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3Science

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The Franklin insTiTuTe 2009 annual reporT

3Galileo and The Power of Three

3 2 Executive Message4 The Science Museum10 Science Learning and Innovation16 A Science Legacy22 Financial Report 24 2009 Contributed Support32 Board of Trustees

2009 marked the 400th anniversary of Galileo first using his telescope to make

astronomical observations. The anniversary was observed around the world as the International

Year of Astronomy, and through the Institute’s considerable variety of programs on and off site,

it was a key partner in the global celebration. Most importantly, the Institute was the only museum

in the world to exhibit Galileo’s own telescope, the instrument that changed our perception

of the world forever. The celebration was embraced throughout the Institute, illuminating in many

ways Galileo’s profound influence on Science, Technology and Education. The results, as you

will read, were stellar.

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Strategic planning has been at the core of The Franklin Institute’s evolution into one of the world’s leading science centers. Since 1996 it has maintained a continuing Strategic Plan through which exhibits have been renovated or re-imagined, theater facilities enhanced and infrastructure modernized. This past year the Institute revisited its 2006–2012 plan, creating in its place the next generation document covering 2009–2014 that will guide the organization through the opening of the final two campaign funded exhibits — Changing Earth and Electricity — scheduled to open in March 2010, additional building upgrades, the current $61.6 million Inspire Science campaign and construction of a new 53,000-square-foot building.

Built on the footprint of the 2006–2012 Strategic Plan, the new version defines several key initiatives including the development of a new business model that balances the necessary combination of mission and margin. The successes of Titanic in 2004, the original BODY WORLDS exhibition in 2005–2006, and King Tut in 2007 have made the Institute one of the most sought-after destinations for major traveling exhibitions in the United States. In addition to bringing outstanding educational exhibits to the region, revenue from such exhibits has enabled the Institute to provide content-rich public programming, create in-depth educational resources for students and teachers, and reinvent the way 21st century visitors experience the museum through The Franklin Institute Experience — a multi-tiered approach designed to serve the interests of a broad demographic.

A Unique OpportunityPrograms and exhibit offerings in 2009 were the most robust in the history of the Institute, with five special exhibits opening within the year. Galileo, the Medici and the Age of Astronomy, opened in celebration of the 400th anniversary of the telescope Galileo used to make astronomical observations, was presented in cooperation with the Istituto e Museo di Storia della Scienza in Florence, which is home to the Medici Collection and whose staff created the exhibition. Its director and exhibit curator, Professor Paolo Galluzzi, was an extraordinary partner and made an immeasurable contribution to the exhibit’s success.

The Franklin Institute was the only venue in the world to host Galileo, the Medici and the Age of Astronomy, a unique exhibition in the Mandell Center that included one of Galileo’s two remaining tele-scopes and more than 100 other valuable artifacts from the Medici Collection. The Institute’s expertise, both in hosting major interna-tional exhibitions and producing its own exhibits, inspired confidence in the Istituto e Museo di Storia della Scienza in Florence, as well as the exhibit’s presenting sponsor Officine Panerai. It was truly an honor to have been able to bring from Italy to Philadelphia such important scientific artifacts and the story of the man who changed the course of science. More than 120,000 individuals enjoyed this magnificent exhibit to which children were admitted free of charge.

The Institute is appreciative of the assistance from Medici Archive Project Chair Martha McGeary Snider, the Greater Philadelphia Tourism and Marketing Corporation and Pennsylvania’s governor, The Honorable Edward G. Rendell, for supporting a national and interna-tional marketing effort, and the active role played by Officine Panerai.

The combination of programs, promotions, Professor Galluzzi’s active involvement, the International Year of Astronomy [IYA], and Galileo himself attracted extraordinary national media coverage, per-haps more than for any previous Institute exhibit. The Institute’s own Chief Astronomer, Derrick Pitts, was selected as the U.S. spokesper-son for the IYA and became a frequent guest on national television and an articulate spokesperson for the exhibit before and during its five-month run. Other staff utilized their diverse skills to help create a rich Franklin Institute Experience for the Galileo exhibit. In the report that follows, read more about the live shows, a scholarly symposium supported by the John Templeton Foundation, lectures, podcasts and more that contributed to this experience.

