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Year
2006
Subject
Physics
Award
Benjamin Franklin Medal
Affiliation
University of Gottingen | Gottingen, Germany
Citation
With Giacinto Scoles, for the development of new techniques for studying molecules, including unstable species that could not be examined otherwise, by embedding them in extremely small and ultra-cold droplets of helium. Their work also led to a better understanding of the extraordinary properties of superfluid helium, such as its ability to flow without friction.
Year
1999
Subject
Physics
Award
Benjamin Franklin Medal
Affiliation
Advanced Research Laboratory of Hitachi, Ltd. | Tokyo, Japan
Citation
For the development of high brightness field-emission electron beam and high resolution electron holography interference microscope and the definitive verification of the Aharovov-Bohm effect of the vector potential on the phase of electron waves.
Year
2007
Subject
Physics
Award
Benjamin Franklin Medal
Affiliation
University of Tokyo | Tokyo, Japan
Citation
With Arthur McDonald, for discovering that the three known types of elementary particles called neutrinos change into one another when traveling over sufficiently long distances, and that neutrinos have mass.
Year
2018
Subject
Earth and Environmental Science
Award
Benjamin Franklin Medal
Affiliation
Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry │ Jena, Germany│ University of California, Irvine │ Irvine, California
Citation
For her pioneering use of radiocarbon measurements in forests and soils to assess the flow of carbon between the biosphere and atmosphere, with implications for the understanding of future climate change.
Year
1998
Subject
Physics
Award
Benjamin Franklin Medal
Affiliation
Princeton University | Princeton, NJ
Citation
To Tsui and Stormer for their experimental elucidation of the fractional quantum Hall effect, an extraordinary manifestation of the correlations in two-dimensional electronic systems, and to Laughlin for his creative theoretical formulation of the fractional quantum Hall effect, which identified a completely new quantum state of the highly correlated two-dimensional electron gas in magnetic field.
Year
2021
Subject
Earth and Environmental Science
Award
Benjamin Franklin Medal
Affiliation
University of Wisconsin–Madison │ Madison, Wisconsin
Citation
For her contributions to our understanding of how changes in large-scale patterns associated with natural processes, such as forest fires, and human activities, such as urbanization, can affect not only ecological systems but also the
social and economic well-being of society.
Year
2005
Subject
Earth and Environmental Science
Award
Benjamin Franklin Medal
Affiliation
Rice University | Houston, Texas
Citation
For his pioneering and innovative ideas for using seismic reflections to identify sequences of subsurface rock layers, greatly enhancing exploration for oil-containing rock. He also recognized that similar changes in the rock record appear worldwide and can be attributed to global changes in sea level, thus contributing to greater understanding of the earth's geological history.
Year
2001
Subject
Earth Science
Award
Benjamin Franklin Medal
Affiliation
University of Michigan | Ann Arbor, Michigan
Citation
For his contributions to field of paleomagnetism & reconstruction of continental positions
Year
2012
Subject
Computer and Cognitive Science
Award
Benjamin Franklin Medal
Affiliation
NEC Laboratories |
Princeton, New Jersey |
Royal Holloway, University of London |
London, United Kingdom |
Columbia University |
New York, New York
Citation
For his fundamental contributions to our understanding of machine learning, which allows computers to classify new data based on statistical models derived from earlier examples, and for his invention of widely used machine learning techniques.
Year
2005
Subject
Electrical Engineering
Award
Benjamin Franklin Medal
Affiliation
University of Southern California | Los Angeles, California
Citation
For developing an efficient technique, known as the Viterbi Algorithm, that has advanced the design and implementation of modern space and wireless communication systems, including cellular telephony and digital image transmission from the distant reaches of our solar system. In addition, Dr.Viterbi played a leading role in the development of Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) wireless technology, which allows multiple cellular phones to communicate effectively and simultaneously over a common frequency.
Year
2017
Subject
Life Science
Award
Benjamin Franklin Medal
Affiliation
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania │ Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Citation
For demonstrating the maternal inheritance of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) in humans, using mtDNA variation to reconstruct ancient human migrations, identifying the first mtDNA mutation associated with an inherited disease, and showing that mutant mtDNA can profoundly affect the nuclear genome, causing complex diseases, thereby leading the way to therapies for those diseases and the aging process.
Year
2014
Subject
Chemistry
Award
Benjamin Franklin Medal
Affiliation
Harvard Medical School |
Boston, Massachusetts
Citation
For seminal studies at the interface of chemistry, biology and medicine that revolutionized the development of antibiotics for the treatment of disease and provided the foundation for the new field of Chemical Biology.
Year
2022
Subject
Biomedical Engineering
Award
Benjamin Franklin Medal
Affiliation
The City College of New York │ New York, New York
Citation
For foundational contributions to our understanding of heat flow among arteries, veins, and capillaries in the body, increasing our knowledge of cardiovascular disease and leading to life-saving technologies.
Year
2022
Subject
Life Science
Award
Benjamin Franklin Medal
Affiliation
Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania │ Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Citation
With Katalin Karikó, for fundamental research enabling the use of mRNA as a safe, effective, and life-saving vaccine platform for the prevention of infectious disease, including COVID-19.
Year
2024
Subject
Computer and Cognitive Science
Award
Benjamin Franklin Medal
Affiliation
The University of British Columbia │ Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Citation
For charting how children learn the sounds of languages and how their brains change and adapt in critical ways as they do so. Her work helps us understand typical and atypical human development.
Year
2010
Subject
Electrical Engineering
Award
Benjamin Franklin Medal
Affiliation
Johns Hopkins University |
Baltimore, Maryland
Citation
With Gerhard M. Sessler, for the invention and development of the first practical electret microphone, which can inexpensively be made small enough to fit into cellular phones, digital cameras, and other portable devices.
Year
2007
Subject
Life Science
Award
Benjamin Franklin Medal
Affiliation
College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University | New York, New York
Citation
For her vital role in the discovery of the gene responsible for Huntington's disease. By leading combined efforts in human molecular genetics and neurosciences, Dr. Wexler established a model now used to investigate the genetic basis of inherited diseases.
Year
2009
Subject
Chemistry
Award
Benjamin Franklin Medal
Affiliation
Harvard University | Cambridge, Massachusetts
Citation
For his pioneering chemical research in the field of molecular self-assembly and his invention of rapid, innovative techniques for the inexpensive fabrication of ultra-small devices for practical use.
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.