This third annual presidential award is the highest honor bestowed by the U.S. government on outstanding new scientists and engineers who are in the early stages of establishing their independent research careers.

Among nine participating federal agencies, there were 60 total PECASE winners in 1998. NSF awardees are receiving collectively a total of $10 million to further their achievements and PECASE goals. The Clinton Administration established the awards in February, 1996, in order to meet its goals of recognizing some of the nation's finest scientists and engineers and maintaining U.S. leadership across the frontiers of scientific research into the 21st century. The awards are given to foster innovative and influential developments in science and technology, to increase awareness of careers in science and engineering and to recognize the scientific missions of the federal agencies. NSF awardees have demonstrated a special commitment to the integration of research and education.

"These talented young men and women show exceptional potential for leadership at the frontiers of scientific knowledge," President Clinton said. "Their passion for discovery will spark our can-do spirit of technological innovation and drive this nation forward and build a better America for the twenty-first century."

"These are the 'Golden Globe Awards' for the Albert Einsteins and Marie Curies of tomorrow -- our nation's most promising scientist and engineering educators," said NSF director Rita Colwell.

NSF awardees will receive $500,000 each over a five-year period to further their research and educational efforts. The PECASE awards recognize the research contributions and commitment to broader societal goals of these scientist-scholars as well as advances in science that serve important government missions.

NSF now selects its PECASE nominees from a pool of its most meritorious CAREER (Faculty Early Career De
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Contact: Lee Herring
kherring@nsf.gov
703-306-1070
National Science Foundation
10-Feb-1999