Award
ThePriestley Medal is the highest honor conferred by theAmerican Chemical Society (ACS) and is awarded for distinguished service in the field ofchemistry .[ 1] [ 2] [ 3] Established in 1922, the award is named afterJoseph Priestley , one of the discoverers ofoxygen , who immigrated to theUnited States of America in 1794. The ACS formed in 1876, spearheaded by a group of chemists who had met two years previously in Priestley's home.[ 4]
The Priestley Medal is among the most distinguished awards in the chemical sciences, behind theWolf Prize in Chemistry and theNobel Prize in Chemistry .[ 5] Consequently, it is commonly awarded to scientists who are advanced in their fields, as it is intended to commemorate lifetime achievement.[ 4] When the ACS started presenting the Priestley Medal in 1923, they intended to award it every three years. This continued until 1944, when it became an annual award.[ 4]
Priestley Medal reverse (awarded toLinus Pauling in 1984) [ 6]
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Retrieved3 March 2016 . ^ Chemical & Engineering News."Chemical & Engineering News: The Priestly Medal – 1923: Ira Remsen (1846–1927)" . Retrieved3 March 2016 . ^ "General Meeting Minutes" .Proceedings of the American Chemical Society . 1926. Retrieved11 March 2015 .^ Chemical & Engineering News."Chemical & Engineering News: The Priestly Medal – 1929: Francis P. Garvan (1875–1937)" . Retrieved3 March 2016 . ^ "Presentation of the Priestley Medal to Dr. Charles L. Parsons".Science .76 (1969):269– 273. September 23, 1932.doi :10.1126/science.76.1969.269 .JSTOR 1658436 . ^ Chemical & Engineering News."Chemical & Engineering News: The Priestly Medal – 1935: William Albert Noyes (1857–1941) and 1954: W. Albert Noyes Jr. (1898–1980)" . Retrieved3 March 2016 . ^ "ACS President: Marston T. Bogert (1907–1908 ) – American Chemical Society" . acs.org. RetrievedNovember 16, 2015 .^ Chemical & Engineering News."Chemical & Engineering News: The Priestly Medal – 1941: Thomas Midgley Jr. (1889–1944)" . Retrieved3 March 2016 . ^ Chemical & Engineering News."Chemical & Engineering News: The Priestly Medal – 1944: James Bryant Conant (1893–1978)" . Retrieved3 March 2016 . ^ Chemical & Engineering News."Chemical & Engineering News: The Priestly Medal – 1945: Ian Morris Heilbron (1886–1959)" . Retrieved3 March 2016 . ^ Chemical & Engineering News."Chemical & Engineering News: The Priestly Medal – 1946: Roger Adams (1889–1971)" . Retrieved3 March 2016 . ^ Chemical & Engineering News."Chemical & Engineering News: The Priestly Medal – 1947: Warren K. Lewis (1882–1975)" . Retrieved3 March 2016 . ^ Golightly, John (1983-08-17)."E. R. Weidlein dies, smoke control pioneer" .The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette . p. 10. Retrieved2024-02-20 – viaNewspapers.com . ^ "The Cover . . ".Chemical & Engineering News .27 (40): 2840. 1949.doi :10.1021/cen-v027n040.p2840 .ISSN 0009-2347 . ^ "Priestley Award Recipients" .^ Chemical & Engineering News."Chemical & Engineering News: The Priestly Medal - 1951: Evan J. Crane (1889-1966)" . Retrieved3 March 2016 . ^ National Academy of Science, Biographical Memoirs, 74, 226-243 (1998). ^ Chemical & Engineering News."Chemical & Engineering News: The Priestly Medal – 1953: Sir Robert Robinson (1886–1975)" . Retrieved3 March 2016 . ^ Chemical & Engineering News, 86(14), April 7, 2008 , retrieved February 1, 2010.^ "CHARLES ALLEN THOMAS 1900-1982" .NAE Website . Retrieved2025-11-11 .^ "Priestley Medal" .ACS Chemistry for Life . Retrieved12 June 2015 .^ Priestley Medal American Chemical Society^ "Priestley Medal" .ACS Chemistry for Life . Retrieved22 June 2015 .^ Read "Biographical Memoirs: Volume 64" at NAP.edu .^ "Past Recipients - American Chemical Society" .American Chemical Society . Archived fromthe original on 2025-09-05. Retrieved2025-10-24 .