2011 Finalists—Science and Environment Medal
This award will recognize a federal employee for a significant contribution to the nation in activities related to science and environment (including biomedicine, economics, energy, information technology, meteorology, resource conservation and space). This medal is accompanied by a $3,000 award.
Fenella France
Position: Preservation Scientist, Preservation Research and Testing Division
Agency: Library of Congress
Location: Washington, D.C.
Achievement: Developed innovative imaging techniques to unearth new historical information from some of the nation's most treasured documents, including the Declaration of Independence.
William A. Gahl
Position: Director, Undiagnosed Diseases Program
Agency: National Institutes of Health
Location: Bethesda, Maryland
Achievement: Brings together medical specialists to diagnose mysterious diseases for desperate and long suffering patients.
Paul Hsieh
Position: Research Hydrologist
Agency: U.S. Geological Survey
Location: Menlo Park, California
Achievement: Provided critical scientific information to convince federal officials that the containment cap on a ruptured deepwater oil well in the Gulf of Mexico was working, thereby helping end the environmental disaster.
Diane Powell and the LAUNCH Team
Position: Team lead, LAUNCH, Office of the Chief Technologist
Agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Location: Washington, D.C.
Achievement: Created a unique government and private-sector partnership to identify, support and help take to market innovative technologies that offer solutions to global sustainability problems.
The Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medals are presented annually by the nonprofit, nonpartisan Partnership for Public Service to celebrate excellence in our federal civil service.
