Two University of Minnesota faculty receive National Medals of Science

Award is nation's highest recognition for scientists and engineers
MINNEAPOLIS / ST. PAUL (01/06/2025) — In recognition of transformative careers in the fields of geochemistry and ecology, the Biden White House honored University of Minnesota Professors R. Lawrence "Larry" Edwards and David Tilman with the National Medal of Science at a ceremony on Jan. 3 — the nation’s highest recognition for scientists and engineers.
“We are incredibly proud to celebrate and honor Professors Edwards and Tilman for their tremendous achievements in pushing the boundaries of science and innovation,” said University of Minnesota President Rebecca Cunningham. “Their unwavering commitment to excellence has enhanced the collective understanding of our planet. The new knowledge they have generated and the discoveries they have uncovered will play a key role in shaping a brighter future for generations to come. Our reputation as a leading public research university — with strengths in climate science and sustainability — is a direct reflection of Professors Edwards and Tilman, who utilize their experience and expertise to find solutions to some of the greatest challenges impacting our state, nation and world.”

Edwards, a Regents and Distinguished McKnight University Professor in the College of Science and Engineering's Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, is a renowned isotope geochemist known for his role in the development of modern uranium-thorium dating methods, which has transformed our understanding of Earth’s climate history and ocean chemistry. His work helps explain the causes of abrupt climate change and the rapid melting of ice sheets at the end of glacial cycles, building a foundation to navigate our climate future. Using a novel combination of data from cave deposits, ocean sediments and ice cores, Edwards established patterns of our changing climate in time and space — leading to the strongest evidence yet for human-induced climate change.
Tilman, Regents Professor of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior in the College of Biological Sciences, is the most highly cited ecologist in the world and a pioneer in biodiversity, known for bringing mathematics and biology together to understand how different plant species interact to create diverse communities. At Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve, a world-renowned site for ecology research where he formerly served as director, Tilman explored the pivotal question of how human impacts on nature come back to affect us. Tilman’s research has informed global strategies for preserving the integral functions of nature, such as cleansing air and water, in the face of human impacts like habitat destruction, the spread of invasive species and climate change.
Edwards and Tilman are also members of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the National Academy of Science. This year, they join a class of 14 new laureates of the prestigious National Medal of Science. Late University of Minnesota faculty Norman Borlaug and Leonid Hurwicz previously won the National Medal of Science for contributions in plant pathology (2004) and economics (1990).
"Receiving the National Medal of Science is the honor of a lifetime," Edwards said. "It is an honor shared by the University of Minnesota, the College of Science and Engineering, and the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, where I have spent my whole professional career. This honor also affirms the great importance of the study of climate change and the central role of isotope dating and tracing methods in learning about our planet and its history."
Established by Congress in 1959 and managed by the National Science Foundation, the National Medal of Science is the highest recognition the nation can bestow on scientists and engineers. The presidential award is given to individuals for outstanding contributions to knowledge in the physical, biological, mathematical, engineering, or social and behavioral sciences.
For more information please see the National Science and Technology Medals Foundation.
R. Lawrence Edwards video highlight, ceremony photos
David Tilman video highlight, ceremony photos
See the University of Minnesota news release.