Elizabeth Loftus awarded Gold Medal for Lifetime Achievement

Aug. 2, 2013

The American Psychological Foundation has named Prof. Elizabeth Loftus the 2013 recipient of its Gold Medal Award for Life Achievement in the Science of Psychology. The organization said Loftus “has made extraordinary contributions to our understanding of memory during the past 40 years that are remarkable for their creativity and impact.”

The group said further that Loftus has been a “pioneering scientist” in the study of memory distortion and false memories. “Her imaginative and rigorous research has had a profound impact on the field of psychology, on scholars outside the field and on the administration of justice around the world.” Read more in the awards program (PDF).

The American Psychological Foundation provides financial support for innovative research and programs that enhance the power of psychology to elevate the human condition and advance human potential both now and in generations to come. Its Gold Medal Awards recognize distinguished and enduring records of accomplishment in four areas of psychology: the application of psychology, the practice of psychology, psychology in the public interest, and the science of psychology.