The Ernest Orlando Lawrence Award was established in 1959 in honor of a scientist who helped elevate American physics to world leadership. The Lawrence Award honors scientists and engineers at mid-career for exceptional contributions to the development, use, or control of nuclear energy (broadly defined to include the science and technology of nuclear, atomic, molecular, and particle interactions and effects and environmental conservation and efficiency).
E. O. Lawrence was the inventor of the cyclotron and a 1939 Nobel Laureate in physics for that achievement. The Radiation Laboratory he developed at Berkeley during the 1930s ushered in the era of “big science.”During World War II, Lawrence and his accelerators contributed to the Manhattan Project, and he later played a leading role in establishing the U.S. system of national laboratories.
Shortly after Lawrence’s death in August 1958, John A. McCone, Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission, wrote to President Eisenhower suggesting the establishment of a memorial award in Lawrence’s name. President Eisenhower agreed, saying, “Such an award would seem to me to be most fitting, both as a recognition of what he has given to our country and to mankind, and as a means of helping to carry forward his work through inspiring others to dedicate their lives and talents to scientific effort.” The first Lawrence Awards were given in 1960.
Fermi Award laureates include LLNL co-founders Ernest O. Lawrence and Edward Teller as well as other distinguished Laboratory scientists and leaders:
The 25 Lawrence Award laureates from the Laboratory are:
Claire E. Max(2004)
Physics: For her contributions to the theory of laser guide star adaptive optics and its application in ground-based astronomy to correct telescopic images for the blurring caused by light passing through the atmosphere.
Bruce T. Goodwin (2002)
National Security: For his research focusing on the complex dynamics of the fission triggers of thermonuclear weapons.
Benjamin D. Santer(2002)
Environmental Science and Technology: For his contributions to understanding the effects of human activities on the Earth's climate.
Charles R. Alcock(1996)
Physics: For his scientific and technological leadership in making the first definitive observations of Massive Compact Halo Objects that may account for a significant fraction of “dark matter” in the universe.
E. Michael Campbell(1994)
National Security: For his distinguished
experimental contributions and for his leadership in
inertial confinement fusion and laser-plasma physics.
Together they have been instrumental in advancing the
applications of laser produced plasmas and in bringing
the indirect drive, laser driven fusion physics, and technology
to its current state of technical excellence and promise.
John D. Lindl (1994)
National Security: For his distinguished theoretical contributions and for his leadership in inertial confinement fusion and laser-plasma physics. Together they have been instrumental in advancing the applications of laser produced plasmas and in bringing the indirect drive, laser-driven fusion physics and technology to its current state of technical excellence and promise.
Richard Fortner (1991)
National Security: For an outstanding record of designing and executing creative experiments, both in the laboratory and at the Nevada Test Site, that have led to major advances in the atomic physics of highly stripped atoms to a new understanding of phenomena in laser-created plasmas and innovative solutions of difficult nuclear explosives experimental problems.
Wayne J. Shotts (1990)
National Security: For his contributions to the research and development of advanced nuclear weapons and his innovative approach to improving diagnostic methods which have aided in solving some of the most pressing problems in nuclear explosive designs.
Joe W. Gray (1986)
Life Sciences: For his exceptional multidisciplinary contributions to flow cytometry, the analysis of cell genetics, and cell kinetics.
Thomas A. Weaver (1985)
National Security: For his exceptional contributions to national security in the physics, design and leadership of x-ray laser experiments, which include work in atomic physics, radiate transfer and hydrodynamics, material science, and the development of complex diagnostics. These major accomplishments follow from earlier research in astrophysics with emphasis on stellar evolution.
Peter L. Hagelstein (1984)
National Security: For exceptional contributions to national security through his innovation and creativity in x-ray laser physics, including the prolific conceptions of x-ray laser schemes, the analysis of x-ray lasing phenomena, and the creation of extraordinary computational modeling tools.
Robert B. Laughlin (1984)
Physics: For his demonstration that correlated motion of electrons can lead to a previously unknown form of quantum liquid, thereby providing an understanding of the fractional quantum
Hall effect.
George B. Zimmerman (1983)
National Security: In recognition of his unique contributions to the fields of inertial confinement fusion and national security through the development of innovative calculational methods and techniques.
George F. Chapline, Jr. (1982)
National Security: For outstanding basic contributions in high energy and nuclear physics, in high energy density astrophysics and cosmology, and in the highly creative and effective application of atomic, nuclear, and statistical physics to important national security problems.
Lowell L. Wood (1981)
National Security: For his outstanding contributions to national security in the areas of directed energy, inertial confinement fusion, underwater communications, nuclear weapon design concepts, and computer technology.
B. Grant Logan (1980)
Physics: For outstanding contributions to the understanding of high temperature plasmas confined in magnetic mirror configurations, for his role as the co-inventor of the thermal barrier concept that has revolutionized the outlook for tandem mirror reactors.
John L. Emmett (1977)
National Security: For contributions, as an original and creative scientist and as an effective leader, which have been central to the development of laser science and technology and to their application to the generation of nuclear and thermonuclear energy.
William Lokke (1975)
Weapons: For original and creative computer calculations of nuclear weapon outputs, for the development of methods of calculate radiation opacities, and for successful leadership of a most difficult and important nuclear weapon design project.
Charles A. McDonald(1974)
Weapons: For his skillful leadership in the design of nuclear weapons and the application of nuclear technology to weapon systems, and his contributions through his service as advisor of the Department of Defense on nuclear weapons and military systems.
Seymour Sack(1973)
Weapons: For his innovative contributions to the theory of nuclear weapons, his development of computer codes fundamental to the design of modern nuclear weapons, his leadership in the development of new and important weapon design concepts, and his role in the engineering and testing of weapons for our nuclear stockpile.
Thomas E. Wainwright (1973)
Weapons: For fundamental and original contributions to the theory of design and outputs of nuclear explosives for the original development of computational methods for the calculation of statistical physics phenomena, and for many innovative advances in the study of transport and hydrodynamics.
Michael M. May (1970)
Weapons: For his early and original contributions to the applications of computer techniques and theoretical calculations important to the design of nuclear weapons and for his continuing technical leadership in both the Weapons and Plowshare programs of the Atomic Energy Commission.
John H. Nuckolls (1969)
Weapons: For his contributions to the design of high efficiency thermonuclear devices, including minimum-fission explosives applicable to the Plowshare excavation program and for the development of techniques for predicting nuclear explosive-ground interaction.
Herbert F. York (1962)
Reactors: For important contributions to our knowledge of elementary particles, and especially for leadership in applying atomic energy to the national defense.
John S. Foster, Jr. (1960)
Weapons: For unique contributions, demanding unusual imagination and technical skill, to the development of atomic weapons.