CEREMONY & DINNER
2025
THE
MISSION OF THE FRANKLIN INSTITUTE
inspire a passion FOR LEARNING ABOUT SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY. IS TO
CEREMONY & DINNER
THURSDAY, MAY 1, 2025
5:30 pm
Cocktail Reception Body Odyssey and Bartol Atrium
7:00 pm
Awards Ceremony
Benjamin Franklin National Memorial
Simulcast of Ceremony
The Eatery and Bartol Atrium
CEREMONY HOSTS
Derrick Pitts, Hon.D. Chief Astronomer, The Franklin Institute
Larry Dubinski President and CEO, The Franklin Institute
James F. Dever, Jr. President, Bank of America Greater Philadelphia
Thomas J. Lynch Chair of the Board, The Franklin Institute
8:30 pm
Dinner
Museum Galleries
9:30 pm
Dessert Reception Body Odyssey, Bartol Atrium
As the oldest comprehensive science and technology awards program in the United States, The Franklin Institute Awards has honored more than 2,000 of the world’s most impactful scientists, engineers, inventors, and entrepreneurs since its inception in 1824. Celebrating extraordinary people who shape our world through their groundbreaking achievements is an important way the Institute honors our namesake, Benjamin Franklin. Our laureates stand among us as modern-day exemplars of Franklin, whose impact as a statesman, scientist, and inventor remains unmatched in American history.
The 200-year legacy of The Franklin Institute Awards practically documents the course of human discovery and innovation through the past two centuries— from the telegraph to the cell phone. The roster of previous laureates includes Nikola Tesla, Marie and Pierre Curie, Orville Wright, Thomas Edison, Albert Einstein, Edwin Hubble, Frank Lloyd Wright, Ruth Patrick, Jacques Cousteau, Stephen Hawking, Jane Goodall, Elizabeth Blackburn, Bill Gates, Dean Kamen, Cornelia Bargmann, Jim Allison, Frances Arnold, Katalin Karikó and Drew Weissman, Alex Gorsky, Paula Hammond, and Ken Frazier.
The 2025 program includes the Benjamin Franklin Medals in six fields of science and engineering and the Benjamin Franklin NextGen Award, supported by 21 endowed funds, and the Bower Awards for Achievement in Science and for Business Leadership. The Bower Awards are made possible through a bequest from the late Philadelphia chemical manufacturer Henry Bower, the grandson of a 19th century Franklin Institute laureate.
The Franklin Institute Awards Program is a fundamental part of the Institute’s mission to inspire a passion for learning about science and technology. By recognizing important advances and those who achieved them, the Institute highlights the profound impact science and technology have on our lives today and their incredible promise for the future.
For more information, please visit The Franklin Institute Awards website at www.fi.edu/awards.
2025 Franklin Institute Laureates
BOWER AWARD AND PRIZE FOR ACHIEVEMENT IN SCIENCE
Katharine N. Suding, Ph.D.
University of Colorado Boulder, Colorado
For making transformative contributions to restoration ecology by increasing our understanding of degraded ecosystems and their recovery dynamics. Her work addresses urgent environmental and societal challenges, and guides policies and practices of ecological restoration, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable ecosystem management.
I am incredibly honored to receive The Franklin Institute’s Bower Award. Ecosystem restoration is tasked with identifying nature-based solutions to complex environmental challenges facing the world today, a discipline that exemplifies Benjamin Franklin’s spirit of innovation and application. I acknowledge my amazing students, postdocs, and colleagues, as well as indispensable partnerships with restoration practitioners. This award is for them, for the field, and for everyone working to bring back nature.
—KATHARINE SUDING
BOWER AWARD FOR BUSINESS LEADERSHIP
Jamie Dimon
JPMorganChase
New York, New York
For his steadfast leadership in building JPMorganChase into a diversified global financial institution and his powerful advocacy on behalf of the American business community and its worldwide role and responsibilities.
I am deeply honored to receive The Franklin Institute’s Bower Award for Business Leadership, a symbol of the enduring values of freedom and independence that Benjamin Franklin championed. As a visionary leader and one of the Founding Fathers, Franklin's commitment to innovation, civic responsibility, and the pursuit of knowledge continues to inspire us today. In accepting this award, I am reminded of the importance of these principles in driving progress and fostering a society where opportunity and prosperity are accessible to all. It is with great pride and humility that I accept this recognition.
