The major activities of SCI America are two yearly events for the presentation of awards. SCI America  presents the Perkin Medal (established 1906), the Chemical Industry Medal, first awarded 1933), and the Gordon E. Moore Medal (first awarded 2004).
The first Perkin Medal was awarded to chemist William Henry Perkin to mark the 50th anniversary of his discovery of the aniline dye mauveine.  This anniversary was celebrated internationally as the Perkin Jubilee. SCI America commemorated a visit by Perkin and his family to the United States in the fall of 1906 by inviting 400 guests to a dinner in his honor at Delmonico's and presenting him with the first Perkin Medal. The Perkin Medal is considered the highest honor in applied chemistry to be given to a chemist residing in the United States. It is administered jointly by a committee whose representatives include the chairs or presidents of the ACS, the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, the Science History Institute, and SCI America.
From 1920 to 1932, SCI America awarded the Grasselli Medal, on behalf of the Grasselli Chemical Company, for a paper presenting the most useful suggestions in applied chemistry before the Society. This award was replaced in 1933 by the Chemical Industry Medal, which was given to a person who had made a valuable contribution by applying chemical research in industry.
Since 2004 SCI America has awarded a medal in honor of Gordon E. Moore, for early-career innovation involving the application of chemistry.