Since 1824, The Franklin Institute of Philadelphia has honored the legacy of Benjamin Franklin by presenting awards for outstanding achievements in science, engineering, and industry. As the oldest comprehensive science and technology awards program in the United States, The Franklin Institute Awards Program has recognized more than 2,000 of the most pioneering scientists, engineers, inventors, and innovators from across the globe. Its history documents the course of human discovery and advancement through the past two centuries—from the diesel engine to the Mars rover, from the typewriter to the cell phone, and from x-ray technology to genome editing. Previous laureates include Nikola Tesla, Thomas Edison, Pierre and Marie Curie, Max Planck, Orville Wright, Albert Einstein, Edwin Hubble, Frank Lloyd Wright, Ruth Patrick, Jacques Cousteau, Stephen Hawking, Martin Rees, Gordon Moore, Shuji Nakamura, Jane Goodall, Elizabeth Blackburn, Bill Gates, Jim West and Gerhard Sessler, Cornelia Bargmann, John Goodenough, Jim Allison, and Frances Arnold. The Franklin Institute Awards presents the Benjamin Franklin Medals, the Benjamin Franklin NextGen Award, the Bower Award and Prize for Achievement in Science, and the Bower Award for Business Leadership.
The 2023 Franklin Institute Awards Laureates
The Franklin Institute congratulates The Franklin Institute Awards Class of 2023!
Deb Niemeier, P.E., Ph.D., NAE, 2023 Bower Award and Prize for Achievement in Science
Kenneth C. Frazier, 2023 Bower Award for Business Leadership
Monika Schleier-Smith, Ph.D., 2023 Benjamin Franklin NextGen Award
Richard N. Zare, Ph.D., 2023 Benjamin Franklin Medal in Chemistry
Barbara H. Liskov, Ph.D., 2023 Benjamin Franklin Medal in Computer and Cognitive Science
R. Lawrence Edwards, Ph.D., 2023 Benjamin Franklin Medal in Earth and Environmental Science
Nader Engheta, Ph.D., 2023 Benjamin Franklin Medal in Electrical Engineering
Elaine Fuchs, Ph.D., 2023 Benjamin Franklin Medal in Life Science
Philip Kim, Ph.D., 2023 Benjamin Franklin Medal in Physics
Now in its 199th year, The Franklin Institute Awards pays tribute to our namesake and America’s first citizen scientist, Benjamin Franklin, by honoring the greatest minds in science, engineering, and industry. Our newest laureates have made us safer, healthier, and more connected. Their work helps us understand the world around us, from the fastest chemical reactions to geologic time. They are mentors and role models for the next generation of trailblazers. They are creating a better future for us all.
The Franklin Institute Awards Ceremony and Dinner was held on April 27, 2023. View the ceremony video here.
The Franklin Institute Awards Ceremony & Dinner is presented by
Call for Nominations
The Franklin Institute is currently accepting nominations for the Benjamin Franklin Medals, the Bower Award and Prize for Achievement in Science, and the Bower Award for Business Leadership.
Awards Video Library
View each year’s Franklin Institute Awards Ceremony and learn about the laureates and their incredible work. Videos are presented in collections by year.
Looking for a specific laureate or subject? Check out the laureate search. Video profiles can be found on each laureate’s bio page.
Open the Case Files: A Unique Repository in the History of Science and Technology
As the documentary record of The Franklin Institute Awards program, the Case Files are filled with stories of scientific enterprise.
The long, distinguished history of The Franklin Institute Awards Program dates back to 1824, when the Institute was founded by a group of leading Philadelphians to train artisans and mechanics in the fundamentals of science.