For her scientific accomplishments, leadership in the establishment of scientific policy, substantial contributions to the improvement of math and science education, and efforts to raise awareness and understanding in matters of science globally and to increase the presence of women and minorities in the scientific community.

With Paul Berg and Norton Zinder, for their leadership in the remarkable process by which the community of researchers, developing the techniques for...the genetic material DNA, accepted a moratorium on certain classes of experiments until the safety issues involved could be reviewed by the larger scientific community, by the government bodies responsible for the public health, and ultimately by the concerned public.