The Alexander Agassiz Medal is awarded by the U.S. National Academy of Sciences for an original contribution in the science of oceanography. It was established by Sir John Murray in honor of his friend Alexander Agassiz. President Harding and the National Academy of Sciences at the White House, Washington, DC, April 1921 The National Academy of Sciences (NAS) is a corporation in the United States whose members serve pro bono as advisers to the nation on science, engineering, and medicine. ... Thermohaline circulation Oceanography (from Ocean + Greek γÏάÏειν = write), also called oceanology or marine science is the study of the Earths oceans and seas. ... Sir John Murray (March 3, 1841 - March 16, 1914), pioneering Scots-Canadian oceanographer and marine biologist. ... Alexander Agassiz Alexander Emanuel Agassiz (December 17, 1835 – March 27, 1910), son of Louis Agassiz, was an American scientist and engineer. ...
Louis Agassiz was born in Môtiers in Neuchâtel canton, Switzerland.
In 1836 the Wollaston medal was awarded to Agassiz by the council of that society for his work on fossil ichthyology; and in 1838 he was elected a foreign member of the Royal Society.
Agassiz is remembered today for his work on ice ages, and for being one of the last major zoologists to resist Charles Darwin's theories on evolution (an attitude he would not relinquish for the rest of his life).