The Franklin Institute's Committee on Science and the Arts was established in 1824 as the Committee on Inventions. It was reorganized into its present form in 1834. Its mission is to sustain the scientific character of The Franklin Institute through its investigation of worldwide scientific and technological achievements and its recommendation for the awarding of the Benjamin Franklin Medals in the fields of: chemistry, civil and mechanical engineering, computer and cognitive science, earth and environmental science, electrical engineering, life science, and physics, and the Benjamin Franklin NextGen Award. The Committee carefully selects candidates using a thorough case investigation process to recognize those scientists and engineers who lead their fields, expand knowledge, challenge standards, and serve humanity.
The Committee maintains a very high standard for awarding medals and uses the following selection criteria:
- The achievement of a nominated individual must be an invention, discovery, technological development, or a body of such work reflecting uncommon insight, skill, or creativity.
- The work must have substantial scientific value and/or proven utility. It must have provided significant direction for future research, solved an important technological problem, or provided great benefit to the public.
- Candidates for the award must be living persons.
- The Committee considers individuals from all over the world.
The all-volunteer Committee is composed of scientists and engineers from academia and industry. Meeting regularly throughout the year, the Committee has a reputation of diligence and integrity. Their work is at the heart of The Franklin Institute's mission to inspire a passion for learning about science and technology and provides a valuable service to the public and to the scientific community.
Committee Members
Executive Committee
Maria Iavarone, Ph.D.
Chair
Judith A. Todd, Ph.D.
Vice-Chair and Membership Chair
Peter S. Petraitis, Ph.D.
Planning Chair
Donald H. Silberberg, M.D.
Immediate Past Chair
Active Members by Primary Subcommittee
Chemistry
Roger A. Grey, Ph.D., Chair
RAG Chem Consulting, LLC
Amos B. Smith, III, Ph.D., Vice Chair
University of Pennsylvania
Joseph S. Francisco, Ph.D.
University of Pennsylvania
Marsha I. Lester, Ph.D.
University of Pennsylvania
Spiridoula Matsika, Ph.D.
Temple University
Christopher B. Murray, Ph.D.
University of Pennsylvania
Allen W. Nicholson, Ph.D.
Temple University
Sharon Rozovsky, Ph. D.
University of Delaware
Klaus H. Theopold, Ph.D.
University of Delaware
Civil and Mechanical Engineering
C. Nataraj, Ph.D., Chair
Villanova University
Richard R. Laverty, Ph.D., Vice Chair
The Boeing Company
John Bassani, Ph.D.
University of Pennsylvania
Gerard F. Jones, Ph.D.
Villanova University
Vijay Kumar, Ph.D.
University of Pennsylvania
Judith A. Todd, Ph.D.
The Pennsylvania State University
Bridget M. Wadzuk, Ph.D.
Villanova University
Wenqing Xu, Ph.D.
Villanova University
Computer and Cognitive Science
Mitchell P. Marcus, Ph.D., Chair
University of Pennsylvania
Camillo J. Taylor, Ph.D., Vice Chair
University of Pennsylvania
Helene Intraub, Ph.D.
University of Delaware
Jeremy R. Johnson, Ph.D.
Drexel University
Chandra Kambhamettu, Ph.D,
University of Delaware
Barbara C. Malt, Ph.D.
Lehigh University
Nora S. Newcombe, Ph.D.
Temple University
Charles Yang, Ph.D.
University of Pennsylvania
Earth and Environmental Science
David Velinsky, Ph.D., Chair
Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University
Peter S. Petraitis, Ph.D., Vice Chair
University of Pennsylvania
Douglas J. Jerolmack, Ph.D.
University of Pennsylvania
Kenneth P. Kodama, Ph.D.
Lehigh University
Robert W. Sanders, Ph.D.
Temple University
Laura E. Toran, Ph.D.
Temple University
Rodrigo Vargas, Ph. D.
University of Delaware
John F. Wehmiller, Ph.D.
University of Delaware
Electrical Engineering
Afshin S. Daryoush, Ph.D., Chair
Drexel University
Fauzia Ahmad, Ph.D., Vice Chair
Temple University
R. Barnett Adler, Ph.D., P.E.
PECO Energy, Retired
Ahmad Hoorfar, Ph.D.
Villanova University
Bahram Nabet, Ph.D.
Drexel University
Jan Van der Spiegel, Ph.D.
University of Pennsylvania
Life Science
Bradford A. Jameson, Ph.D., Chair
Drexel University College of Medicine
Maja Bucan, Ph.D., Vice Chair
Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
Nancy M. Bonini, Ph. D.
University of Pennsylvania
Frank A. Ferrone, Ph.D.
Drexel University
Yale Goldman, M.D., Ph.D.
Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
Janice Taylor Gordon, Ph.D.
Drexel University College of Medicine, Retired
Pamela J. Green, Ph.D.
University of Delaware
Salil Lachke, Ph. D.
University of Delaware
Leonard M. Rosenfeld, Ph.D.
Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University, Retired
Donald H. Silberberg, M.D.
Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
Physics
James J. Napolitano, Ph.D., Chair
Temple University
Peter J. Collings, Ph.D.
Swarthmore College
Martha Constantinou, Ph.D.
Temple University
Larry Gladney, Ph.D.
Yale University
Maria Iavarone, Ph.D.
Temple University
Karen L. Masters, Ph.D.
Haverford College
Krzysztof Szalewicz, Ph.D., D.Sc.
University of Delaware
Mark Trodden, Ph.D.
University of Pennsylvania
Arjun Yodh, Ph.D.
University of Pennsylvania
Consulting Members
Jane Clifford, Ph.D.
Drexel University College of Medicine
Hai-Lung Dai, Ph.D.
Temple University
Peter A. Lewin, Ph.D.
Drexel University
Maria Lopez de Murphy, Ph.D., P.E., FACI
Modjeski and Masters, Inc.
James J. Moskowitz
Recording Secretary
Arye Rosen, Ph.D., P.Eng.
Rowan University
Dario Salvucci, Ph.D.
Drexel University
Ex-Officio Members
Larry Dubinski
The Franklin Institute
Thomas J. Lynch
ADP
Cummins Inc.
Paul A. Offit, M.D.
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and University of Pennsylvania
Darryl N. Williams, Ph.D.
The Franklin Institute
Emeritus Members
Kenneth Abend, Ph.D.
Lambda Science, Inc.
Beth Adelson, Ph.D.
Rutgers University
Aline Akselrad, Ph.D.
AT&T Research Staff, Retired
Jim Shih-Jiun Chen, Ph.D.
Temple University
Stephen M. Copley, Ph.D.
The Pennsylvania State University
Dieter Forster, Ph.D.
Temple University
Henry M. Halpern
TechniCounseling
Stuart Pittel, Ph.D.
University of Delaware
Edward M. Sion, Ph.D.
Villanova University
Gino C. Segrè, Ph.D.
University of Pennsylvania
Brian J. Sullivan, Ph.D.
Materials Research & Design, Inc.
If you have questions, contact:
Beth Scheraga
Director, The Franklin Institute Awards
215.448.1329
bscheraga@fi.edu