Dr. Ravel is recognized for his global leadership in the implementation and dissemination of a self-developed, comprehensive data-analysis and visualization software system for X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS). XAS is critical to the development of advanced materials used in U.S. manufacturing. His accomplishment has enabled thousands of scientists throughout the U.S. and the world to have free access to high-quality data analysis tools, thereby promoting and advancing the use and application of XAS to scientific challenges in fields ranging from biochemistry to chemistry to energy sciences.