President George W. Bush recently reappointed Randolph W. Bromery, who was once chancellor and Commonwealth Professor Emeritus of geophysics at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, to a three-year term on the President's Committee on the National Medal of Science. Bromery had originally been appointed to the 12-member panel to complete the remainder of an unexpired term in 2003.
Established in 1959 as a presidential award, the National Medal of Science has recognized the scientific contributions of 386 American scientists and engineers since its inception. Potential medal recipients are evaluated based on the total impact of their work in respect to the present state of physical, chemical, biological, mathematical, engineering, behavioral or social sciences.
According to the web site, the mission of the National Science & Technology Medals Foundation is, "to increase public awareness that [American] economic strength, competitiveness, and high standard of living depend on our nation's ability to lead the world in scientific discovery and technological development."
"What the [White House] tries to do is pick people in scientific disciplines that cover a fairly broad range of natural science and mathematics," Bromery explained, "I represent geology and geophysics." The 12-member panel includes biologists, computer scientists, mathematicians and astrophysicists who all must be approved by the White House.
Bromery's has worked in the field of geophysics for 56 years and served as chancellor of UMass from 1972 to 1979. Bromery also served as president of Westfield State College, Springfield College and Roxbury Community College from 1988 to 2003, respectively. Additionally, Bromery is the recipient of nine honorary degrees from colleges and universities around the world; including John Hopkins University where he received his Ph.D. in geology and continues to serve as a trustee emeritus on the Board of Trustees.
Potential medal laureates are not directly selected by the committee, rather they are nominated by their respective university or scientific institution. Bromery is quick to point out that, "the Nobel Prize is very restrictive because it only covers chemistry and a couple other disciplines, we cover all the scientific disciplines." In the United States, the National Medal of Science is the highest possible distinction for scientists who might not qualify for the Nobel Prize. "If you are a geologist or a geophysicist you probably won't get the Nobel Prize because there is no area in the Nobel Prize for that [field]."
In his next term Bromery is pushing for the recognition of recent advancements in the field of geophysics. Ocean plate tectonic theory is generating lots of interest after the recent tsunami disaster in Southeast Asia that has killed at least 240,000 people. "Almost every geologist in the world could have predicted that [the tsunami disaster] was going to happen, we didn't know when, but it was going to happen," says Bromery.
However, "The committee always disagrees," says Bromery, "the biologists want to get their folks in, I want to get my people in. I have a dozen people I'd like to see get [the award] but I'm sure the biologists have got a dozen." In a given year ten medals may be awarded to individuals who began in an initial pool of fifty or more potential medal recipients.
"The president has sent a mandate down that pushes for minorities and women to be represented. He wants them to have comparable merit but he wants to make sure we open up the net and let them in," says Bromery. The medal ceremonies usually take place in March and consist of a black tie dinner at the White House, concluded by a presidential ceremony where the National Medal of Science is awarded to laureates.
Bromery will serve on the President's Committee on the National Medal of Science through Dec. 31, 2007. Bromery retired from teaching formally in 1992 and lives in Amherst and Cape Cod with his wife Cecile.
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