This timeline highlights some of the major awards, honors, and lasting contributions that cemented Fermi's place as one of the most important physicists of the 20th century.
Nobel Prize in Physics
1938
Awarded for his work on neutron-induced radioactivity and the discovery of slow neutrons, a pivotal contribution to the development of nuclear reactors.
Element 100 Named Fermium
Posthumous Recognition
Element 100 on the periodic table was named Fermium (Fm) in his honor, acknowledging his fundamental contributions to nuclear physics.
The Enrico Fermi Award
Ongoing
The U.S. Department of Energy established the Enrico Fermi Award in 1956, one of the government's oldest and most prestigious science and technology awards. It recognizes individuals for lifetime achievement in the field of energy science and technology.
The Enrico Fermi Institute
Ongoing
The Enrico Fermi Institute at the University of Chicago continues to be a leading center for research in physics, astronomy, and related fields, carrying on Fermi's legacy of scientific excellence.
