Caltech Announces the 2020 Distinguished Alumni Award Winners
Caltech has announced that Ian Agol (BS '92), Fei-Fei Li (MS '02, PhD '05), Charles T. Munger (CERT '44), and Daniel D. O'Dowd (BS '76) are this year's recipients of the Distinguished Alumni Award.
The Caltech Distinguished Alumni Award is the highest honor the Institute bestows upon a graduate. Given in recognition of a particular achievement of significant value, a series of such distinctive achievements, or a career of noteworthy accomplishment, it celebrates the diverse impact of our alumni on science and society. Caltech will present the awards to this year's winners on Saturday, May 16, 2020, as part of the Caltech Alumni Association's Seminar Day.
The 2020 Distinguished Alumni Award recipients are:
Ian Agol (BS '92, Mathematics)
Simons Chair and Professor of Mathematics, University of California, Berkeley
For his significant contributions to low dimensional topology and geometric group theory, such as proving the virtual Haken conjecture, Marden's Tameness conjecture, and other theorems that provide an understanding of the coverings of three-dimensional manifolds.
Fei-Fei Li (MS '02, PhD '05, Electrical Engineering)
Sequoia Professor of Computer Science, Stanford University
Co-Director, Stanford Human-Centered AI Institute
For her leadership in the fields of computer vision, machine learning, and artificial intelligence, as well as her advocacy for diversity and inclusion in AI and STEM fields. Li's interdisciplinary influence connecting neuroscience and machine learning has made her a leading voice in applications of AI to improve healthcare.
Charles T. Munger (CERT '44, Ceiling and Visibility Unlimited)
Vice Chairman, Berkshire Hathaway Inc.
For his accomplished career as an investor, businessman, and as an attorney. He is partner and vice chairman of Berkshire Hathaway, chairman of the Daily Journal Corporation, a director of Costco Wholesale Corporation, and former chairman of Wesco Financial Corporation.
Daniel D. O'Dowd (BS '76, Engineering & Applied Science)
Founder and CEO, Green Hills Software Inc.
For his entrepreneurial leadership and transformative contributions to the development and commercialization of fail-safe embedded safety and security software for high-risk, high-value applications including commercial and military avionics, self-driving cars, and remotely controlled medical equipment.