—JAMIE DIMON
2025 Franklin Institute Laureates
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN NEXTGEN AWARD
Muyinatu A. Lediju Bell, Ph.D.
Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, Maryland
For her contributions to the novel design of medical imaging systems involving ultrasound and light that make robotic and non-robotic guided surgery safer and more effective.
I’m deeply honored to receive this award with such great history and legacy, including legends who I read about in history books and some of the greatest modern pioneers of our time who I met or know in real life! Thanks to my late mother for all of her sacrifices that gave birth to this moment. Thanks to my family, educators, and friends who lovingly supported me along the way.
—MUYINATU BELL
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN MEDAL IN CHEMISTRY
Naomi J. Halas, Ph.D.
Rice University Houston, Texas
For the creation and development of nanoshells— metal-coated nanoscale particles that can capture light energy—for use in many biomedical and chemical applications.
Benjamin Franklin was truly an extraordinary role model as a bold and fearless scientist, along with his deep concern for the wellbeing of his fellow citizens. It is truly an honor to accept this award from The Franklin Institute, particularly on behalf of my many wonderful students and collaborators with whom I have had the honor to learn from and work with throughout my career.
—NAOMI HALAS
2025 Franklin Institute Laureates
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN MEDAL IN COMPUTER & COGNITIVE SCIENCE
William James Dally, Ph.D.
NVIDIA Santa Clara, California
Stanford University
Stanford, California
For his contributions to the design of affordable, high-performance, parallel computer systems, a core technology that has enabled the rapid advancement of Artificial Intelligence and other applications that require massive amounts of computation.
I am honored and delighted to receive the Benjamin Franklin Medal in Computer and Cognitive Science. Modern AI is built on the foundation of algorithms, data, and hardware. Decades of research on parallel computing and stream processing paved the way for GPUs that enabled existing algorithms and data sets to achieve superhuman results. Recent advances in GPUs power today’s language and diffusion models that enhance the human experience in many ways. We continue to refine AI hardware and software to empower people to achieve even greater things.
—WILLIAM DALLY
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN MEDAL IN ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING
Kurt Edward Petersen, Ph.D.
Silicon Valley Band of Angels
San Francisco, California
For his pioneering research and development of micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) technology—microscopic systems that merge mechanical and electrical parts—which has wideranging applications such as pacemakers, inkjet printers, optical projectors, and airbags.
As an inventor himself, Benjamin Franklin would be impressed to learn that a group of engineering misfits invented a new electro-mechanical engineering discipline for which you need a microscope to see your moving mechanical machines. Not only that, but many billions of these microscopic machines are manufactured every year and are used every day by nearly every person on the planet. I am honored to receive this award on behalf of all the MEMS engineering misfits who made this possible.
—KURT PETERSEN
2025 Franklin Institute Laureates
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN MEDAL IN LIFE SCIENCE
Steven M. Block, Ph.D.
Stanford University
Stanford, California
For leadership in developing methods and applications for nanoscale manipulations with light (“optical tweezers”) to elucidate biological mechanisms.
I accept with humility, in the realization that experimental science is a team enterprise. I’ve been blessed with some truly talented, hard-working students who made our joint success possible. I’ve also benefitted from a series of brilliant, accomplished mentors who nurtured my own career, plus a supportive family that held science in the highest regard. Benjamin Franklin is the Founding Father who most captivates my interest, adding a special meaning to this award.
—STEVEN BLOCK
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN MEDAL IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
John W. Hutchinson, Ph.D.
Harvard University
Cambridge, Massachusetts
For outstanding contributions in the development of theories of the stability and failure of materials and structures, which have had profound impact on critical technologies for aerospace, energy systems, and nanoscale materials.
As a boy growing up in New Jersey about 30 miles south of Philadelphia, I learned that Benjamin Franklin was a great American. Years ago, I read his autobiography of his younger years. Upon receiving the Franklin Medal, I read Isaacson’s biography of Franklin and only then realized all the truly remarkable contributions Benjamin Franklin made to our country and to science. I’m honored to be associated with his name.
—JOHN HUTCHINSON
2025 Franklin Institute Laureates
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN MEDAL IN PHYSICS
John P. Perdew, Ph.D.