Executive Message

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New Approaches to EducationAt no time in the Institute’s 185-year history has its core mission in education been more vital or more vibrant. Currently, only about 13 percent of Philadelphia eleventh graders achieve proficiency in the standardized science exam. Incredible as it may sound, in some instances, field trips to The Franklin Institute may be their only expo-sure to science. This in itself is reason to continually seek new ways to engage children in science, to help their teachers succeed in the classroom through professional development and to provide a wel-coming resource for families as well as adults without children.

In March 2009 the Institute received a two-year grant of $381,000 from PNC Bank’s Grow Up Great with Science Program, funded through the PNC Foundation, to provide professional development for Philadelphia Head Start teachers so that they might utilize inquiry-based learning and to bring preschoolers to the science museum for guided experiences. The program was initiated in September with a two-day workshop for 25 teachers and One World, One Sky: Big Bird’s Adventure for preschoolers in the Fels Planetarium.

To encourage interest in science and science careers nation-wide, the Institute has partnered with the MIT Museum in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the University of California — San Diego, and the University of California — San Francisco as the Science Festival Alliance. The project received $3 million in funding over three years from the National Science Foundation to develop science festivals in each city and to create a National Science Festival Network which will support the growth of science festivals across the country. The Institute received $550,000 from the grant to coordinate multifaceted citywide festivals in Philadelphia in 2011 and 2012.

In addition, the Institute has joined with its Proud Corporate Partner PECO and the National Energy Education Development Project [NEED] to produce a green school curriculum that was initially tested in five middle schools and one high school in the five-county area. In the 2009–2010 school year, it is being offered in 11 middle schools and one elementary school. The PECO Energizing Education Program includes teacher training, a four-week energy-focused curric-ulum for 7th and 8th graders, and a community project. The program is being officially launched on January 22, 2010 with a two-day teacher training at The Franklin Institute.

Difficult Year for Non-ProfitsThe difficult economic climate of 2009 created a number of chal-lenges, not the least of which was the uncertainty of an annual appropriation from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, as the state government faced its own budgetary issues. Careful monitoring of rev-enues and pre-emptive cutbacks that reduced expenses by more than $2.6 million kept the operating loss to about one percent. Prudent management earned the Institute a four-star rating from Charity Navigator for the second year in a row; only 19 percent of charities evaluated by Charity Navigator have received the four-star rating for two or more consecutive years.

While attendance for Galileo far exceeded expectations and that of BODY WORLDS 2 and The Brain increased significantly toward year end, overall attendance totaled 830,627, which was lower than projected due, in part, to the economic crises. School visits were noticeably reduced as school districts wrestled with budget cuts, and field trips were reduced or eliminated. Total attendance for school children was 168,480. More than 18,000 students from Philadelphia and surrounding area public schools visited free of charge via the Institute’s ACCESS program, while another 151,480 visited at reduced rates established for the Institute’s school audience. The Institute’s experience with attendance was mirrored by other museums locally and nationally.

The Franklin Institute, its Board of Trustees and staff are steadfastly committed to improving and expanding science education, especially in Philadelphia and Pennsylvania. The Institute is the beneficiary of the unflagging support of its Board of Trustees and the dedication of staff and more than 565 volunteers.

It is with respect that we acknowledge the contributions and passing this past year of two members of the Institute family, former chairman and president, Richard T. Nalle, Jr. (1980–1984) and former president, Dr. Bowen C. Dees (1970–1982).

Marsha R. Perelman Chair

Dennis M. Wint President & CEO

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In 2009 The Franklin Institute reached for the stars and managed to capture several as it continued

its quest to present thought-provoking science opportunities for the Philadelphia region. Exhibit

experiences, alongside a mix of school and public programs, theater shows and outreach activities

helped to illuminate science for visitors of all ages. From the exhibition Galileo, the Medici and the Age

of Astronomy to Star Trek: The Exhibition and Race: Are We So Different? 2009 was a stellar year.

And it was a busy year, as the line-up above was book-ended in the beginning by The Chronicles of

Narnia and in the fall by BODY WORLDS 2 & The Brain, which opened in the fourth quarter.

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The Science Museum

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Galileo — More than an ExhibitThe Institute launched its Galileo celebration with “100 Hours of Astronomy” on April 2nd — a live international, interactive web streaming event. As one of the global cornerstone projects of the International Year of Astronomy [IYA], “100 Hours of Astronomy” brought science centers from around the world together to partici-pate in this extraordinary webcast which featured a virtual tour of Galileo, the Medici and the Age of Astronomy and an opportunity for viewers to hear directly from Professor Paolo Galluzzi, director of the Istituto e Museo di Storia della Scienza, and Institute Chief Astronomer and IYA spokesperson Derrick Pitts.

