Washington Academy of Sciences | Scientific society in Washington, DC

Awards Celebration of the
Washington Academy of Sciences
May 8, 2025

WAS 2025 Award Winners

The Academy is pleased to announce these awards to exceptional leaders in science, engineering and education for 2025:

Dr. S.S. Iyengar – Distinguished Career Award in Computer Science

Dr. Asad M. Madni – Distinguished Career Award in Engineering Sciences

Dr. Sanjit K. Mitra – Distinguished Career Award in Engineering

Dr. Sudip Parikh – Leadership Award in Science

Dr. Kamel Saidi – Leadership Award in Manufacturing

Dr. Eric Link – Excellence in Research Award in Engineering

Dr. Yi-Kai Liu – Excellence in Research Award in Computer Science

Dr. Dustin Cook – Early Career Award in Engineering

Dr. Brendan McCullian – Early Career Award in Physical Science

Mr. Kenneth Lesley – Lamberton Award for Teaching of Science in High School

Photos of the awardees and their nominators are posted here.

Keynote Speaker: Dr. Sudip Parikh

“A Great America Needs Great Science”

Dr. Sudip Parikh is Chief Executive Officer of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and Executive Publisher of the Science family of journals. In his talk, Dr. Sudip reviewed a few examples of the ways that recent scientific discoveries have led to life-saving benefits for America and the world. His presentation was followed by the awardees, a prestigious assembly of scientists and engineers. Most of them live in the Washington, DC area, and many work for the federal government.

New Board of Managers of the Washington Academy of Sciences

Group of people in formal dress — photo by Peter Staveley

Here are the board members of the Washington Academy of Sciences for 2025-26. From left: Mahesh Mani, Sid Bakaya, Jorome Gibbon, Ron Boisvert, Ken Lesley, Ram Sriram, Paul Cotae, Vijay Kowtha, Claudia Cotca, Judy Staveley, Matt Humbert, Mala Ramaiah, and Paul Arveson.

Tributes to the Washington Academy of Sciences on its 125th Anniversary

In May 2023 The Washington Academy of Sciences celebrated its 125th Anniversary in conjunction with its Annual Awards Banquet. Special highlights of this event included tributes to the Academy from four leading scientists in the Washington DC area. Following are short videos of their presentations:

Dr. S. Panchanathan, Director of the National Science Foundation (NSF)
Dr. S. Panchanathan, previous Director of the National Science Foundation, offers encouraging comments about the educational work of the Washington Academy of Sciences.

Dr. William Phillips, National Institute of Science and Technology

Dr. Phillips won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1997 for his development of techniques for the study and manipulation of single cold atoms, which led to more precise GPS location mapping, precision clocks and other practical solutions.

Dr. Vint Cerf, Google Inc.

Dr. Cerf was one of the early developers of the internet. He has been a long-time member and supporter of the Washington Academy of Sciences.

Dr. Laurie Locascio, Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology

Dr. Locascio recently retired as the Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology and the director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). From 2017 to 2022, Locascio served as Vice President for Research at the University of Maryland.

The board members of the Washington Academy of Sciences are grateful for the recognition offered to the Academy by these leading science and management leaders from the DC area!

Past Presentations

The Washington Academy of Sciences now includes on this website an archive of audio, video and slide presentations sponsored or submitted by members of the Academy. Please visit our presentations page for a list of these fascinating presentations!