Tulane University
New Orleans, Louisiana
For designing a method based on quantum mechanics that is widely used by researchers to computationally predict physical properties of atoms, molecules, fluids, and solids.
The Benjamin Franklin Medal in Physics is a high honor for the field of density functional theory, the users (theorists and experimentalists) in physics, chemistry, materials science, and geology, as well as the originators, my fellow developers, and the students who do the work. Benjamin Franklin was perhaps the first important American physicist, although he would not have recognized that term, and much of our modern world originates from his curiosity.
—JOHN PERDEW
AWARDS ENDOWMENTS
The Franklin Institute and its Committee on Science and the Arts are proud to celebrate pioneering excellence in science and technology. Since 1824, the Institute has selected individuals to receive premiums, certificates, and medals for outstanding scientific or technological accomplishments and inventions. The first award endowment was established in 1848 by Elliott Cresson, a life member of The Franklin Institute. The Benjamin Franklin Medalists’ Fund was established in 2017 by The Morel Family Foundation and provides honoraria for Benjamin Franklin Medalists and NextGen Awardees. We are deeply indebted to them and to the individuals whose generosity established the following funds that support the Benjamin Franklin Medals and the Bower Awards:
Stuart Ballantine Fund, 1946
Benjamin Franklin Medalists’ Fund, 2017
The Bower Fund, 1988
Boyden Premium Fund, 1859
Frank P. Brown Fund, 1938
Francis J. Clamer Fund, 1943
Walton Clark Fund, 1926
Bolton L. Corson Fund, 1975
George S. Crampton Fund, 1964
Elliott Cresson Fund, 1848
Delmer S. Fahrney Fund, 1975
The Franklin Fund, 1914
George R. Henderson Fund, 1924
C. Raymond Kraus Fund, 1995
Jonathan R. Lax Fund, 1997
Louis E. Levy Fund, 1923
Edward Longstreth Fund, 1890
Albert A. Michelson Fund, 1967
Howard N. Potts Fund, 1906
The Vermilye Fund, 1937
Philip H. Ward, Jr. Fund, 1965
John Price Wetherill Fund, 1925
2025 Sponsors & Donors
THE 2025 FRANKLIN INSTITUTE AWARDS CEREMONY
Awards Week Sponsors
JPMorganChase
Morgan Lewis
Marsha and Jeffrey Perelman
Associate Sponsors
Andrea W. and Kenneth C. Frazier Foundation
Cerity Partners, LLC
The Danaher Lynch Family Foundation
Michael DeSimone and Susan Hughes, M.D.
Essential Utilities
Awards Patrons
CitiusTech Inc.
The Dow Chemical Company
Eckert Seamans Cherin & Mellott, LLC
Freedom Mortgage
FS Investments
John Templeton Foundation
Lisa D. Kabnick and John H. McFadden
Awards Benefactors
Accenture
Hallee & David Adelman
AMETEK, Inc.
Asplundh Tree Expert, LLC
Athena Global Advisors
Jenny Hourihan Bailin & John Bailin
Fritz and Heather Bittenbender
Suzanne F. Boda
The Boeing Company
Maureen Brennan-Miller & David Miller
Anthony and Tara Bucci
Cigna
Comcast NBCUniversal
Connelly Foundation
Daniel J. Keating Company
Deloitte LLP
Chris & Irma Fralic
Independence Blue Cross
KPMG
Mill Creek Capital Advisors
Morel Family Foundation
PNC Bank
RushOrderTees
UST
Thomas and Linda McCarthy
The Moore Family
Noom
Penn Engineering
The Satell Family Foundation
Joan N. Stern, Esq.
Raj and Kamla Gupta
Barbara Klock, M.D. & Salem Shuchman
Leadership Solutions, Inc.
Liberty Coca-Cola
Ira Lubert and Pam Estadt
Marvin Samson Foundation
McKinsey & Co.
NJM Insurance
OliverWyman
PECO
Samuel P. Mandell Foundation, Miriam Mandell, Trustee
Saul Ewing LLP
Thomas Jefferson University
Unilog, Inc.
Karen Paul Zimmer, M.D., MPH and Norman M. Powell, Esq.
