The 2027 Bower Award and Prize for Achievement in Science
Theme: Innovative Chemistry for Better Batteries
Prize: $250,000 USD and 14-karat gold medal
Deadline for Submissions: June 1, 2026
The Franklin Institute seeks nominations for the 2027 Bower Award and Prize for Achievement in Science of individuals who have made significant contributions to the chemistry of modern batteries. Anthropogenic climate change is driving the rapid decarbonization of our energy infrastructure and transportation sectors. The attendant electrification of all manner of machines requires ever better methods for storing and delivering electrical energy. This space has been dominated by lithium-ion batteries, which depend on metal oxide cathodes, graphite anodes, and liquid organic electrolytes. Recent strides in battery development have seen improvements in terms of storage capacity, charging/discharging speed, lifetime, safety, sustainability, and cost. Nominations should recognize innovations of the chemical processes addressing these benchmarks. Nominations are encouraged in, but not limited to, the following areas:
- Solid-state batteries
- Novel electrode materials
- Alternatives to lithium-ion chemistry
Nominations should clearly indicate the scientific or engineering impact—innovative, technical, and/or conceptual—and the societal and/or economic impact of the nominee’s work.
Eligibility
- This is an international competition for individuals who have pioneered novel strategies for improving the chemistry underlying the storage of electrical energy in better batteries.
- As specified by the will of Henry Bower, this award and prize must be presented to an individual, not to a group.
- Candidates must be living, and the winner must participate in The Franklin Institute Awards Week programs, to be held in Spring 2027 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
- Nominations from any individual or organization will be accepted, including self-nominations.
- Nominations of candidates traditionally underrepresented in science and engineering are particularly encouraged.
Nomination Procedures
An email of intent to nominate would be appreciated by May 1, 2026.
Nominations must be submitted in English and must include:
- Name and contact information of nominee, including direct phone number
- Name and contact information of nominator
- Proposed award citation of 50 words or fewer, specifying the achievement(s) for which the candidate is nominated
- Narrative statement describing the nominee’s qualifications for the award, including technical contributions, impact on their field, and broader impact on science and society
- Nominee’s curriculum vitae and bibliography of up to 20 significant and relevant publications
- Four confidential letters of support. Letters must be requested by the nominator and sent by the letter writers directly to The Franklin Institute Awards Office (note that these letters are in addition to the nominator’s narrative statement).
All nominations and supporting letters should be emailed to:
Beth Scheraga
Director, The Franklin Institute Awards
bscheraga@fi.edu | 215.448.1329
The Franklin Institute Awards celebrates pioneering achievements in science, engineering, and industry and the brilliant people from across the globe who make them. As the oldest comprehensive science and technology awards program in the U.S., we honor the legacy of our namesake, Benjamin Franklin—America’s first great scientist and an inventor and statesman whose impact can be seen all around us today. Since 1824, we have recognized more than 2,000 of the most world-changing scientists, engineers, inventors, and industrialists—all of whom reflect Franklin’s spirit of curiosity, ingenuity, and innovation. Our roster of past laureates includes Nikola Tesla, Marie and Pierre Curie, J.J. Thomson, Thomas Edison, William Bragg, Albert Einstein, John Bardeen, Walter Brattain, Brian Josephson, Stephen Hawking, David Turnbull, Robert Grubbs, Barry Sharpless, Jane Goodall, George Whitesides, Louis Brus, Robert Langer, Mildred Dresselhaus, John Goodenough, Frances Arnold, Paula Hammond, and Naomi Halas.
The Bower Award and Prize for Achievement in Science, along with the Bower Award for Business Leadership, was established in 1990 through a bequest from Philadelphia chemical manufacturer and philanthropist Henry Bower (1896–1988). The award, 14k gold medal, and cash prize of $250,000 are presented annually to a distinguished member of the international scientific community for work in a prescribed discipline that changes each year. In addition to the Bower Awards, The Franklin Institute presents Benjamin Franklin Medals in 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, which honors an early-career researcher.