On July 27th, 2007, Springer editor Jan Achenbach was presented with the 2005 National Medal of Science from President George W. Bush at the White House, along with 26 other researchers. The National Medal of Science is the nation's highest award for lifetime achievement in fields of scientific research.
Jan D. Achenbach was honored for his seminal contributions to engineering research and education in the area of wave propagation in solids and for pioneering the field of quantitative non-destructive evaluation. Achenbach, a long-time professor at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, is an editorial board member of Springer’s Journal of Elasticity.
Achenbach is a preeminent researcher in solid mechanics and quantitative non-destructive evaluation. He has developed methods for flaw detection and characterization by ultrasonic scattering methods. Achenbach's work has been both analytical and experimental. He also has achieved valuable results on earthquake mechanisms, on the mechanical behavior of composite materials under dynamic loading conditions, and on the vibrations of solid propellant rockets.
As he presented the awards, President Bush said, “The promise of science and technology never runs out. With the imagination and determination of Americans like our awardees today, our nation will continue to discover new possibilities and to develop new innovations, and build a better life for generations to come. And that's what we're here to celebrate.”
The National Medal of Science honors individuals for pioneering scientific research which enhances our understanding of the world and leads to innovations and new technologies. The research originates from a range of fields, including the physical, biological, mathematical, social, behavioral and engineering sciences. The National Science Foundation administers the award, which was established by the Congress in 1959.