PISCATAWAY, NJ, December 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — IEEEthe world’s largest technical professional organization dedicated to advancing technology for humanity, proudly announces the recipients of its prestigious 2026 IEEE Medals. These global honors recognize individuals whose transformative innovations, scientific breakthroughs and creative leadership advance technology for the benefit of humanity.
This year’s honorees embody the spirit of engineering innovation and leadership that drives progress in key technology areas, impacting millions of people around the world. Their work has strengthened critical infrastructure, expanded human understanding, advanced health care, enabled new forms of communication, and improved quality of life around the world. Together, they represent a diverse community of pioneers whose contributions are shaping a more connected, sustainable and equitable future.
“Each year, the IEEE Medals celebrate those whose work has not only fundamentally advanced technology, but also improved the human condition,” said Kathleen Kramer, president and CEO of IEEE 2025. “The 2026 winners exemplify the ingenuity, scientific excellence and global impact that define our organization and inspire the next generation. Their contributions, from breakthroughs in computing and communications to life-changing innovations in healthcare, sustainability and education, continue to shape a better, more connected world.
IEEE Medal recipients for 2026 include:
IEEE FRANCES E. ALLEN MEDAL
Sponsored by IBM
Luis von Ahn, IEEE Fellow — Duolingo
Luis von Ahn is credited with inventing CAPTCHA and reCAPTCHA, pioneering research in human computing, and founding Duolingo. His work has helped secure the world’s internet infrastructure, digitize millions of books, and expand access to free education for learners around the world.
IEEE ALEXANDER GRAHAM BELL MEDAL
Sponsored by Nokia Bell Labs
Scott J. Shenker, IEEE Life Member — UC Berkeley
Awarded for his groundbreaking research in computer networking and Internet architecture, Shenker’s work underpins today’s cloud computing, modern data center design, and the ability to control network devices through software.
IEEE JAGADISH CHANDRA BOSE MEDAL IN WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS
Sponsored by Mani L. Bhaumik
Erik Dahlman, IEEE Member, Stefan Parkvall, Senior IEEE Member, Johan Sköld, Senior IEEE Member — Ericsson
Celebrated for his leadership in the development of LTE (4G) and 5G standards, enabling global mobile broadband and powering modern communications, commerce and IoT.
IEEE MILDRED DRESSELHAUS MEDAL
Sponsored by Google, LLC
Karen Ann Panetta, IEEE Fellow — Tufts University
Recognized for her contributions to image processing and advocacy for women in engineering through the Nerd Girls program, Panetta has advanced technologies used in fields such as medical imaging and autonomous systems while expanding STEM pathways for girls and women around the world.
IEEE EDISON MEDAL
Sponsored by the Edison Medal Fund
Eric A. Swanson, IEEE Fellow — MIT
Swanson co-invented optical coherence tomography (OCT), a high-resolution, non-invasive imaging technology that has revolutionized the way clinicians diagnose and manage major eye diseases such as glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy and age-related vision loss.
IEEE MEDAL FOR ENVIRONMENTAL AND SAFETY TECHNOLOGY
Sponsored by Toyota Motor Corporation
Wei-Jen Lee, IEEE Lifetime Fellow — University of Texas
Honored for his leadership in electric power systems and renewable energy integration, Lee’s work strengthens grid reliability and supports clean energy adoption, helping utilities manage renewable energy sources and reduce the risk of large-scale outages.
IEEE FOUNDERS Medal
Sponsored by the IEEE Foundation
Marian R. Croak — Google
Croak pioneered VoIP technologies and mobile giving platforms, shaping global communications and humanitarian aid systems. His leadership continues to influence the responsible development of AI.
IEEE RICHARD W. HAMMING MEDAL
Sponsored by Qualcomm, Inc.
IEEE Fellow Muriel Médard — MIT
Known for breakthroughs in network coding and information theory, Médard’s innovations improve the reliability of data transmission in applications such as streaming video, wireless networks and satellite communications.
IEEE MEDAL FOR INNOVATIONS IN HEALTH TECHNOLOGY
Sponsored by the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society (EMBS)
Rosalind W. Picard, IEEE Fellow — MIT
Picard founded affective computing and developed wearable technologies for emotion and health monitoring, enabling tools used in mental health care, stress detection, and personalized health insights.
