The Russ Prize recognizes an outstanding achievement in bioengineering that improves the human condition. This achievement should help the public better understand and appreciate the contributions of engineers to our health, well-being and quality of life.
The National Academy of Engineering established the Fritz J. and Dolores H. Russ Prize in 1999 to recognize outstanding achievement in an engineering field that is currently of critical importance and that contributes to the advancement of science and engineering, as well as improves a person's quality of life and has widespread application or use.
Modeled after the Nobel Prize, The Fritz J. and Dolores H. Russ Prize recognizes outstanding achievement in an engineering field of critical importance that contributes to improving the human condition.
The Russ Prize is one of engineering's highest honors, awarding winners $500,000.
The prize was established in October 1999 through a multimillion-dollar endowment to Ohio University from the late Fritz Russ, a 1942 engineering graduate, and his wife, Dolores. It was established to honor the profession of engineering and attract more men and women to the field.
Selection Process Nominations for the prize are submitted to the National Academy of Engineering, which creates a search committee comprised of members of the academy and Ohio University officials to review and select a winner. The winner must have made an advancement that has greatly affected human society. These nomination procedures apply only to the Fritz J. and Dolores H. Russ Prize. Nominations must be typewritten in English. There are no restrictions on who may nominate candidates for the Prize. NAE members and non-members worldwide are eligible to receive the Russ Prize. Solicitations are sent to members and foreign associates of the U.S. National Academy of Engineering, foreign engineering academies, and other organizations and persons from around the world.
The Russ Prize will recognize achievements in bioengineering in its initial years. Examples of bioengineering include research, education, or product development in such areas as biomedical instrumentation, separation, and control systems; aerospace biomedical engineering; diagnostic technologies; applied genetic engineering; pharmaceutical processing; prosthetic technologies; biomolecular engineering; medical engineering; and applied physiological systems.
The Russ Prize is awarded for a specific achievement or for a series of achievements in bioengineering, and may be awarded to an individual or a group of individuals contributing to the same achievement(s). The Russ Prize is not awarded posthumously. Recipients of the Charles Stark Draper Prize are not eligible for the Russ Prize. NAE members and non-members world-wide are eligible to receive the Russ Prize
