The John Fritz Medal has been awarded annually since 1902 by the American Association of Engineering Societies (AAES) for "outstanding scientific or industrial achievements". The medal was created for the 80th birthday of John Fritz, who lived between 1822 and 1913.[1][2][3] When AAES was dissolved in 2020, the administration of the Fritz medal was transferred to the American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical, and Petroleum Engineers (AIME), and is currently coordinated by AIME member society, the Society of Mining, Metallurgy, & Exploration (SME).[4]
John Fritz Medal | |
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Awarded for | Outstanding scientific or industrial achievements. |
Country | United States |
Presented by | American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical, and Petroleum Engineers |
First awarded | 1902 |
Website | John Fritz Medal Past Recipients |
The award is referred to as the "highest award in the engineering profession" by the AAES,[5] and is further regarded by many as the "Nobel Prize in engineering".[6]
The John Fritz Medal is often described as the "Nobel Prize for engineering."[7][8][6] This prestigious award is given annually for notable scientific or industrial achievements. It is granted to living people, but also posthumous. Since its initiation in 1902, there were six years when it was not awarded.
The John Fritz Medal board once consisted of sixteen representatives in four national societies in the fields of civil engineering, mining, metallurgical engineering, mechanical engineering and electrical engineering.[9]
Among the most notable winners are Thomas Edison, Lord Kelvin, Alexander Graham Bell, George Westinghouse, Orville Wright, Charles F. "Boss" Kettering, Claude Shannon, Robert Noyce and Gordon Moore.
Source:[10]