The SPIE Gold Medal is the highest honor the Society bestows. Since 1977, it has been awarded in recognition of outstanding engineering or scientific accomplishments in optics, photonics, electro-optics, or imaging technologies or applications. The recipient(s) shall have made an exceptional contribution to the advancement of relevant technology. Service to the Society may also be considered for this award. Honorarium $10,000.
For his sustained and ongoing leadership in the silicon photonics field, particularly in the area of silicon photonics modulators, mid-IR silicon photonics, and integrated lidar.
2022 - Michael Berns
2021 - Hugo Thienpont
2020 - Ursula Keller
2019 - Robert Alfano
2018 - Paul Corkum
2017 - Katarina Svanberg
2016 - Paras N. Prasad
2015 - Nader Engheta
2014 - James Harrington
2013 - Federico Capasso
2012 - Daniel Malacara Hernandez
2011 - Harrison Barrett
2010 - Charles H. Townes
2009 - Richard B. Hoover
2008 - M. J. Soileau
2007 - Joseph W. Goodman
2006 - Duncan T. Moore
2005 - H. John Caulfield
2004 - Roland V. Shack
2003 - James C. Wyant
2002 - Zhores I. Alferov
2001 - Parameswaran Hariharan
2000 - Robert E. Fischer
1999 - William L. Wolfe
1998 - Thomas I. Harris
1997 - Marjorie and Aden Meinel
1996 - Robert R. Shannon
1995 - Georges Nomarski
1994 - Andrei L. Mikaelian
1993 - Alfred H. Sommer
1992 - Charles K. Kao
1991 - William F. Schreiber
1990 - Emmett N. Leith
1989 - Andre Marechal
1988 - Andrew Tescher
1987 - H. Angus Macleod
1986 - Brian J. Thompson
1985 - Warren J. Smith
1984 - Franke Cooke
1983 - Robert E. Hopkins
1982 - Harold H. Hopkins
1981 - Harold E. Edgerton
1980 - Rudolf Kingslake
1979 - Edwin H. Land
1978 - James G. Baker
1977 - John Donovan Strong