President Obama Awards Dr. Albert Bandura Nat'l Medal of Science

[kate_geraghty]

Congratulations to our author, Dr. Albert Bandura, who was awarded the National Medal of Science —our Nation’s highest honors for achievement and leadership in advancing the field of science. The award ceremony will take place 1/22.

“Science and technology are fundamental to solving some of our Nation’s biggest challenges,” President Obama said. “The knowledge produced by these Americans today will carry our country’s legacy of innovation forward and continue to help countless others around the world. Their work is a testament to American ingenuity.”

Dr. Bandura is one of the most eminent psychologists of modern times.  He is a renowned scholar whose pioneering research in social cognitive theory has served as a rich resource for academics, practitioners, and policy makers. His first publication with us was a landmark in the field. Self-Efficacy came out in 1997 and was a highly anticipated examination of over 20 years of his research and his vast work in the field. Self-Efficacy articulated Bandura's theory that, "...believing one can achieve what one sets out to do results in a healthier, more effective, and generally more successful life."

Dr. Bandura's just published his new title,  Moral Disengagement, how Good People Can Do Harm and Feel Good About Themselves. ow.ly/WY11q.

According to the White House press release, "the National Medal of Science was created by statute in 1959 and is administered for the White House by the National Science Foundation. Awarded annually, the Medal recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to science and engineering. The President receives nominations from a committee of Presidential appointees based on their extraordinary knowledge in and contributions to chemistry, engineering, computing, mathematics, and the biological, behavioral/social, and physical sciences."

More on Dr. Bandura: His illustrative career includes groundbreaking work across a broad range of areas. His seminal research on social modeling expanded our view of human learning and the growing primacy of this mode of learning in this electronic era. His later research on self-regulatory mechanisms laid the theoretical foundation for his theory of human agency. These diverse programs of research blend his theoretical interests with an abiding concern for the use of psychological knowledge for human enlightenment and betterment. He is the recipient of countless awards and numerous honorary degrees for his distinguished lifetime contributions to psychological science and innovative social applications.