2026 Barry Prize for Distinguished Intellectual Achievement

The Barry Prize for Distinguished Intellectual Achievement is the Academy’s premier recognition of excellence in scholarship. This prestigious annual prize, open to scholars across diverse fields and disciplines, honors those whose work has made outstanding contributions to humanity’s knowledge, appreciation, and cultivation of the good, the true, and the beautiful. Recipients are nominated by the members of the Academy and appointed by the board of directors. Winners of the Barry Prize receive a cash award and also become members of the Academy.

The 2026 Barry Prize winners pose with Zimmer Medal
recipient Richard S. Lindzen and other friends

The 2026 Barry Prizes were awarded to:

Lara M. Buchak

Princeton University

G. Marius Clore

National Institutes of Health

G. Marcus Cole

University of Notre Dame

Farr A. Curlin

Duke University

Jesus Fernandez-Villaverde

University of Pennsylvania

Alexander B. Givental

University of California-Berkeley

Jane Kamensky

Harvard University

Bertha Kalifon Madras

Harvard University

Harvey C. Mansfield

Harvard University

Steven Pinker

Harvard University