; and for his efforts to prevent violent conflict." The award, a bronze medal and an illuminated scroll, recognizes "distinguished contributions in the application of science to the public welfare."
Early in his career, Hamburg studied the biology and psychology of human stress responses as well as the evolution of aggressive behavior. Hamburg's research into coping under highly stressful conditions proved to be all too valuable when, in 1975, while a professor of biology at Stanford University, he faced a crisis that would forever change the path ...