2024 Sponsors & Donors
Franklin Circle
Archer & Greiner
Alaina Brandon and Allan Kyle
Christine Clelland, M.D., MBA, FAAFP
Marci and Ian Comisky
Bill Curran
Mark and Tobey Dichter
Mimi Drake
Barbara Eberlein and Jerry Wind
Educational Opportunities, LLC
Essent Guaranty, Inc.
Karen A. Flynn
Elizabeth H. Gemmill
Martyn and Grete Greenacre
Thanuja Hamilton, M.D. and Nicholas Perugino
Laureate Circle
Ruzena Bajcsy, Ph.D.
Sandra K. Baldino
Roz Basra
Becker & Frondorf
Lawrence H. Berger
Dr. and Mrs. Wade H. Berrettini
Thomas A. Caramanico
Susan Coffin and Jonathan Zimmerman
Comcast Spectacor
Alice M. Dagit
E. Murdoch Family Foundation
First National Bank of Elmer
Bruce and Andrea Freundlich
Bob Gelsher
David and Jacqui Griffith
Dr. Frances Jensen and Mr. Jeffrey Berry
Stephen and Michelle Kelly
Jacqueline and Eric Kraeutler
Seth Lehr
Bret Logue and Samantha James
Dick and Sally Henriques
Hollie and Jamie Holt
Eunice and David King
Molly and Ken Lawrence
Charisse R. Lillie, Esq. and Thomas McGill
F. Douglas and Lisa Raymond
Louise H. Reed
Matt Taylor
Brandt Welker
Lyn Wiesinger
Michael and Monica Wondrasch
Richard and Diane Woosnam
Matthew and Jennifer Zelesko
Sandy and David Marshall
Pat and Marie McCormick
Karen and Handsel Minyard
Amanda B. Mucklé
Sandra L. Nesbitt
Drs. Bonnie and Paul Offit
Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau
Martin Phillips and Anmiryam Budner
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Cynthia D. Rugart
Eric Rugart
Eckart W. Schwarz, M.D.
Fred and Julie Singer
Stevens & Lee
Andrea Anania Stewart
Truist Financial Corporation
Robert Victor and Lexa Edsall
Andrew C. Wheeler
Ian Wright and Sheila Marie Brown
2025 Committee Listings
COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE AND THE ARTS SPONSORS
Fauzia Ahmad, Ph.D. for Muyinatu A. Lediju Bell, Ph.D.
Frank A. Ferrone, Ph.D. for Steven M. Block, Ph.D.
Christopher B. Murray, Ph.D. for Naomi J. Halas, Ph.D.
C. Nataraj, Ph.D. for John W. Hutchinson, Ph.D.
Peter S. Petraitis, Ph.D. for Katharine N. Suding, Ph.D.
Krzysztof Szalewicz, Ph.D., D.Sc. for John P. Perdew, Ph.D.
Camillo J. Taylor, Ph.D. for William James Dally, Ph.D.
Michael Useem, Ph.D. for Jamie Dimon
Jan Van der Spiegel, Ph.D. for Kurt Edward Petersen, Ph.D.
BOWER AWARD FOR BUSINESS LEADERSHIP SELECTION COMMITTEE
Michael Useem, Ph.D., Chair
Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Larry Dubinski
The Franklin Institute Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Chris Fralic
Member, The Franklin Institute Board of Trustees First Round Capital Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Kenneth C. Frazier
2023 Bower Award for Business Leadership Merck & Co., Inc., Retired Kenilworth, New Jersey General Catalyst New York, New York
William W. George 2014 Bower Award for Business Leadership Harvard Business School Boston, Massachusetts
Alex Gorsky
2022 Bower Award for Business Leadership Johnson & Johnson, Retired New Brunswick, New Jersey
Rajiv L. Gupta
Johns Hopkins Gupta-Klinsky India Institute Baltimore, Maryland
Rohm and Haas Company, Retired Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Thomas J. Lynch
Chair, The Franklin Institute Board of Trustees
TE Connectivity, Retired Berwyn, Pennsylvania Chair, ADP Roseland, New Jersey Cummins Inc. Columbus, Indiana
F. William McNabb III Vanguard, Retired Valley Forge, Pennsylvania
Donald E. Morel, Jr., Ph.D.