^ admin (1961-03-01)."The Priestley Medal was awarded to Louis P. Hammett" .LifeScienceHistory.com . Retrieved2025-11-03 . ^ Chemical & Engineering News."Chemical & Engineering News: The Priestly Medal – 1962: Joel H. Hildebrand (1881–1983)" . Retrieved3 March 2016 . ^ Chemical & Engineering News."Chemical & Engineering News: The Priestly Medal – 1963: Peter J. W. Debye (1884–1966)" . Retrieved3 March 2016 . ^ "Priestley Medalist Named For 1964" .Chemical & Engineering News Archive .41 (37): 44. 1963-09-16.doi :10.1021/cen-v041n037.p044 .ISSN 0009-2347 .^ "William Joseph Sparks: University Honors and Awards: Indiana University" .University Honors & Awards . Retrieved2025-11-12 .^ "William O. Baker *39 | Princeton Alumni Weekly" .paw.princeton.edu . Retrieved2025-10-17 .^ "Priestley Award Recipients" .^ "Young is Priestley Medalist" .Chemical & Engineering News Archive .45 (31):56– 60. 1967-07-24.doi :10.1021/cen-v045n031.p056 .ISSN 0009-2347 .^ Chemical & Engineering News."Chemical & Engineering News: The Priestly Medal – 1969: Kenneth S. Pitzer (1914–1997)" . Retrieved3 March 2016 . ^ Chemical & Engineering News."Chemical & Engineering News: The Priestly Medal – 1970: Max Tishler (1906–1989)" . Retrieved3 March 2016 . ^ "Rossini is Priestley Medalist for 1970" .Chemical & Engineering News Archive .48 (30):64– 66, 70, 71. 1970-07-20.doi :10.1021/cen-v048n030.p064 .ISSN 0009-2347 .^ Chemical & Engineering News."Chemical & Engineering News: The Priestly Medal – 1972: George B. Kistiakowsky (1900–1982)" . Retrieved3 March 2016 . ^ Chemical & Engineering News."Chemical & Engineering News: The Priestly Medal – 1973: Harold C. Urey (1893–1981)" . Retrieved3 March 2016 . ^ "Past Recipients - American Chemical Society" .American Chemical Society . Archived fromthe original on 2025-09-05. Retrieved2025-10-27 .^ Chemical & Engineering News."Chemical & Engineering News: The Priestly Medal – 1978: Melvin Calvin (1911–1997)" . Retrieved3 March 2016 . ^ Chemical & Engineering News."Chemical & Engineering News: The Priestly Medal – 1979: Glenn T. Seaborg (1912–1999)" . Retrieved3 March 2016 . ^ "Boxes 4.001 - 4.002 - 4. Honors, Awards and Other Recognitions, 1925-1992 - Milton Harris Papers, 1925-1996 - Special Collections & Archives Research Center, Oregon State University Libraries" .scarc.library.oregonstate.edu . Retrieved2025-10-23 .^ "Bryce Crawford wins 1982 Priestley Medal" .Chemical & Engineering News Archive .59 (28):19– 20. 1981-07-13.doi :10.1021/cen-v059n028.p019 .ISSN 0009-2347 .^ Chemical & Engineering News."Chemical & Engineering News: The Priestly Medal – 1984: Linus C. Pauling (1901–1994)" . Retrieved3 March 2016 . ^ "ACS 1988 National Award Winners" .Chemical & Engineering News .65 (35): 48. 1987.doi :10.1021/cen-v065n035.p048 .ISSN 0009-2347 .^ Chemical & Engineering News."Chemical & Engineering News: The Priestly Medal - 1989: George C. Pimentel (1922-1989)" . Retrieved3 March 2016 . ^ "ACS 1990 National Award Winners".Chemical & Engineering News .67 (37): 32. 1989.doi :10.1021/cen-v067n037.p032 .ISSN 0009-2347 . ^ Baum, Ruby M. (1990). "Caltech's Harry B. Gray Wins ACS's Highest Award in Chemistry".Chemical & Engineering News .68 (23):25– 27.doi :10.1021/cen-v068n023.p025 .ISSN 0009-2347 . ^ Baum, Rudy M. (1991). "PRIESTLEY MEDAL".Chemical & Engineering News .69 (22):28– 31.doi :10.1021/cen-v069n022.p028 .ISSN 0009-2347 . ^ Dagani, Ron (1992). "University of Utah's Robert W. Parry Wins 1993 Priestley Medal".Chemical & Engineering News .70 (21):21– 22.doi :10.1021/cen-v070n021.p021 .ISSN 0009-2347 . ^ "Basic Research: A Perspective".Chemical & Engineering News .72 (11):27– 31. 