The Franklin Institute is pleased to present a series of informative and engaging in-person, hybrid, and virtual events highlighting our 2024 laureates. All times listed are Eastern Time (ET).
Note: Times listed for symposia and seminars are program start times. Many in-person programs offer refreshments and a registration period prior to the listed time. Please refer to the event website or flyer for details.
Wednesday, April 10, 2024
4:00–5:00 PM
HYBRID EVENT
IT’S TOO LATE TO MITIGATE: RESILIENCE & ADAPTATION IN PLANTS
Laureate address by Joanne Chory, recipient of the 2024 Benjamin Franklin Medal in Life Science (pre-recorded address with live virtual Q&A)
Featuring:
Joanne Chory, Ph.D., Laureate
The Salk Institute for Biological Studies
Location:
University of Pennsylvania
Levin Auditorium
425 S University Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Price: Free
Sponsored by The Franklin Institute, the University of Pennsylvania Department of Biology, and the University of Delaware Department of Plant and Soil Sciences
7:00–8:00 PM
VIRTUAL EVENT
UNITED IN STEM: BREAKING BARRIERS AND BUILDING BRIDGES
TFI Chief Bioscientist Jayatri Das in conversation with Gabriela Schlau-Cohen, recipient of the 2024 Benjamin Franklin NextGen Award; Paula Hammond, recipient of the 2024 Benjamin Franklin Medal in Chemistry; Janet Werker, recipient of the 2024 Benjamin Franklin Medal in Computer and Cognitive Science; Joanne Chory, recipient of the 2024 Benjamin Franklin Medal in Life Science; and Mary Boyce, recipient of the 2024 Benjamin Franklin Medal in Mechanical Engineering
Featuring:
Mary C. Boyce, Ph.D., Laureate
Columbia University
Joanne Chory, Ph.D., Laureate
The Salk Institute for Biological Studies
Paula T. Hammond, Ph.D., Laureate
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Gabriela S. Schlau-Cohen, Ph.D., Laureate
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Janet F. Werker, Ph.D., O.C., FRSC, Laureate
The University of British Columbia
Jayatri Das, Ph.D., Moderator
The Franklin Institute
Price: Free
Hosted by The Franklin Institute
Tuesday, April 16, 2024
6:30–7:30 PM
IN-PERSON EVENT
SCIENCE & COOKING
David Weitz, recipient of the 2024 Bower Award and Prize for Achievement in Science, joins forces with James Beard Award-winning chef Chutatip "Nok" Suntaranon, founder of Kalaya, for an exclusive event exploring the scientific basis of why recipes work.
Featuring:
David A. Weitz, Ph.D., Laureate
Harvard University
Chutatip "Nok" Suntaranon, Chef
Kalaya
Location:
The Franklin Institute
222 N 20th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Price: $10/$5 for members
Hosted by The Franklin Institute
Wednesday, April 17, 2024
8:30–11:30 AM
IN-PERSON EVENT
THE PHYSICS OF SOFT MATTER: SELF-ASSEMBLING, RESPONSIVE, SMART (AND SQUISHY!)
Laureate symposium honoring David Weitz, recipient of the 2024 Bower Award and Prize for Achievement in Science
Featuring:
David A. Weitz, Ph.D., Laureate
Harvard University
Paul Chaikin, Ph.D.
New York University
John Crocker. Ph.D.
University of Pennsylvania
Douglas Durian, Ph.D.
University of Pennsylvania
Eleni Katifori, Ph.D.
University of Pennsylvania
Daeyeon Lee, Ph.D.
University of Pennsylvania
Andrea Liu, Ph.D.
University of Pennsylvania
Arnold Mathijssen, Ph.D.
University of Pennsylvania
Philip Nelson, Ph.D.
University of Pennsylvania
Chinedum Osuji, Ph.D.
