Man of many honors

Here's a selected list:

1973 National Medal of Science presented by President Richard M. Nixon for his work on the Pill. Djerassi later learned that at the time of the award, he was on Nixon's famous enemies list.

1975 Perkin Medal from the Society of Chemical Industry

1978 Induction into the Inventors Hall of Fame

1991 National Medal of Technology, for dedication to the environment and the development of biodegradable insect control products

1992 Priestley Medal, the highest honor conferred by the American Chemical Society

1999 Austrian Cross of Honour for Science and Art, First Class

2003 Austrian postage stamp issued in honor of his eightieth birthday; the stamp art constructs an image of Djerassi's face out of thousands of tiny chemical structures

2011 Edinburgh Medal, awarded to him for “game-changing social innovation born out of good science” as well as “exploration of the concepts and issues of science through plays and writings”

Djerassi Glacier, on Brabant Island, Antarctica, is named in his honor.


He is the recipient of more than 32 honorary doctorates from colleges and universities throughout the world, including one from Kenyon in 1958.