Chair Emeritus, The Franklin Institute Board of Trustees West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc., Retired Exton, Pennsylvania
Anne M. Mulcahy
2018 Bower Award for Business Leadership Xerox Corporation, Retired Norwalk, Connecticut
Indra K. Nooyi
2019 Bower Award for Business Leadership PepsiCo, Retired Purchase, New York
Lisa Su, Ph.D.
2024 Bower Award for Business Leadership AMD Austin, Texas
Darryl N. Williams, Ph.D.
The Franklin Institute Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
2024 Committee Listings
Paul A. Offit, M.D., Chair
Member, The Franklin Institute Board of Trustees
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
James Aronson, Ph.D.
Ecological Health Network Cambridge, Massachusetts
Missouri Botanical Garden St. Louis, Missouri
Jos Barlow, Ph.D. Lancaster University Lancaster, United Kingdom
Marc Cadotte, Ph.D. University of Toronto Scarborough Scarborough, Ontario, Canada
James A. Harris, Ph.D. Cranfield University Cranfield, United Kingdom
Cara R. Nelson, Ph.D. University of Montana Missoula, Montana
Anna Traveset, Ph.D.
Spanish Research Council Esporles, Majorca, Spain
Peter S. Petraitis, Ph.D., Chair*
Planning Chair, Committee on Science and the Arts Vice Chair, Committee on Science and the Arts Earth and Environmental Science Cluster University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Kenneth P. Kodama, Ph.D.*
Lehigh University Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Robert W. Sanders, Ph.D.* Temple University Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Laura E. Toran, Ph.D.* Temple University Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Rodrigo Vargas, Ph.D.* University of Delaware Newark, Delaware
David Velinsky, Ph.D.* Chair, Committee on Science and the Arts Earth and Environmental Science Cluster Drexel University Academy of Natural Sciences Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
John F. Wehmiller, Ph.D.* University of Delaware Newark, Delaware
*Member, The Franklin Institute Committee on Science and the Arts
Award selection committees are independent and unaffiliated with event committees and fundraising initiatives. Sponsorships are sought only after the laureates have been selected. All lists as of April 7, 2025.
2025 Committee Listings
COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE AND THE ARTS
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
Joseph S. Francisco, Ph.D., Sc.D.
Marsha I. Lester, Ph.D.
Spiridoula Matsika, Ph.D.
Christopher B. Murray, Ph.D.
Allen W. Nicholson, Ph.D.
Sharon Rozovsky, Ph.D.
Klaus H. Theopold, Ph.D.
CIVIL AND MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
C. Nataraj, Ph.D., Chair
Richard R. Laverty, Ph.D., Vice Chair
John L. Bassani, Ph.D.
Gerard F. Jones, Ph.D.
Vijay Kumar, Ph.D.
Judith A. Todd, Ph.D.
Bridget Wadzuk, Ph.D.
Wenqing Xu, Ph.D.
COMPUTER AND COGNITIVE SCIENCE
Mitchell P. Marcus, Ph.D., Chair
Camillo J. Taylor, Ph.D., Vice Chair
Helene Intraub, Ph.D.
Jeremy R. Johnson, Ph.D.
Chandra Kambhamettu, Ph.D.
Barbara C. Malt, Ph.D.
Nora S. Newcombe, Ph.D.
Charles Yang, Ph.D.
EARTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
David Velinsky, Ph.D., Chair
Peter S. Petraitis, Ph.D., Vice Chair
Donald C. Barber, Ph.D.
Douglas J. Jerolmack, Ph.D.
Kenneth P. Kodama, Ph.D.
ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING
Afshin S. Daryoush, Ph.D., Chair
Fauzia Ahmad, Ph.D., Vice Chair
R. Barnett Adler, Ph.D., P.E.
Nidhal Carla Bouaynaya, Ph.D.
Minjie Chen, Ph.D.
Ahmad Hoorfar, Ph.D.
Robert W. Sanders, Ph.D.
Laura E. Toran, Ph.D.
Rodrigo Vargas, Ph.D.
Jessica M. Warren, Ph.D.
John F. Wehmiller, Ph.D.
Bahram Nabet, Ph.D.
Laleh Najafizadeh, Ph.D.
Roy H. Olsson, Ph.D.
Grant E. Pitel, Ph.D.
Jan Van der Spiegel, Ph.D.
