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Year
2002
Subject
Chemistry
Award
Benjamin Franklin Medal
Affiliation
University of Georgia at Athens | Athens, Georgia
Citation
For his pioneering work in computational chemistry, his seminal contributions to the development of the molecular mechanics series of force fields, their widespread application to the fundamental understanding of molecular structure and energetics, and their implementation as a significant tool to practicing chemists.
Year
2019
Subject
Life Science
Award
Benjamin Franklin Medal
Affiliation
University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center │ Houston, Texas
Citation
For furthering our understanding of the body’s immune system, and for conceiving and developing a new therapeutic approach that uses the immune system to successfully treat cancer.
Year
2008
Subject
Life Science
Award
Benjamin Franklin Medal
Affiliation
University of Massachusetts Medical School | Worcester, Massachusetts
Citation
With Gary Ruvkun and David Baulcombe, for their discovery of small RNAs that turn off genes. Their pioneering work initiated a paradigm shift in our perception of the ways genes are regulated, and this insight is making possible major new genetic tools for basic research, and for improving agriculture and human health.
Year
2011
Subject
Computer and Cognitive Science
Award
Benjamin Franklin Medal
Affiliation
Carnegie Mellon University |
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Citation
For the development of the first large-scale computational theory of the process by which humans perceive, learn and reason, and its application to computer tutoring systems.
Year
2003
Subject
Electrical Engineering
Award
Benjamin Franklin Medal
Affiliation
Shannon Laboratories | Florham Park, New Jersey
Citation
For his important work on voice coding, including the concept of speech analysis-by-synthesis coding, leading to the CELP (Code-excited Linear Predictive) Coder.
Year
2016
Subject
Earth and Environmental Science
Award
Benjamin Franklin Medal
Affiliation
U. S. Geological Survey, Seattle Field Office, University of Washington │ Seattle, Washington
Citation
For his pioneering studies of coastal sedimentary records, which revealed a history of great earthquakes and tsunamis in the Pacific Northwest over millennia and led to a vastly improved understanding of these hazards globally.
Year
2004
Subject
Mechanical Engineering
Award
Benjamin Franklin Medal
Affiliation
Retired | Oberlin, Ohio
Citation
For his fundamental research on the production of graphite whiskers and the determination of their microstructure and properties, for his pioneering development efforts in the production of the world's first continuously processed carbon fibers and the world's first high modulus, high strength carbon fibers using rayon precursors, and for his contributions to the development of carbon fibers from alternative starting materials.
Year
2009
Subject
Computer and Cognitive Science
Award
Benjamin Franklin Medal
Affiliation
Center for Information Technology Research in the Interest of Science (CITRIS) | University of California, Berkeley| California, Berkeley
Citation
For contributions to robotics and computer vision, specifically the development of active perception and the creation of methods to improve our understanding of medical images.
Year
2011
Subject
Earth and Environmental Science
Award
Benjamin Franklin Medal
Affiliation
University of California, Berkeley |
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory |
Berkeley, California
Citation
For discovering the underlying principles of mineral formation and alteration by microbes, which are critical to understanding the form, composition, and distribution of minerals in the presence of living organisms.
Year
2015
Subject
Life Science
Award
Benjamin Franklin Medal
Affiliation
Howard Hughes Medical Institute │ The Rockefeller University │ New York, New York
Citation
For her contributions to neurobiology that have led to major discoveries elucidating the relationship between genes, neurons, neural circuits, and behavior.
Year
2008
Subject
Life Science
Award
Benjamin Franklin Medal
Affiliation
University of Cambridge | Cambridge, United Kingdom
Citation
With Gary Ruvkun and Victor Ambros, for their discovery of small RNAs that turn off genes. Their pioneering work initiated a paradigm shift in our perception of the ways genes are regulated, and this insight is making possible major new genetic tools for basic research, and for improving agriculture and human health.
Year
2018
Subject
Mechanical Engineering
Award
Benjamin Franklin Medal
Affiliation
Duke University │ Durham, North Carolina
Citation
For his pioneering interdisciplinary contributions in thermodynamics and convection heat transfer that have improved the performance of engineering systems, and for constructal theory, which predicts natural design and its evolution in engineering, scientific, and social systems.
Year
2009
Subject
Life Science
Award
Benjamin Franklin Medal
Affiliation
The Pennsylvania State University | University Park, Pennsylvania
Citation
For his groundbreaking contributions to our mechanistic understanding of enzymes, and for helping to unravel the complexities of the enzymes involved in DNA replication.
Year
2013
Subject
Earth and Environmental Science
Award
Benjamin Franklin Medal
Affiliation
Yale University |
New Haven, Connecticut
Citation
For deepening our understanding of the Earth system through studies of the chemistry of geologic processes and their influence on the atmosphere and oceans.
Year
2007
Subject
Chemistry
Award
Benjamin Franklin Medal
Affiliation
Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Cambridge, Massachusetts
Citation
For his pioneering achievements in developing the chemical analysis tool of mass spectrometry and using it to determine the structure of complex molecules of biological and medical interest.
Year
2005
Subject
Life Science
Award
Benjamin Franklin Medal
Affiliation
University of California, San Francisco | San Francisco, California
Citation
For her advancements in understanding how the cell preserves the ends of chromosomes--telomeres--while replicating its DNA. Her breakthroughs in understanding the protective role of telomeres have increased our understanding of aging and cancer.
Year
2024
Subject
Mechanical Engineering
Award
Benjamin Franklin Medal
Affiliation
Columbia University │ New York, New York
Citation
For transformative contributions to our understanding of the physical behavior of polymers, materials made of long chains of molecules, leading to innovative product development of rubber and other soft materials.
Year
2008
Subject
Earth and Environmental Science
Award
Benjamin Franklin Medal
Affiliation
Columbia University | New York, New York
Citation
For pioneering research leading to an understanding of the ocean's influence on climate change. His work led to the successful development of a comprehensive picture of ocean circulation and its role in both past and future environmental change.
Notes:
- "Franklin" Medals are not the same as "Benjamin Franklin" Medals. The Benjamin Franklin Medal was initiated in 1998 to represent the combined legacies of several historic medals, including the Franklin Medal.
- The Scott Medal is awarded by the City of Philadelphia. Prior to 1920, the Institute's Committee on Science and the Arts selected the medalists and the Scott Medals were presented on Awards Day at The Franklin Institute.
- For more information about The Franklin Institute Awards program, contact the Awards Program Director at awards@fi.edu.