Eight to Receive National Medals Of Science

Seven natural scientists and, for the first time ever, a sociologist are cited by U.S. president for their contributions

For the first time since the National Medal of Science--the United States' highest scientific honor--was initially presented by President John F. Kennedy in 1962, a sociologist has been selected as one of the recipients. Robert K. Merton, University Professor Emeritus at Columbia University, New York City, and seven other luminaries were named as the winners of the 1994 medals at a news conference held on September 8 at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. The other medal recipients, representing such diverse disciplines as fundamental physics, photochemistry, insect biology, geophysics, and medical genetics, are:

Ray W. Clough, a structural engineer and retired professor from the University of California, Berkeley;

John Cocke, a retired computer scientist from IBM Corp.'s Thomas J. Watson Research Center in Yorktown Heights, N.Y.;

Thomas...