2024 Committee Listings
COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE AND THE ARTS (CONTINUED)
LIFE SCIENCE
Bradford A. Jameson, Ph.D., Chair
Maja Bucan, Ph.D., Vice Chair
Nancy M. Bonini, Ph.D.
Frank A. Ferrone, Ph.D.
Yale Goldman, M.D., Ph.D.
PHYSICS
James J. Napolitano, Ph.D., Chair
Peter J. Collings, Ph.D.
Martha Constantinou, Ph.D.
Larry Gladney, Ph.D.
Maria Iavarone, Ph.D.
EMERITI MEMBERS
Kenneth Abend, Ph.D.
Beth Adelson, Ph.D.
Aline Akselrad, Ph.D.
Jim Shih-Jiun Chen, Ph.D.
Stephen M. Copley, Ph.D.
Dieter Forster, Ph.D.
CONSULTING MEMBERS
Jane Clifford, Ph.D.
Hai-Lung Dai, Ph.D.
Peter A. Lewin, Ph.D.
Maria Lopez de Murphy, Ph.D., P.E., FACI
EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS
Larry Dubinski
Thomas J. Lynch
Janice Taylor Gordon, Ph.D.
Pamela J. Green, Ph.D.
Salil A. Lachke, Ph.D.
Leonard M. Rosenfeld, Ph.D.
Donald H. Silberberg, M.D.
Karen L. Masters, Ph.D.
Gene Mele, Ph.D.
Krzysztof Szalewicz, Ph.D., D.Sc.
Mark Trodden, Ph.D.
Arjun Yodh, Ph.D.
Henry M. Halpern
Stuart Pittel, Ph.D.
Gino C. Segrè, Ph.D.
Edward M. Sion, Ph.D.
Brian J. Sullivan, Ph.D.
James J. Moskowitz
Arye Rosen, Ph.D., P.Eng.
Dario Salvucci, Ph.D.
Paul A. Offit, M.D.
Darryl N. Williams, Ph.D.
2024 Committee Listings
2025 Committee Listings
AWARDS CORPORATE COMMITTEE
Jami McKeon, Chair Morgan Lewis
Dave Greed, Vice Chair KPMG
Schnearia Ashley Truist Financial Corporation
Steven Asplundh Asplundh Tree Expert, LLC
Renee B. Booth, Ph.D. Leadership Solutions, Inc.
Geoff Cook Noom
Caroline DeMarco Genentech
James F. Dever, Jr. Bank of America
Mimi Drake Cerity Partners, LLC
Michael Forman FS Investments
Chris Fralic First Round Capital
Dan Hilferty Comcast Spectacor
Dixie James Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals
Lisa D. Kabnick Retired, Troutman Pepper
Joe Meterchick PNC Bank
Bob Moore Crossbeam
AWARDS HOST COMMITTEE
Barbara Klock, M.D., Co-Chair
Salem Shuchman, Co-Chair
Jenny Hourihan Bailin and John Bailin
Sandra K. Baldino
Allen and Marsha Barnett
Roz Basra
Christine and Wade Berrettini
Heather and Fritz Bittenbender
Maureen Brennan-Miller and David Miller
Christine Clelland, M.D., MBA, FAAFP
Marci and Ian Comisky
Alice M. Dagit
Michael DeSimone and Susan Hughes, M.D.
James F. Dever, Jr. and Lynn G. Dever, M.D.
Lorraine Dziepak
Barbara Eberlein and Jerry Wind
Jennifer and Chris Franklin
Andrea and Bruce Freundlich
Grete and Martyn Greenacre
Mimi T. Greenly
Jacqui and David Griffith
Thanuja Hamilton, M.D. and Nicholas Perugino
Linda Hauptfuhrer
Sally and Dick Henriques
Hollie and Jamie Holt
Jacqueline and Eric Kraeutler
Molly and Ken Lawrence
Charisse R. Lillie and Thomas McGill
Bret Logue
Amy MacIntyre, M.D. and Bryan MacIntyre
Sandy and David Marshall
Thomas and Linda McCarthy
Marie McCormick, Ph.D. and Patrick McCormick
Leanne M. and Rob McMenamin
Karen F. Minyard
Amanda B. Mucklé
Denise and John Philipp
Cynthia D. Rugart
Eric Rugart
Eckart W. Schwarz, M.D.