1994.doi :10.1021/cen-v072n011.p027 .ISSN 0009-2347 . ^ Dagani, Ron (1994). "Texas A&M's Derek H. R. Barton Wins 1995 Priestley Medal".Chemical & Engineering News .72 (21): 39.doi :10.1021/cen-v072n021.p039 .ISSN 0009-2347 . ^ Baum, Rudy M. (1995). "PRIESTLEY MEDAL".Chemical & Engineering News .73 (20):37– 39.doi :10.1021/cen-v073n020.p037 .ISSN 0009-2347 . ^ Long, Janice R. (1996). "Mary Lowe Good To Receive 1997 Priestley Medal".Chemical & Engineering News .74 (20): 36.doi :10.1021/cen-v074n020.p036 .ISSN 0009-2347 . ^ Dagani, Ron; Rawls, Rebecca (1997). "Cotton to Receive Priestley Medal".Chemical & Engineering News .75 (16): 9.doi :10.1021/cen-v075n016.p009 .ISSN 0009-2347 . ^ "PRIESTLEY MEDAL PROFILE" . Retrieved3 March 2016 .^ "PRIESTLEY MEDAL PROFILE: SMALL-TOWN IOWA GIRL MAKES GOOD" . Retrieved3 March 2016 .^ "C&EN: COVER STORY – PRIESTLY MEDALIST – A CHEMIST FROM COELLO" . Retrieved3 March 2016 .^ "C&EN: NEWS OF THE WEEK: PRIESTLEY MEDAL GOES TO BARD" . Retrieved3 March 2016 .^ "C&EN: PRIESTLEY MEDALIST – A POLYMER MAN'S HERCULEAN EFFORT" . Retrieved3 March 2016 .^ A. MAUREEN ROUHI, C&EN WASHINGTON."ABOVE AND BEYOND ORGANIC SYNTHESIS" . Retrieved3 March 2016 . ^ "C&EN: LATEST NEWS – OLAH WINS 2005 PRIESTLEY MEDAL" . Retrieved3 March 2016 .^ Chemical & Engineering News."Chemical & Engineering News" . Retrieved3 March 2016 . ^ Chemical & Engineering News."Chemical & Engineering News: Cover Story – Always On The Move" . Retrieved3 March 2016 . ^ Chemical & Engineering News."Chemical & Engineering News: Cover Story – Surface Science's Sage" . Retrieved3 March 2016 . ^ Rudy Baum."The 2009 Priestley Medal" . Retrieved3 March 2016 . ^ Celia Henry Arnaud."Bubbling With Enthusiasm" . Retrieved3 March 2016 . ^ Jacoby, Mitch; Reisch, Marc (2010). "Zewail Wins 2011 Priestley Medal".Chemical & Engineering News .88 (25): 5.doi :10.1021/cen-v088n025.p005 .ISSN 0009-2347 . ^ Melanie L Miller - Chemical engineering (21 June 2011)."Robert Langer wins top chemistry award" .MIT News . Retrieved3 March 2016 . ^ Elizabeth K. Wilson."Peter J. Stang Named Priestley Medalist" . Retrieved3 March 2016 . ^ Halford, Bethany (2013-06-10)."Stephen Lippard Named Priestley Medalist" .Chemical & Engineering News . American Chemical Society. Retrieved2013-06-10 . ^ Wilson, Elizabeth K. (2014-06-10)."Jacqueline Barton Named Priestley Medalist" .Chemical & Engineering News . American Chemical Society. Retrieved2013-06-12 . ^ "GT | Georgia Institute of Technology – News Center – Mostafa El-Sayed Wins 2016 Priestley Medal" .www.news.gatech.edu . Retrieved2015-08-19 .^ Wilson, Elizabeth K. (2016-06-20)."Tobin Marks Wins Priestley Medal" .Chemical & Engineering News . American Chemical Society. Retrieved2016-06-20 . ^ Kemsley, Jyllian (2017-06-07)."Geraldine Richmond named 2018 Priestley Medalist" .Chemical & Engineering News . American Chemical Society. Retrieved2017-06-08 . ^ "2019 Priestley Medal goes to K. Barry Sharpless | Scripps Research" .www.scripps.edu . Retrieved2019-04-08 .^ "2019 Priestley Medalist K. Barry Sharpless works magic in the world of molecules" .Chemical & Engineering News . Retrieved2019-04-08 .^ "K. Barry Sharpless named 2019 Priestley Medalist" .Chemical & Engineering News . Retrieved2019-04-08 .^ Celia Henry Arnaud."JoAnne Stubbe Named 2020 Priestley Medalist" . Retrieved19 June 2019 . ^ Paul Alivisatos Named 2021 Priestley Medalist ^ Peter Dervan Named 2022 Priestley Medalist ^ "Cato T. Laurencin named 2023 Priestley Medalist" .cen.acs.org .^ "Carolyn Bertozzi awarded the 2024 ACS Priestley Medal" .American Chemical Society .^ "Frances Arnold awarded the 2025 ACS Priestley Medal" .American Chemical Society (Press release). 1 July 2024. Retrieved23 June 2025 .^ Barnhart, Max (1 August 2025)."Jennifer Doudna is named 2026 Priestley Medalist" .Chemical & Engineering News . Retrieved2 October 2025 .