SPIE Gold Medal

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. 

How to Nominate

Current recipients


Halina Rubinsztein-Dunlop

Halina Rubinsztein-Dunlop, 2025 recipient

For innovations in the transfer of optical angular momentum to matter, using sculpted light for laser manipulation on atomic, nano- and microscales, and providing a powerful probe to biomedicine.
Learn more about Halina Rubinsztein-Dunlop

Past recipients


2024
Akhlesh Lakhtakia

2023
Graham Reed




2019
Robert Alfano

2018
Paul Corkum

2017
Katarina Svanberg

2016
Paras Prasad

2015
Nader Engheta

2014
James Harrington

2013
Federico Capasso

2012
Daniel Malacara Hernández

2011
Harrison Barrett

2010
Charles Townes

2009
Richard Hoover

2008
MJ Soileau

2007
Joseph Goodman

2006
Duncan Moore

2005
H. John Caulfield

2004
Roland Shack

2003
James Wyant

2002
Zhores Alferov

2001
Parameswaran Hariharan

2000
Robert Fischer

1999
William Wolfe

1998
Thomas Harris

1997
Aden Meinel

1997
Marjorie Meinel

1996
Robert Shannon

1995
Georges Nomarski

1994
Andrei Mikaelian

1993
Alfred Sommer

1992
Charles Kao

1991
William Schreiber

1990
Emmett Leith

1989
André Maréchal

1988
Andrew Tescher

1987
H. Angus Macleod

1986
Brian Thompson

1985
Warren Smith

1984
Franke Cooke

1983
Robert Hopkins

1982
Harold Hopkins

1981
Harold Edgerton

1980
Rudolf Kingslake

1979
Edwin Land

1978
James Baker

1977
John Strong