WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 19: (L-R) Dr. Joseph DeSimone, from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North Carolina State University, and Carbon3D shakes hands with President Barack Obama after receiving the National Medal of Technology and Innovation, during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House, May 19, 2016, in Washington, DC. Established in 1959, the National Medal of Science recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to science and engineering. The National Medal of Technology and Innovation, created in 1980, recognizes those who have made contributions to America's competitiveness, quality of life, and helped strengthen the country's technological workforce. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 19: (L-R) Dr. Chenming Hu, from University of California Berkeley, shakes hands with President Barack Obama after receiving the National Medal of Technology And Innovation, during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House, May 19, 2016, in Washington, DC. Established in 1959, the National Medal of Science recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to science and engineering. The National Medal of Technology and Innovation, created in 1980, recognizes those who have made contributions to America's competitiveness, quality of life, and helped strengthen the country's technological workforce. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 19: (L-R) Dr. Mark Humayun, from University of Southern California, shakes hands with President Barack Obama after receiving the National Medal of Technology And Innovation, during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House, May 19, 2016, in Washington, DC. Established in 1959, the National Medal of Science recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to science and engineering. The National Medal of Technology and Innovation, created in 1980, recognizes those who have made contributions to America's competitiveness, quality of life, and helped strengthen the country's technological workforce. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 19: U.S. President Barack Obama speaks after awarding the National Medal of Science and National Medal of Technology and Innovation in the East Room of the White House, May 19, 2016, in Washington, DC. Established in 1959, the National Medal of Science recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to science and engineering. The National Medal of Technology and Innovation, created in 1980, recognizes those who have made contributions to America's competitiveness, quality of life, and helped strengthen the country's technological workforce. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 19: (L-R) Dr. Geraldine Richmond, from University of Oregon, stands with President Barack Obama before receiving the National Medal of Science, during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House, May 19, 2016, in Washington, DC. Established in 1959, the National Medal of Science recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to science and engineering. The National Medal of Technology and Innovation, created in 1980, recognizes those who have made contributions to America's competitiveness, quality of life, and helped strengthen the country's technological workforce. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 19: U.S. President Barack Obama speaks before awarding the National Medal of Science and National Medal of Technology and Innovation in the East Room of the White House, May 19, 2016, in Washington, DC. Established in 1959, the National Medal of Science recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to science and engineering. The National Medal of Technology and Innovation, created in 1980, recognizes those who have made contributions to America's competitiveness, quality of life, and helped strengthen the country's technological workforce. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 19: (L-R) Dr. Michael Artin, of Massachusetts Institute of Technology, receives the National Medal of Science from President Barack Obama, during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House, May 19, 2016, in Washington, DC. Established in 1959, the National Medal of Science recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to science and engineering. The National Medal of Technology and Innovation, created in 1980, recognizes those who have made contributions to America's competitiveness, quality of life, and helped strengthen the country's technological workforce. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 19: (L-R) Dr. Shirley Ann Jackson, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, stands with President Barack Obama before receiving the National Medal of Science, during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House, May 19, 2016, in Washington, DC. Established in 1959, the National Medal of Science recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to science and engineering. The National Medal of Technology and Innovation, created in 1980, recognizes those who have made contributions to America's competitiveness, quality of life, and helped strengthen the country's technological workforce. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)