IEEE NICK HOLONYAK, JR. MEDAL FOR OPTOELECTRONIC SEMICONDUCTOR TECHNOLOGY
Sponsored by Friends of Nick Holonyak, Jr.
Steven P. DenBaars, IEEE Fellow — UC Santa Barbara
DenBaars is being recognized for its pioneering gallium nitride semiconductor and LED technologies that enable bright, energy-efficient lighting used in homes, smartphones, automotive headlights and large-scale displays.
IEEE JACK S. KILBY MEDAL
Sponsored by Apple
Biing-Hwang “Fred” Juang, IEEE Life Member – Georgia Tech
Juang’s foundational work in coding and speech recognition has made possible voice technologies used in smartphones, customer service systems and virtual assistants.
JAMES CLERK MAXWELL IEEE/RSE MEDAL
Sponsored by ARM, Ltd.
Paul B. Corkum — University of Ottawa
Corkum’s pioneering research in attosecond physics opened new frontiers in ultrafast science, enabling tools to observe chemical reactions and the movement of electrons at unprecedented speeds.
IEEE JAMES H. MULLIGAN, JR. EDUCATION MEDAL
Sponsored by the IEEE Lifetime Membership Fund and MathWorks
James H. McClellan, IEEE Life Member — EPFL
McClellan is recognized for his decades of leadership in digital signal processing theory, shaping technologies used in audio processing, medical ultrasound and radar systems.
IEEE JUN-ICHI NISHIZAWA MEDAL
Sponsored by the IEEE Jun-ichi Nishizawa Medal Fund
Eric R. Fossum, IEEE Life Member — Dartmouth
Inventor of the CMOS image sensor, Fossum revolutionized digital photography and video, shaping modern visual communication.
IEE ROBERT NOYCE MEDAL
Sponsored by Intel Corporation
Chris Malachowsky — NVIDIA
Malachowsky co-founded NVIDIA and drove GPU innovation, powering AI, gaming, and accelerated computing around the world.
IEEE DENNIS J. PICARD MEDAL RADAR TECHNOLOGIES AND APPLICATIONS
Sponsored by RTX
Yoshio Yamaguchi, IEEE Life Member — Niigata University
Honored for his pioneering work in radar polarimetry and remote sensing, Yamaguchi’s work supports climate monitoring and disaster response on a global scale.
IEEE MEDAL IN ENERGY ENGINEERING
Sponsored by IEEE Industry Applications, Industrial Electronics, Power Electronics, and Power & Energy Societies.
Fang Zheng Peng, IEEE member — University of Pittsburgh
Peng’s innovations in power conversion technology, including his invention of the quasi-source Z inverter, created more efficient, stable and reliable ways to harness renewable energy.
IEEE SIMON RAMO MEDAL
Sponsored by Northrop Grumman Corporation
Michael Douglas Griffin, IEEE Member — LogiQ, Inc.
Griffin, a former NASA administrator, is credited with shaping America’s space exploration strategy and advancing aerospace engineering, including programs that laid the foundation for today’s crewed spaceflight and deep space missions.
IEEE JOHN VON NEUMANN MEDAL
Sponsored by IBM
Donald D. Chamberlin, IEEE Fellow — IBM
A co-inventor of SQL and a major contributor to database languages and systems, Chamberlin’s work underpins nearly every business, financial, healthcare, and government data system in the world.
Winners will be honored at the annual IEEE Honors Ceremony on April 24, 2026 in New York. The 2026 IEEE Medal of Honor winner will be announced in January 2026. Stay tuned for more details. To view the full list of 2026 recipients, please visit IEEE Awards Website.
About the IEEE Awards
For more than a century, the IEEE Awards Program has remained the world’s premier peer recognition program, honoring distinguished leaders whose contributions have significantly advanced engineering, science, and technology. Through this program, IEEE recognizes the transformative innovations and societal impact achieved by its global community of experts in fields ranging from computing and telecommunications to energy, aerospace, materials science and health.
About IEEE
IEEE is the world’s largest technical professional organization and a public charity dedicated to technological advancement for the benefit of humanity. Through its highly cited publications, conferences, technology standards, and professional and educational activities, IEEE is the trusted voice in a wide variety of fields ranging from aerospace systems, computers and telecommunications to biomedical engineering, electric power and consumer electronics. Learn more about https://www.ieee.org.
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