The only venue in the world to host Galileo, the Medici and the Age of Astronomy, The Franklin Institute was selected by the Istituto e Museo di Storia della Scienza in Florence after the latter received

a hundred requests to borrow one of the two remaining Galileo tele-scopes — which had never before left Italy. The exhibit, which was presented by Officine Panerai, to whom the Institute is grateful, drew on two of Italy’s major historical collections and showcased Galileo’s own telescope and personal instruments, as well as his accomplish-ments, his relationship with the Medici family, his discoveries and his overall impact on astronomy, physics and math — from the emer-gence of the scientific method to building the case for a heliocentric solar system to his principles of relativity and inertia.

During the exhibit’s five month engagement beginning April 4, Institute staff made the Galileo Experience truly a Franklin Institute Experience. Supportive efforts included a sold-out, three-day schol-arly Legacy of Galileo symposium with authorities from the U.S., Canada and Italy, supported by the John Templeton Foundation

Left: The Joel N. Bloom Observatory’s 10-Inch Zeiss refracting telescope is used by visitors during the day and at night during the monthly Night Skies in the Observatory programs.

Center and Right: Galileo, the Medici and the Age of Astronomy included exquisitely crafted 16th and 17th century artifacts such as the 1596 round brass windrose from a navigational magnetic compass. The exhibit fascinated visitors of all ages, like those engaged by the Institute’s Chief Astronomer Derrick Pitts as he explains Galileo’s own telescope (pictured upper right).

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and organized in partnership with the Philadelphia Area Center for History of Science. Also taking part was award-winning author and former New York Times science writer Dava Sobel, author of Galileo’s Daughter, who translated original documents pertain-ing to Galileo from Italian to English, including 120 letters from his daughter.

In addition, the public benefited from a podcast tour, scripted and produced by students at the Science Leadership Academy; curricular materials online for teachers, families and students; a complimentary tour-by-cell option, introducing this new technol-ogy at the Institute for the first time; special programs in the Fels Planetarium and Joel N. Bloom Observatory; astronomy-themed public lectures; experiential packages for schools; free Target Community Night providing underserved audiences with astronomy-

themed programs and access to both the Galileo and the Star Trek exhibits and more. Even the 2009 Franklin Institute Awards Program provided a program on cosmology for Science Leadership Academy students with Bower Award Laureate Sandra Faber. (See page 31 for complete list of Galileo supporters.)

Collaborative Experiences BuildA second “star” in the museum galaxy was Race: Are We So Different?, which opened in late May. Education and race are critical issues for Philadelphia. Race, which was developed by the Science Museum of Minnesota in conjunction with the American Anthropological Association, continued a dialogue begun through the Institute’s ongoing Out of Africa lectures and the special exhibit Identity: An Exhibition of You, developed in 2007 by The Franklin Institute. Race broached what “race” really means and presented

Below: The exhibit Race: Are We So Different? used interactive stations and hard science to debunk long-standing myths about racial differences. A sophisticated, but accessible exhibit, it attracted a diverse audience, particularly adults.

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Above: Gunther von Hagen’s Body Worlds 2 & The Brain was an aesthetically beautiful representa-tion of the anatomy and physiology of the human body. The Ice Skaters (center right) were among the many posed plastinates — bodies ridded of fluids and soft tissue which were replaced with polymers, enabling visitors to see the body’s true structure. The museum program staff (lower right) complemented the exhibit by offering frequent live dissection demonstrations, this one of a sheep heart.

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visitors with the hard science, which discredits erroneous race-based theories that have been disseminated for centuries. Race enjoyed support from presenting sponsor Best Buy Children’s Foundation and associate sponsor PECO. The experience was extended through a hybrid program focusing on race and science fiction with actor/professor Avery Brooks from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and science fiction writer/professor Sam Delany, and a second lecture by Asian-American George Takei, from the Star Trek television series.

