President George W. Bush announced this week that three University of California researchers were among the eight recipients of the 2003 National Medal of Science, the highest national honor accorded to a scientist.

Established by Congress in 1959, the National Medal of Science recognizes scientists whose pioneering research in the areas of physical, biological, mathematical, engineering, behavioral, or social sciences have led to a better understanding of our world.

"Our lives are enriched by these researchers' significant contributions to California, the nation and the world," said University of California President Robert C. Dynes. "Through their innovative vision and outstanding achievement, these individuals have brought distinction to themselves, their students and our university."

Of the 409 National Medals of Science presented since the program's inception, 51 of them have been awarded to researchers affiliated with the University of California.

The medals are scheduled to be awarded at a White House ceremony on March 14, 2005.

The 2003 National Medal of Science laureates from the University of California are:

- J. Michael Bishop, chancellor of UC San Francisco and a Nobel Prize laureate (medicine, 1989), honored for his achievements in the biological sciences.

- R. Duncan Luce, a behavioral scientist at UC Irvine, honored for his achievements in the behavioral/social sciences.

- John M. Prausnitz, a professor of chemical engineering at UC Berkeley, honored for his achievements in engineering.



For more Information regarding the UC San Francisco laureate, visit:

http://pub.ucsf.edu/newsservices/releases/200502157/

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For more information regarding the UC Irvine laureate, visit:

http://today.uci.edu/news/release_detail.asp?key=1278

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For more information regarding the UC Berkeley laureate, visit:

www.berkeley.edu/news/media/releases/2005/02/16_NMS.shtml

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For more information about the National Medal of Science, visit:

www.nsf.gov/nsb/awards/nms/medal.htm

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For more news and information about the University of California, please visit:

www.universityofcalifornia.edu