Melissa and Tom Trala
Brandt Welker
Lyn Wiesinger
Monica and Michael Wondrasch
Karen Paul Zimmer, M.D., MPH
2025 Partners & Sponsors
EVENT PARTNERS
Affairs to be Remembered
Black Tie Entertainment Group
Brilliant Graphics
IMS Technology Services
Hangups by Sandy
SYMPOSIUM SPONSORS
IEEE Philadelphia Section
Temple University
College of Engineering
University of Pennsylvania
Department of Biology
Department of Chemistry
Savaria Photography LLC
Seravezza Events
SP+ A Metropolis Company
Thorne Media
Department of Electrical and Systems Engineering
Department of Physiology, Perelman School of Medicine
LRSM: The Laboratory for Research on the Structure of Matter, an NSF-funded Materials Research Science and Engineering Center
Penn Engineering
Penn Plant Adaptability and Resilience Center (PlantARC)
Pennsylvania Muscle Institute, Perelman School of Medicine
VIEST: The Vagelos Institute for Energy Science and Technology
Villanova University
College of Engineering
LAUREATE PROFILE VIDEOS
PRODUCED BY
Thorne Media, LLC
PRODUCERS
Steve Thorne
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WRITERS
Steve Thorne
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DIRECTOR
Steve Thorne
EDITOR / MOTION GRAPHICS
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3D MODELING AND ANIMATION
Aidan Dougher
Jesse Kinnamon
Monty Robinson
CINEMATOGRAPHY
Christopher Bradley
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James Chance
Maximum Collins
Kyle Gisburne
John Rockovich
Zachary Lawson
Jack Haston
Aaron Leong
Robert Macias
Steve Pitre
Franklin Institute Leadership
Thomas J. Lynch
Chair, Board of Trustees
Hallee Adelman
Vince Amatulli
Suchit Bachalli
Sandra K. Baldino
Suzanne Boda
Renee B. Booth, Ph.D.
Lynn Breen
Maureen Brennan-Miller
Anthony Bucci
Tom Caramanico
Peter K. Classen
Geoff Cook
Michael Corrigan
Mark Dichter
Julia Dranoff
Karen A. Flynn
Chris Fralic
Christopher Franklin
Elizabeth H. Gemmill
Joshua S. Gross
Sam M.V. Hamilton, III
Alexandra Kim Hay
Richard Henriques
Chairs Emeriti
Donald E. Morel, Jr., Ph.D.
Marsha R. Perelman
Ex-Officio Members
Larry Dubinski President and CEO
William R. Hite, Jr., Ed.D.
Mike Innocenzo
Frances E. Jensen, M.D., FACP
Stephen E. Kelly
Obra Kernodle, IV
Barbara A. Klock, M.D.
Nyla Koncurat
Charisse R. Lillie, Esq.
Miriam G. Mandell
Sandra G. Marshall
Chris McIsaac
Robert S. McMenamin
Mike Middleman
Robert J. Moore
Donald E. Morel, Jr., Ph.D.
Michael J. Nemeroff
Paul Offit, MD
F. Douglas Raymond
Joan N. Stern, Esq.
Andrea Stewart
Harold L. Yoh, III
Matthew Zelesko
Karen Paul Zimmer, M.D., MPH
James A. Unruh
The Honorable Josh Shapiro Governor, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
The Honorable Cherelle L. Parker Mayor, City of Philadelphia Representative: Debora Carrera Ed.D. Chief Education Officer
The Honorable Kenyatta Johnson President, Philadelphia City Council
The Honorable Nina Ahmad, Ph.D. Councilmember-At-Large, Philadelphia City Council
Franklin Institute Senior Staff
Larry Dubinski President and CEO
Darryl Williams, Ph.D.
Senior Vice President of Science, Education, and Human Resources
Abby Bysshe
Chief Experience and Strategy Officer
Keith Doughty Vice President of Finance
Maria Iavarone, Ph.D. Chair, Committee on Science and the Arts
Tony B. Watlington Sr., Ed.D. Superintendent, The School District of Philadelphia
Ian Wright Chair, Executive Corporate Board
Mark Harmon Vice President of Operations
Christopher Rizzo
Vice President of Business Operations
Rebekah Sassi Vice President of External Affairs