Awarded by Optica, formerly the Optical Society of America, it is the highest award of the Society, recognizing overall distinction in optics. The prize was established in 1928 by Herbert E. Ives in honor of his father, Frederic Ives. It was awarded to Dr. Boyd for pioneering contributions to nonlinear optics, including slow light, quantum imaging and the development of nanocomposite optical materials and metamaterials.