OSTP Director Arati Prabhakar Honors Awardees of the National Medal of Science and National Medal of Technology and Innovation

As prepared for delivery

It is my great privilege to add my congratulations to each of the National Medalists, as well as your families, colleagues, and friends who supported you every step of the way.

Science and technology have been at the core of the historic actions that President Biden and Vice President Harris have taken for our country over the last four years. And that's because they know that innovation is at the core of the American identity.

As the President has said, "The greatness of a country is measured not only by the size of its economy or the strength of its military… It is also measured by [the] boldness of its science, the quality of its research, and the progress it helps bring forth-for not only the country but [the] whole world."

And this is exactly what you all have accomplished in your work.

Today, all of us who share in this celebration will hear about the work of each of our National Medalists. And in the days to come, having heard these stories, we will see that work in every aspect of our lives.

Because the fruits of science, technology, and innovation are everywhere once you know how to discern them:

You'll know a neighbor or a family member who gets a new lease on life because they were able to catch a cancer early or receive a new treatment. When that happens, think of our National Medalists who made brilliant advances in biology, chemistry, materials, or medicine.

You'll see us deepen our understanding of how the climate and biodiversity of our natural world are changing, and as we take action, step by step, to protect this beautiful blue planet we call home, think of our National Medalists who helped us confront the perilous situation we're in. And those whose work has fed practical solutions for clean energy and resilient ecosystems.

Ten or 20 or 100 times a day, as you pull out your smartphone, think about our National Medalists who helped create the communications and information revolution that has transformed so many aspects of our lives.

And when a child in your life queries you about the most fundamental questions that humans ask, think of our National Medalists who have explored our universe, from the massive stars of far-off galaxies, to the smallest bacteria gathered on a grain of sand, to the seemingly unfathomable complexities of how people and societies form beliefs and behaviors.

So, today, we celebrate our National Medalists for these amazing science and technology accomplishments, and also for something more-and that is the mentorship and support that you have given to the generations that come behind you.

One of our medalists, Victor Lawrence, has said: "If you want to see far, you have to stand on somebody's shoulders. And, so, it's very important that I can have a strong shoulder for others to stand on."

In the case of one of our National Medalists, President Biden learned about his mentorship because of a letter from a grateful mother. Her son has autism, and while he desperately wanted to study astronomy, his schools saw only his limitations. But then that mom found Keivan Stassun, and he opened the door for that young boy.

The mom's letter to the President spoke of Dr. Stassun offering them resources and opportunities, and ended by saying: "Most of all, he offered us hope."

And, ultimately, hope is the best thing that the practice of science and technology brings into our lives.

I want to finish my remarks by talking about great experiments.

Every National Medalist we will honor today crafted great experiments to drive science and technology forward: You set hypotheses and tested them with experiments that didn't always work on the first try. But you learned from failure, and you got back up again and keep going until you brought forth solid facts and practical solutions.

You did this work in a country that is itself conducting a great experiment, a great experiment called democracy. This experiment tests the most inspiring hypothesis of all: The notion that "We The People" can achieve equality, liberty, and opportunity beyond the limitations of the past.

It's a hypothesis that Americans have proven over and over again, as geopolitics evolved, as the conditions of people's lives evolved, and even as our definition of the people in "We The People" evolved.

That's reflected here today with our National Medalists from six countries around the world and from every kind of family background.

For two and a half centuries, generations of Americans have struggled with and ultimately proven the great hypothesis-that We The People can form a more perfect union.

Today, it's our turn.

That is the deeper purpose of science, technology, and innovation. It's why all of us do this work.

Today, as we celebrate these individual accomplishments, we also recognize that they took place within the institutions of our democracy, including in so many cases the support of the government, which is, in the most literal way, We the People coming together to make progress possible

That's how we have shaped the world today-and it's how we're shaping the future.

Thank you to each of our National Medalists for your monumental contributions to our progress.

Thank you for the road you paved for those who come next.

And thank you for embodying the ideals on which this country was founded.

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