The Giant Heart exhibit was the impetus for establishing the Institute’s ongoing Wellness Platform that has included a combina-tion of exhibits, IMAX features and a continuing series of lectures, online resources for students and educators, and panel discussions on topics ranging from the brain to the ethics of administering vac-cines and designing life through genetic engineering. The popularity of the 2005–2006 exhibit Gunther von Hagens’ BODY WORLDS: The Anatomical Exhibition of Real Human Bodies prompted the Institute to open a subsequent von Hagens’ exhibition, BODY WORLDS 2 and The Brain in October 2009. This exhibit, which continues into April 2010, provides an exclusive look at the human brain and advances in understanding brain development, function and disease. Throughout the BODY WORLDS engagement, schools could reserve comprehen-sive field trips with dissection workshops and health-related IMAX shows, and take advantage of audio tours in English or Spanish. The exhibit’s visibility was enhanced by a 16-week series of exhibit-related health features developed with the help of exhibit sponsor Main Line Health and aired by media partner 6ABC.

Educating Our YouthDuring the year, the Institute offered six different experiential pack-ages for grades 3–12. The packages combined a featured exhibit with related theater and workshop programs and were designed to support National Science Education Standards. In addition, curricular materials were available on the Institute’s website to help teachers prepare students and build classroom activities to reinforce museum learning. Of the 168,480 school children who visited in 2009, 14,524 took part in one of these experiential packages.

During school vacations and holidays, children took advantage of summer Discovery Camp (which completed its 15th season) and its two offshoots — Spring Break and School’s Out Camp. With

an extended day option, the camps offer convenience for working parents. Weekend Camp-Ins continued for its 25th year. Traveling Science Shows [TSS], the premier program of its kind in the Mid-Atlantic states, presented 850 shows in 500 locations, serving more than 212,000 students and adults from Connecticut to northern Virginia through paid programs and an estimated 30,000 via festivals and free shows.

TheatersThe Franklin Institute’s three theaters added programming on diverse topics, some in support of concurrent exhibits, others providing completely independent experiences. The Fels Planetarium, which has dazzled an estimated nine million visitors since it opened in 1933, remains a continuing source of fascination for visitors. During 2009 the six-projector system was replaced with two state-of-the-art video projectors that flood the entire dome in imagery, enhancing the deep space experience. In support of IYA the Fels featured Two Small Pieces of Glass which chronicled the history of the telescope from Galileo to the Hubble Space Telescope. In the fall a new Institute-generated show called Moon Shot: the New Lunar Age was introduced.

The Tuttleman IMAX Theater offered mission-related programs by day, featuring environmental films like Grand Canyon Adventure: River at Risk and Wild Ocean; adventures to places few will ever visit in Journey into Amazing Caves and Under the Sea; a testament to one man’s passion in Van Gogh — Brush with Genius; and lessons in health and life science in both The Human Body and To the Limit, which complemented the BODY WORLDS and Giant Heart expe-riences. Short runs of Pulse: A Stomp Odyssey and Mystic India were added to further diversify the audiences. First run commercial films screened in the evening such as The Dark Knight, Star Trek, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince and Where the Wild Things Are welcomed new audiences and provided additional admission revenue.

The newest facility, Franklin Theater, had a successful run in the spring of its first full-length educational feature film, Disneynature’s Earth. Shorter 3D films including The World of Sharks, 3D Sun and Bugs 3D bolstered school programs.

Among the most popular live science demonstrations offered each day are the cow eye and sheep heart dissections presented several times a day in The Giant Heart: A Healthy Interactive Experience to complement that exhibit and, for the latter part of the year, Body Worlds.

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The Science Museum’s popular summer Discovery Camp has expanded to include single and multi-day sessions during winter and spring school vacations and holidays. Children as young as six become totally absorbed in science-related activities. Their natural curiosity, alertness and knowledge sometimes astound even the most experienced instructors.

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The scaffold supporting the innovative work being done in science learning includes Professional

Development; Gender and Families in Science; Youth Programs; Educational Technologies and the

magnet public high school — Science Leadership Academy [SLA]. Layered onto this scaffold is a matrix

of collaborations and partnerships with public school districts, universities and colleges, corporations and

non-profit institutions, ensuring the capacity for diversity in program delivery. These robust collaborations

allow The Franklin Institute to effectively respond to the national call for increased science, technology,

engineering and math [STEM] literacy.

