IP: TWO RECEIVE JOHN SCOTT AWARDS FOR SCIENTIFIC ACHIEVEMENTS

[Dave Farber <farber () cis upenn edu>]

TWO RECEIVE JOHN SCOTT AWARDS FOR SCIENTIFIC ACHIEVEMENTS


Two scientists have been named recipients of the prestigious Philadelphia
award founded in the early 1800's by the Scottish druggist John Scott.
Earlier recipients have included Albert Einstein, G. MArconi, MAdam Curie,
the Wright brothers, Thomas Edison and Irving Lanqmuir. Recently Dr. Mary
B. Mullis and Professor Richard E. Smalley won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry.


Louis J. Esposito, President of the Board of Directors of the City Trusts
which administers the John Scott Award, has announced that the recipients
for 1966 are Professor David J. Farber [The Alfred Fitler Moore Professor
of Telecommunication Systems at the University of Pennsylvania ] and Dr.
George H. Heilmeier [the President and CEO of Bellcore Inc. ].


Professor David J. Farber


Professor David J. Farber is being honored for his seminal contributions to
the field of computer networks and distributed computer systems. He was
involved in the creation of the DCS System and CSNET, forerunners of the
INTERNET.


Dr. George H. Heilmeier


Dr. George H. Heilmeier is being honored for his pioneering work in the
development of liquid crystal displays. This work has influenced mankind
through its applications in computers and consumer products.


John Scott, a chemist in the City of Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1816
bequeathed to the City of Philadelphia the sum of $4.000, the income from
which was to be "premiums distributed among ingenious men and women who
make useful inventions, but no one of such premiums shall exceed twenty
dollars, and along with which shall be given a copper medal with this
inscription, 'to the most deserving'."


Little is known about John Scott and why he chose Philadelphia for his
benefaction and for administration of his intent to reward the "most
deserving.". The amount of the Award is now $10,000.


Over the years more than 500 notable men and women have qualified as
recipients. Among early awards were those given to the inventors of
mechanical devices such as the door lock and a knitting machine. Attention
seemed to be directed to simple machines. In this century the emphasis
shifted to scientific developments and to research discoveries out of an
international field of investigators.


The Board of Directors of City Trusts administers 120 trusts for the City
of Philadelphia, the John Scott Medal Fund being one of the trusts.
Nominations for the award are made by a group of Philadelphians serving as
an Advisory Committee on the John Scott Award, of which Professor Robin M.
Hochstrasser of the University of Pennsylvania is  Secretary.


The award will be presented at a ceremony on Friday, November 22 at the
American Philosophical Society.


Contact: 
Marlene Brenner, Secretary
Board of Directors of City Trusts
(215) 568-0440


Sandy Smith, Press Relations
University of Pennsylvania
(215) 898-1423