In 1978, The Priestley Medal was awarded to Melvin Calvin by the American Chemical Society “to recognize distinguished services to chemistry,” the Society’s most prestigious award.

Calvin is remembered for bridging physics, chemistry, and biology to delineate the pathway of photosynthesis. He received the 1961 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his role in deciphering how plants use chlorophyll and sunlight to convert carbon dioxide and water into carbohydrates.