University of Pennsylvania
Location:
University of Pennsylvania
Rose Recital Hall, Room 419
Fisher-Bennet Hall
3340 Walnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Price: Free
Sponsored by The Franklin Institute, and the University of Pennsylvania Department of Physics and Astronomy and Laboratory for Research on the Structure of Matter
10:00–11:30 AM
HYBRID EVENT
CONNECTIVITY is a thing, is THE thing
Laureate address by Robert Metcalfe, 2024 Benjamin Franklin Medal in Electrical Engineering
Featuring:
Robert M. Metcalfe, Ph.D., Laureate
The University of Texas
Location:
Temple University
Mitten Hall, Great Court
1913 N Broad Street
Philadelphia, PA 19122
Price: Free
Sponsored by The Franklin Institute, Temple University Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, and IEEE Philadelphia Section
12:00–1:00 PM
HYBRID EVENT
WHY DON’T PLANTS GET SUNBURN?
Laureate address by Gabriela Schlau-Cohen, recipient of the 2024 Benjamin Franklin NextGen Award
Featuring:
Gabriela S. Schlau-Cohen, Ph.D., Laureate
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Location:
University of Pennsylvania
Carolyn Hoff Lynch Lecture Hall
Department of Chemistry
231 S 34th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Price: Free
Sponsored by The Franklin Institute and the University of Pennsylvania Department of Chemistry
Thursday, April 18, 2024
9:30 AM–12:30 PM
HYBRID EVENT
DEFORMATION FROM MOLECULES TO CONTINUA
Laureate symposium honoring Mary Boyce, recipient of the 2024 Benjamin Franklin Medal in Mechanical Engineering
Featuring:
Mary C. Boyce, Ph.D., Laureate
Columbia University
Ellen Arruda, Ph.D.
University of Michigan
H. Jerry Qi, Ph.D., Sc.D.
Georgia Institute of Technology
Meredith Silberstein, Ph.D.
Cornell University
Hansohl Cho, Ph.D.
Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology
Location:
University of Pennsylvania
Glandt Forum
Singh Center for Nanotechnology
3205 Walnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Price: Free
Sponsored by The Franklin Institute, and the University of Pennsylvania Department of Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics and School of Engineering and Applied Science
10:15–11:45 AM
IN-PERSON EVENT
A MISSION FOR PLANETARY BIODIVERSITY
Laureate address by Paul Hebert, recipient of the 2024 Benjamin Franklin Medal in Earth and Environmental Science
Featuring:
Paul D. N. Hebert, Ph.D., FRSC, O.C., Laureate
University of Guelph
Location:
University of Pennsylvania
Tedori Family Auditorium
Stephen A. Levin Building
425 S University Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Price: Free
Sponsored by The Franklin Institute and the University of Pennsylvania Department of Biology
10:30 AM–12:00 PM
HYBRID EVENT
BUILDING THERAPIES LAYER-BY-LAYER
Laureate address by Paula Hammond, recipient of the 2024 Benjamin Franklin Medal in Chemistry
Featuring:
Paula T. Hammond, Ph.D., Laureate
Location:
University of Pennsylvania
Levin Hall in the Wu and Chen Auditorium
3330 Walnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Price: Free
Sponsored by The Franklin Institute; the Department of Materials Science and Engineering in the School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania; and the Department of Chemistry in the School of Arts and Sciences, University of Pennsylvania
BICENTENNIAL FRANKLIN INSTITUTE AWARDS CEREMONY AND DINNER
Presented by
200th Anniversary Sponsors
Friday, April 19, 2024
12:00–4:30 PM
IN-PERSON EVENT
BIOLOGY, NEUROSCIENCE, AND PSYCHOLINGUISTICS OF LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT
Laureate symposium honoring Janet Werker, recipient of the 2024 Benjamin Franklin Medal in Computer and Cognitive Science
Featuring:
Janet F. Werker, Ph.D., O.C., FRSC, Laureate
The University of British Columbia
Krista Byers-Heinlein, Ph.D.
Concordia University
Naomi Feldman, Ph.D.
University of Maryland
Allyson Mackey, Ph.D.
University of Pennsylvania
Maria Geffen, Ph.D.
University of Pennsylvania
Location:
University of Pennsylvania
Bodek Lounge, Houston Hall
3417 Spruce Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Price: Free
Sponsored by The Franklin Institute and the University of Pennsylvania MindCORE Initiative