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Science Learning and Innovation

A Voice for STEM The Franklin Institute has long been a strong voice for STEM education in Pennsylvania and beyond. In recognition of the urgency around the issue, the Pennsylvania House Committee on Education held a spring forum on STEM literacy. Hosted by The Honorable James R. Roebuck, Jr., chair of the House Committee on Education, and seven other committee members, sessions focused on regional science education and low productivity of scientists and STEM professionals in the Commonwealth and the nation, and on identifying some possible solutions. Institute Vice President Dr. Frederic Bertley testified before the committee. Dr. Bertley, whose experience as an educator ranges from working with at-risk city youth to teaching Harvard medical students, elucidated the critical role of informal science centers such as The Franklin Institute in positively

impacting science literacy and significantly contributing to the long-term solution of STEM deficiency in the U.S. The hearings heralded Pennsylvania, a state replete with STEM-based industry, at the forefront in the nation’s awareness of STEM related concerns.

A Model for Effective CollaborationGender and Family Learning Under the leadership of Dr. Dale McCreedy, a national expert on gender and family matters related to STEM education, the reach of the Gender and Family Learning program continues to broaden. Family engagement in science literacy is absolutely critical to a child’s success. Understanding this, the Gender and Family Learning Program has trail-blazed STEM education for girls and families. With

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The Afterschool Leaders who staff LEAP, the Institute’s afterschool science literacy program conducted jointly with the Free Library of Philadelphia, attend hands-on training sessions, here experimenting with the properties of water before going into the field. The program is funded by the National Science Foundation.

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successful innovative grants, product development, and effective programs delivered to encourage and support science learning in its demographic, our Gender and Family Learning program has consolidated and leveraged the best practices of three stalwart programs — Parent Partners in School Science, Girls at the Center, and the LEAP programs — all previous National Science Foundation funded projects which are today supported by the Institute and other partners. LEAP, an after school science literacy program developed in conjunction with the Free Library of Philadelphia, continues to expand.

Collaboration is not limited to federal granting agencies. The Gender and Family program has partnered with the Delaware Valley Association for the Education of Young Children (DVAEYC) to provide workshops and programming to support their annual national confer-ence to be held in Philadelphia in April 2010.

Partnership for Achieving Careers in Technology and Science [PACTS]Completing its 17th year, the PACTS program is one of the region’s oldest and most comprehensive science immersion programs for diverse urban high school students. From the Careers in Science programs, serving several hundred students from more than 15 Philadelphia public schools with access to STEM professionals as well as college application and financial aid counseling, to annual robotics programs attracting more than 1,000 registered participants, PACTS delivers unique STEM programming to a diverse audi-ence. This year’s robotics event was incorporated into the Institute’s International Space Week program and featured amateur robot designers from all over North America. Challengers vying for the “Franklin Cup” faced off in action-packed, three-minute battles that showcased the designer’s robotic ingenuity, engineering creativity and their robot’s resilience.

Understanding that The Franklin Institute is not alone in trying to provide opportunities for youth, the Students Making a Difference program reaches out to other regional cultural institutions that have been positively impacting youth and showcases each program in a citywide event. The success of this program has prompted Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter to proclaim June 18th as “Students Making a Difference Day” in Philadelphia.

The impact and outcomes of these events, along with other staple programs including Science in the City, Environmental Education and Meet the Scientists, illustrate the scope, depth and outreach capacity of PACTS. Despite the success of the current cadre of programs, new ideas are continuously under development to further its unprecedented outreach.

The Franklin Institute continues its acclaimed professional development programs for the U.S. Department of Education, the Philadelphia School District, and scout, community and outreach program leaders.

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Students taking part in the Saturday Science in the City program hang a bird feeder in Science Park, while others begin an experiment inside.

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Education TechnologyThe Educational Technology Program (Ed Tech) has a wide purview and houses several important programs, including the development of comprehensive educator guides to support exhibits, such as for Galileo, the Medici and the Age of Astronomy, Star Trek and Narnia. The Disney Company lauded the Ed Tech department for its very substantive contribution to the Narnia Educator Guide. Other exhibit support included successfully launching the web streamed “100 Hours of Astronomy” to complement Galileo and uploading a Galileo guided tour developed by SLA students.

Ed Tech continued work on the National Science Foundation-funded ARIEL project, in conjunction with the science museum, Carnegie Mellon and the University of Pennsylvania; the goal is to enable visitors to electronically access information that will augment their museum learning experience. Other Ed Tech initiatives include the continuous development of online education resources to support vaccine education in partnership with The Center for Vaccine Ethics and Policy at the University of Pennsylvania and the Institute’s own Wellness Task Force. These public vaccine forums, along with the Penn Genome Frontier Institute collaborations on genomics and personalized medicine education, underscore Ed Tech’s capability for augmenting timely adult programming around national science issues.

