Committee on Science & the Arts

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

Jim Shih-Jiun Chen, Ph.D., Vice Chair
Temple University

John Bassani, Ph.D.
University of Pennsylvania

Gerard F. Jones, Ph.D.
Villanova University

Vijay Kumar, Ph.D.
University of Pennsylvania

Richard R. Laverty, Ph.D.
The Boeing Company

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

Sharon Thompson-Schill, Ph.D.
University of Pennsylvania

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

Ted Daeschler, Ph.D.
Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University

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

Larry Gladney, Ph.D., Chair
Yale University

James J. Napolitano, Ph.D., Vice Chair
Temple University

Peter J. Collings, Ph.D.
Swarthmore College

Martha Constantinou, Ph.D.
Temple University

Torgny Gustafsson, Ph.D.
Rutgers University

Maria Iavarone, Ph.D.
Temple University

Karen L. Masters, Ph.D.
Haverford College

Edward M. Sion, Ph.D.
Villanova University

Krzysztof Szalewicz, Ph.D., D.Sc.
University of Delaware

Mark Trodden
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.

Carl O. Moses, Ph.D.
Grand View University

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
TE Connectivity
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

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

Roy F. Privett, P.E.
Hitech Associates, Retired

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