NSB Honorary Awards
The National Science Board presents two awards each year during a spring ceremony and dinner. The awards are the Vannevar Bush Award and NSB Science and Society Award.
Nominations for NSB’s 2025 Vannevar Bush and Science and Society awards are closed. NSB will announce awardees in spring of 2025.
Hear about the significance of the NSB’s awards from past awardees.
Vannevar Bush Award
Honoring Exceptional Service to the Nation in Science and Technology
The Vannevar Bush Award honors exceptional lifelong leaders in science and technology. NSB established this award in 1980 in the memory of Vannevar Bush. Bush served as a science advisor to the US President during World War II, helped establish Federal funding for science and engineering as a national priority during peacetime, and was behind the creation of the National Science Foundation.
For information on award criteria please visit the Vannevar Bush nominations page.
To view previous award recipients, visit: Past Recipients of the Vannevar Bush Award.
NSB Science and Society Award
Honoring Service in Public Understanding of Science and Engineering
The NSB Science and Society Award honors individuals and groups that have made substantial contributions to increasing public understanding and appreciation of science and engineering in the United States. These contributions may be in the arts, media, education, or training programs.
For information on award criteria and our new, easy nominations process, please visit the Science and Society nominations page.
To view previous award recipients, visit: Past Recipients of the Science and Society Award.
Questions? Please contact Nadine Lymn at nlymn@nsf.gov, (703) 292-2490.