Obama honors science, technology leaders

U.S. President Obama honored 12 scientists and innovators Friday, awarding them the National Medal of Science and National Medal of Technology and Innovation. During the awards ceremony, Obama announced additional steps that will help move more ideas from the drawing board into production. "I'm pleased to recognize these extraordinary scientists, engineers, and inventors for their work exploring the very frontiers of human knowledge and making our world a better place," Obama said. "It's important to recognize that work, and to help make it easier for inventors and innovators like them to bring their work from the lab to the marketplace and create jobs." The National Medal of Science recognizes people for "outstanding contributions" to science and engineering, and the National Medal of Technology and Innovation recognizes individuals for their "lasting contributions" to the country's competitiveness and helped strengthen the U.S. technological workforce, the White House said. Obama said the new online resource will help manufacturers, tech companies and entrepreneurs turn more of their ideas into products and businesses faster. The online resource will be on the National Institute of Standards and Technology's Manufacturing Extension Partnership Web site. Obama said the site will enable businesses and entrepreneurs to identify and contact more than 2,000 public-private organizations and initiatives designed to assist them.