Professional Development For more than 25 years, the Institute has been providing professional development for educators in the region. Since 1983 it has furnished state-of-the-art professional development to more than 3,600 educators in Philadelphia and the Commonwealth representing more than 450 schools. In 2009, the Institute offered middle school teachers more than 100 hours of learning, developing and enhancing their science instruction skills during school year workshops and the three-week intensive Summer Academy.

The Institute solidified its partnership with the non-profit 21st Century Center for Research and Development in Cognition and Science Instruction and delivered its first iteration of professional development for science teachers. The purpose of the Center is to draw upon the advances in the field of cognitive science to enhance science curricula and improve student learning. The Franklin Institute played an integral role in the development of both the content and curriculum for middle school teachers.

Outreach with the corporate sector is perhaps best exemplified by its partnership with the PECO and the National Energy Education Development Project (described on page 3), that allows for a robust integrated environmental education program in schools, homes and communities.

Learning is fun for adults too. This teacher, taking part in a professional development session, has become fully engaged in the Bowling Ball of Doom interactive in Sir Isaac’s Loft, the museum’s physics exhibit. By experiencing principles of physics first hand, teachers have more tools to take back to their science classrooms.

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Science Leadership Academy Science Leadership Academy (SLA) is the Institute’s inquiry, project-based school where learning is centered on five core values: inquiry, research, collaboration, presentation and reflection. Initiated in 2005 by The Franklin Institute in partnership with the School District of Philadelphia, SLA is a 21st century magnet public high school, with the overarching goal to create young civic-minded citizens with a solid foundation in science, technology and entrepreneurship.

Since opening its doors in 2006, SLA has consistently excelled. SLA and Franklin Institute staff continuously engage in thoughtful discussion around respective roles, capacity and engagement to ensure the best microenvironment and education for the school’s 500 students. On the pedagogical level, there is a shared vision of edu-cation between the Institute and SLA. Institute faculty have worked with SLA teachers on curriculum development; SLA students work on museum exhibit projects, and both the Institute and SLA contribute significantly to create EduCon, an educational conference rapidly gaining national awareness. In addition, an Institute board member chairs the Ambassadors Committee, which helps connect SLA to partners that can enrich the learning at SLA and leverage regional institutions to further support the partnership.

The ever-present commitment to SLA is reflected in the Institute’s support, including a scholarship fund established by Institute trust-ees; family memberships provided to SLA students and teachers; the Wednesdays @ The Franklin program; SLA student participation in the PACTS program; 12–15 internships at the Institute as part of SLA’s Individualized Learning Program; and SLA’s role in The Franklin Institute Awards, Careers in Science, Meet the Scientists, and the many symposia offered at the Institute.

While SLA has received many accolades and awards, in May 2009, it was designated an Apple Distinguished School for excellent use of Apple computers in their 1:1 laptop program. SLA was one of only 33 schools nationwide that received this honor, testimony as to the school’s innovative use of technology.

This past spring, SLA science students competed in their first Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Science Innovation competition at the Philadelphia Convention Center. Despite the highly experienced competition from throughout the region, SLA students placed 2nd overall! Other notable awards were first place in citywide writing contests and national placement in mathematics competitions. With SLA’s stellar success and promise, in a few short years, it has already left its imprint as one of the most successful high schools in Philadelphia.

Above: Freshmen from the Institute-Philadelphia School District magnet school Science Leadership Academy work on a project involving grasshoppers for their Biochemistry I class. Students utilize their MacBooks throughout their studies.

Left: Seniors at SLA prepare an experiment in Matt VanKouwenberg’s biotechnology class. Previously, his classes built a working solar energy system. Science knowledge not only can lead to careers, but also will enhance science and technology literacy increasingly needed to make well-informed decisions as adults.

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The Franklin Institute’s considerable legacy in science is both preserved and

advanced through The Franklin Institute Awards Program, its rich historical collections, library, and

The Journal of The Franklin Institute. As such, the Institute has one foot planted in tradition

and the other pacing forward. Together with the science museum and science learning programs,

these endeavors further create interest in and awareness of science and technology.

