HONORING GLOBAL PIONEERS ACROSS SCIENCE, ENGINEERING, AND BUSINESS IN PHILADELPHIA, MAY 1, 2025
Press Kit: 2025 Franklin Awards
PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 6, 2025 -- The Franklin Institute has announced the honorees of the 2025 Franklin Institute Awards. Among the 2025 recipients are Muyinatu Bell, Ph.D. of Johns Hopkins, the NextGen Awardee revolutionizing robotic surgery through cutting-edge medical imaging, William Dally, Ph.D., Chief Scientist at NVIDIA, whose advances in high-performance computing have accelerated the rapid rise of AI, and Jamie Dimon, for his leadership as Chairman and CEO of JPMorganChase, and his powerful advocacy for the role and responsibility of business in society.
The achievements of the nine laureates will be celebrated in Philadelphia beginning April 28, culminating in a ceremony hosted by Chief Astronomer Derrick Pitts on May 1, 2025, at the Benjamin Franklin National Memorial of The Franklin Institute.
"Recognizing extraordinary breakthroughs in science and technology and outstanding business leadership is instrumental in inspiring the next generation of great innovators," said Larry Dubinski, President and CEO of The Franklin Institute. "These are some of the greatest minds and most influential pioneers of our time who come to Philadelphia to receive this honor and inspire us all."
The Franklin Institute Awards continue a two-hundred-year legacy of recognizing transformative contributions that drive progress and inspire future innovators. Since its inception, the Program has honored the most influential scientists, engineers, and inventors who have significantly advanced science and technology. The roster of more than 2,000 laureates includes luminaries such as Nikola Tesla, Marie and Pierre Curie, Orville Wright, Thomas Edison, Albert Einstein, Jane Goodall, Stephen Hawking, and more recently, vaccine pioneers Kizzmekia Corbett, Drew Weissman, and Katalin Karikó. Notably, 128 of these laureates have also received the Nobel Prize.
"The legacy of The Franklin Institute Awards recognizes some of the most epic milestones in human innovation, from the development of the typewriter to the dawn of quantum computing, from the diesel engine to the Mars Rover, and from X-rays to genome editing," said Dr. Darryl Williams, Senior Vice President of Science, Education, and HR at The Franklin Institute. "The program has become a symbol of excellence in innovation, inspiring future generations to push the boundaries of possibility."
The 2025 Franklin Institute Awards Laureates
Bower Award and Prize for Achievement in Science
Katharine N. Suding, Ph.D., University of Colorado
For transformative contributions to restoration ecology, advancing 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.
Bower Award for Business Leadership
Jamie Dimon, JPMorganChase
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.
Benjamin Franklin NextGen Award
Muyinatu A. Lediju Bell, Ph.D., Johns Hopkins University
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.
Benjamin Franklin Medal in Chemistry
Naomi J. Halas, Ph.D., Rice University
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 Medal in Computer and Cognitive Science
William James Dally, Ph.D., NVIDIA & Stanford University
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.
Benjamin Franklin Medal in Electrical Engineering
Kurt Edward Petersen, Ph.D., Silicon Valley Band of Angels
For his pioneering research and development of micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) technology—microscopic systems that merge mechanical and electrical parts—which has wide-ranging applications such as pacemakers, inkjet printers, optical projectors, and airbags.
Benjamin Franklin Medal in Life Science
Steven M. Block, Ph.D., Stanford University
For leadership in developing methods and applications for nanoscale manipulations with light ("optical tweezers") to elucidate biological mechanisms.
Benjamin Franklin Medal in Mechanical Engineering
John W. Hutchinson, Ph.D., Harvard University
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.
Benjamin Franklin Medal in Physics
John P. Perdew, Ph.D., Tulane University
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.
Bank of America returns in 2025 as the Presenting Sponsor of the Awards Ceremony and Dinner for the 23rd consecutive year. Awards Week Sponsors include JPMorganChase, Morgan Lewis, Marsha and Jeffrey Perelman. For more information about The Franklin Institute Awards Program and the 2025 laureates, please visit https://fi.edu/en/awards.
About The Franklin Institute
Located in the heart of Philadelphia, The Franklin Institute is a leading science museum dedicated to inspiring a passion for science and technology through interactive exhibits and impactful educational programs. As one of the earliest centers for science education and development in the country, The Franklin Institute continues to honor excellence in scientific achievement through its annual Franklin Institute Awards Program.
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