Photo Diary: President Obama Presides Over White House Medal Ceremony for Scientists and Engineers

President Obama in the East Room of the White House. All smiles to start the ceremony. 11-17-2010

Earlier this evening President Barack Obama awarded National Medals to 16 distinguished scientists and engineers in a ceremony in the East Room of the White House.  I was in attendance as a member of the press, which was an extraordinary experience.  I will write about my behind the scenes look at what I experienced in the days to come, and tomorrow we will have complete coverage of President Obama’s remarks at the ceremony.

I probably broke all kinds of press rules by clapping throughout the ceremony.  I probably should have remained stoic, but the men and women who were on the stage with President Obama are the true rock stars of our industry and I just could not bring myself to do anything other than applaud them for their achievements.

Without further ado, here is my photo diary of the 2009 National Medal of Science and 2009 National Medal of Technology and Innovation awards ceremony.  All photos were taken by me.  Photos have been reduced in file size to allow for faster loading.

President Obama at a serious moment during his speech and prior to awarding the Medals.

National Medal of Science Recipients (from left to right) Yakir Aharonav, Stephen J. Benkovic, Esther M. Conwell, Marye Anne Fox, Susan Lee Lindquist, Mortimer Mishkin, David B. Mumford, Stanley B. Prusner.

Left to right: National Medal of Science recipients Warren M. Washington, Amnon Yariv; National Medal of Technology and Innovation recipients Harry W. Coover, Helen M. Free and Steven J. Sasson.

President Obama on stage about to award the Intel Team with the National Medal of Technology and Innovation. Team members: Federico Faggin, Marcian E. Hoff, Jr. and Stanley Mazor.

Left: President Obama prepares to present a medal to Steven J. Sasson, inventor of the digital camera. President Obama in this picture looks to the back of the room where the photographers were stationed and jokingly said: "“This picture had better be good!" Right: President Obama recognized an un-named military aide for his excellent job reading all of the difficult scientific terms to the audience to describe the work of the scientists and engineers.

Left: Harry W. Coover, inventor of Super Glue. Right: Helen M. Free, inventor of dip-and-read urinalysis strips.

David Kappos, Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the USPTO, arrives in the East Room.

Left: Sharon Barner, Deputy Under Secretary of Commerce and Deputy Director of the USPTO. Right: Bob Stoll, Commissioner for Patents.

Left: Richard Maulsby (USPTO Public Affairs). Right: Peter Pappas (Chief Communications Officer, USPTO).