The Academy is governed by a distinguished group of eminent scientists who have been appointed Fellows of the California Academy of Sciences in recognition of their notable contributions to one or more of the natural sciences. Nominated by their colleagues and appointed by the Board of Trustees, the Fellows remain members of the Fellowship for life.
The Academy’s highest honor is that of the Fellows Medal. Since 1964 the medal has been awarded to especially prominent scientists who have been recognized for their outstanding contributions to their specific field(s) of science. Note, no medal was awarded in 1972.
1964 — Ira L. Wiggins
1965 — Laurence M. Klauber
1966 — Carl L. Hubbs
1967 — G Dallas Hanna
1968 — Tracy Storer
1969 — Robert C. Miller
1970 — A. Starker Leopold
1971 — George S. Myers
1973 — E. Gorten Linsley
Robert T. Orr
1974 — Howell Williams
1975 — Frits Went
1976 — Allan Cox
1977 — Kenneth Norris
1978 — George A. Bartholomew
1979 — A. Myra Keen
1980 — George E. Lindsay
1981 — Daniel I. Axelrod
1982 — G. Ledyard Stebbins
1983 — William Hiesey
David D. Keck
1984 — David Perlman
1985 — Lincoln Constance
1986 — John T. Howell
1987 — J. Desmond Clark
1988 — Peter H. Raven
1989 — Bruce A. Bolt
1990 — F. Clark Howell
1991 — Robert C. Stebbins
1992 — Joel W. Hedgpeth
1993 — Jerold Lowenstein
1994 — Edward Ross
1995 — Garniss H. Curtis
1996 — Sherwin Carlquist
1997 — Frank Pitelka
1998 — Harry Thiers
1999 — Alan E. Leviton
2000 — James Kelley
Jose Sarukhan
2001 — Robert I. Bowman
2002 — John E. McCosker
2003 — Paul R. Ehrlich
2004 — Evert I. Schlinger
2005 — William N. Eschmeyer
2006 — Jean H. Langenheim
2007 — William A. Clemens
2008 — Terrence M. Gosliner
2009 — Michael T. Ghiselin
Eugenie C. Scott
2010 — Marvalee H. Wake
2011 — John S. Pearse
2012 — David B. Wake
2013 — James T. Carlton
2015 — Donald C. Johanson
2016 — Sandra M. Faber
2017 — Geerat Vermeij
2018 — Jane Lubchenco
2019 — Inez Fung
2020 — Elizabeth Blackburn
2021 — Tyrone Hayes
2022 — Bruce Alberts
Margaret Leinen