IEEE Reveals 2026 Medal Recipients Honoring Technological Innovators

IEEE, the world’s largest technical professional organization dedicated to advancing technology for humanity, has announced the recipients of its prestigious 2026 IEEE Medals. The announcement, made on December 11, 2025, celebrates individuals whose groundbreaking innovations and leadership are significantly impacting technology for the benefit of humanity. This year’s honorees reflect a diverse group of pioneers whose contributions are enhancing critical infrastructure, healthcare, communication, and overall quality of life.

Kathleen Kramer, 2025 IEEE President and CEO, emphasized the importance of these awards, stating, “Each year, the IEEE Medals celebrate those whose work has not only fundamentally advanced technology but also improved the human condition.” The 2026 recipients exemplify the scientific excellence and global influence that characterize the IEEE community.

Highlights of the 2026 IEEE Medal Recipients

The following individuals have been awarded for their exceptional contributions in various fields:

– **IEEE Frances E. Allen Medal** (Sponsored by IBM): Luis von Ahn, recognized for his invention of CAPTCHA and reCAPTCHA, as well as for founding Duolingo. His efforts have secured internet infrastructure and expanded access to education.

– **IEEE Alexander Graham Bell Medal** (Sponsored by Nokia Bell Labs): Scott J. Shenker from UC Berkeley, honored for his revolutionary research in computer networks, which underpins cloud computing and modern data center design.

– **IEEE Jagadish Chandra Bose Medal in Wireless Communications** (Sponsored by Mani L. Bhaumik): The team of Erik Dahlman, Stefan Parkvall, and Johan Sköld from Ericsson for their leadership in developing LTE and 5G standards, which enable global mobile broadband.

– **IEEE Mildred Dresselhaus Medal** (Sponsored by Google, LLC): Karen Ann Panetta of Tufts University, recognized for her contributions to image processing and for advocating for women in engineering through the Nerd Girls program.

– **IEEE Edison Medal** (Sponsored by the Edison Medal Fund): Eric A. Swanson from MIT, acknowledged for his pioneering work in biomedical imaging and optical communications.

– **IEEE Medal for Environmental and Safety Technologies** (Sponsored by Toyota Motor Corporation): Wei-Jen Lee of the University of Texas, honored for his leadership in electric power systems and renewable energy integration.

– **IEEE Founders Medal** (Sponsored by the IEEE Foundation): Marian R. Croak from Google, recognized for her pioneering work in VoIP technologies and mobile donation platforms.

– **IEEE Richard W. Hamming Medal** (Sponsored by Qualcomm, Inc.): Muriel Méard from MIT, celebrated for breakthroughs in network coding which enhance data transmission reliability.

– **IEEE Medal for Innovations in Healthcare Technology** (Sponsored by the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society): Rosalind W. Picard from MIT, recognized for her development of wearable technologies that monitor emotion and health.

– **IEEE Nick Holonyak, Jr. Medal for Semiconductor Optoelectronic Technologies** (Sponsored by Friends of Nick Holonyak, Jr.): Steven P. DenBaars from UC Santa Barbara, honored for his pioneering work in gallium nitride semiconductors.

– **IEEE Jack S. Kilby Medal** (Sponsored by Apple): Biing-Hwang “Fred” Juang from Georgia Tech, acknowledged for his foundational work in speech coding and recognition technology.

– **IEEE/RSE James Clerk Maxwell Medal** (Sponsored by ARM, Ltd.): Paul B. Corkum from the University of Ottawa, recognized for his pioneering research in attosecond physics.

– **IEEE James H. Mulligan, Jr. Education Medal** (Sponsored by the IEEE Life Members Fund and MathWorks): James H. McClellan from EPFL, honored for his leadership in digital signal processing theory.

– **IEEE Jun-ichi Nishizawa Medal** (Sponsored by the IEEE Jun-ichi Nishizawa Medal Fund): Eric R. Fossum from Dartmouth, inventor of the CMOS image sensor, which revolutionized digital photography.

– **IEEE Robert N. Noyce Medal** (Sponsored by Intel Corporation): Chris Malachowsky from NVIDIA, co-founder recognized for his contributions to GPU innovation.

– **IEEE Dennis J. Picard Medal Radar Technologies and Applications** (Sponsored by RTX): Yoshio Yamaguchi from Niigata University, honored for his work in radar polarimetry and remote sensing.

– **IEEE Medal in Power Engineering** (Sponsored by various IEEE societies): Fang Zheng Peng from the University of Pittsburgh, recognized for innovations in power conversion technology.

– **IEEE Simon Ramo Medal** (Sponsored by Northrop Grumman Corporation): Michael Douglas Griffin, former NASA Administrator, recognized for his contributions to U.S. space exploration strategy.

– **IEEE John von Neumann Medal** (Sponsored by IBM): Donald D. Chamberlin from IBM, co-inventor of SQL, whose work is foundational for data systems globally.

The award recipients will be celebrated at the IEEE’s annual Honors Ceremony on April 24, 2026, in New York City. The 2026 IEEE Medal of Honor Laureate will be announced in January 2026.

For further details and a complete list of recipients, visit the IEEE Awards Website.

About IEEE: Founded over a century ago, IEEE is a public charity dedicated to advancing technology for humanity. Through its publications, conferences, standards, and educational activities, it serves as a trusted voice across numerous fields, including computing, telecommunications, biomedical engineering, and electric power systems. Learn more at https://www.ieee.org.