On Apr. 25, 2012 U.S. Representatives Jim Cooper (D-Tenn.), Charlie Dent (R-Pa.), and Robert J. Dold (R-Ill.) joined several business, university, scientific and public policy organizations to announce the creation of the Golden Goose Award.

The new award highlighted the often unexpected or serendipitous nature of basic scientific research by honoring federally funded researchers whose work may once have been viewed as unusual, odd or obscure, but has produced important discoveries benefiting society in significant ways.