Harvard Graduate School of Arts and Sciences 2018 Centennial Medalists

Contributions to society from graduate research

Graduate School of Arts and Sciences honorands (from left) Choon Fong Shih, Harold Luft, Beth Adelson, and Guido Goldman

Photograph courtesy of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences

The Graduate School of Arts and Sciences’ Centennial Medal, first awarded in 1989 on the occasion of the school’s hundredth anniversary, honors alumni who have made contributions to society that emerged from their graduate studies. It is the highest honor GSAS bestows, and awardees include some of Harvard’s most accomplished alumni. The 2018 recipients, announced at a ceremony on May 23, are: Beth Adelson, A.M. ’81, Ph.D. ’83, a cognitive scientist; Guido Goldman, ’59, Ph.D. ’70, founding director of Harvard’s Center for European Studies; Harold Luft ’68, Ph.D. ’73, an expert in healthcare economics and policy; and Choon Fong Shih, S.M. ’70, Ph.D. ’73, an applied mathematician who specializes in fracture mechanics. For more about the honorands, see harvardmag.com/centennial-18.

You might also like

A History of Harvard Magazine

Harvard’s independent alumni magazine—at 127 years old 

The Artist Edward Gorey—and Pets—at Harvard

Winter exhibits at Houghton Library   

A New Prescription for Youth Mental Health

Kenyan entrepreneur Tom Osborn ’20 reimagines care for a global crisis.

Most popular

What Trump Means for John Roberts’s Legacy

Executive power is on the docket at the Supreme Court.

Harvard’s Class of 2029 Reflects Shifts in Racial Makeup After Affirmative Action Ends

International students continue to enroll amid political uncertainty; mandatory SATs lead to a drop in applications.

How Birds Lost Flight

Scott Edwards discovers evolution’s master switches.

Explore More From Current Issue

Six women interact in a theatrical setting, one seated and being comforted by others.

A (Truly) Naked Take on Second-Wave Feminism

Playwright Bess Wohl’s Liberation opens on Broadway.

Three book covers displayed on a light background, featuring titles and authors.

Must-Read Harvard Books Winter 2025

From aphorisms to art heists to democracy’s necessary conditions