A Science Legacy

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The Franklin Institute Awards ProgramThe Franklin Institute’s long tradition of rewarding excellence in scientific and technological developments dates back to 1824, when certificates were awarded for inventions, with the hope that by encouraging such advances, the United States would become less dependent on Europe. Guiding the award process from the 1830s forward was the Committee on Invention, which became the Committee on Science and the Arts. Today this active all volunteer committee of scientists and engineers from business, academia and government helps administer one of the oldest and broadest sci-ence and technology awards programs in the world. The list of Award Laureates reads like a Who’s Who in Science from the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries, but the Awards Program is far more than a roster of scientific dignitaries. Today the program is dedicated to inspiring and

celebrating excellence, providing students with unique educational and inspirational experiences with world-class scientists, and provid-ing dynamic links between The Franklin Institute and the academic, scientific and business communities.

During Awards Week the Institute honored eight distinguished Laureates. Their work ranged from elucidating the building blocks of life to using processes inspired by nature to build ultra-small devices; from the discovery of mysterious recesses of the sea to exploration of the far reaches of the universe; from conceiving fuzzy logic and applying it to artificial intelligence to using artificial intelligence to understand medical imaging; and from powering industry through underground channels to channeling power through innovative methods.

A Science Legacy

The annual Meet the Scientists program provides invited high school students with exposure to some of the world’s top scientists. At a reception following the panel discussion, students chat informally with the Laureates — something enjoyed by Laureates and students alike.

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From April 21–23, the Laureates took part in scholarly symposia at the University of Pennsylvania, and Drexel, Temple and Villanova universities. In addition, they presented their work to museum visitors through the Laureates Laboratory and to high school students invited to attend the annual Meet the Scientists panel discussion. Bower Business Award Laureate T. Boone Pickens engaged a full Franklin Theater audience with a talk entitled “Time to Solve Our Energy Crisis,” and Astronomer and Bower Science Award Laureate Sandra Faber spoke at SLA and took part in a public program on “The Cosmic History of the Human Species.” And for the first time, the Laureates, accompanied by Institute staff, promoted science on Center City street corners and engaged curious passersby in their work.

Awards Week, which was again sponsored by Cephalon, culminated on April 23 with The Franklin Institute Awards Ceremony and Dinner, the Institute’s major fundraising event, which again enjoyed lead sponsorship from Bank of America. Thanks to the hard work of the 2009 Awards Dinner Co-Chairs, Toni Garrison and John G. Drosdick, and Friends Committee Vice Chair Sandra Baldino, the dinner was attended by more than 600 guests and grossed $699,000 to support innovative science education programs for school children. Despite the uncertain economic environment last spring, attendance was only down slightly, and revenue was stronger than projected. The Awards Ceremony was hosted by NBC News’ Chief Science and Health Correspondent Robert Bazell.

The LibraryThe Library has passed the midpoint in its two-year project to introduce a new automated library system that will provide staff and scholars with access to a consortium of academic, public and specialized libraries throughout the Commonwealth, as well as improve management of the Library’s collection, streamline cataloging, simplify circulation control and provide a reporting function. Ninety-five percent of the book collection has been converted to the Library of Congress Classification System, and the Library staff completed training for the new automated system; Institute staff will be introduced to the system during summer 2010.

Even while preparing for the new system, Library staff responded to approximately 450 research inquiries from Institute staff and outside researchers and continued to select new material to enhance the Library’s collection.

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2009 Bower Award and Prize for Achievement in Science Sandra M. Faber, Ph.D. University of California Observatories/ Lick Observatory University of California, Santa Cruz For extraordinary advances in our knowledge of the properties of distant galaxies, dark matter, large scale structure of the Universe, and black holes in galactic nuclei; and for innovative leadership in the development of astronomical facilities. Sponsor: Gino C. Segré, Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania

2009 Bower Award for Business Leadership T. Boone Pickens BP Capital For more than 50 years of creative and visionary leadership in energy production and delivery, and his recent focus on domestic renewable energy. Pickens’ philanthropic leadership has contributed to advances in education, medical research, and wildlife conservation. Sponsor: Mitchell P. Marcus, Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania

2009 Benjamin Franklin Medal in Chemistry George M. Whitesides, Ph.D. Harvard University For his pioneering chemical research in the field of molecular self-assembly and his invention of rapid, innovative techniques for the inexpensive fabrication of ultra-small devices for practical use. Sponsor: Charles F. Cooper, Ph.D., Lyondell Chemical Company

2009 Benjamin Franklin Medal in Computer and Cognitive Science Ruzena Bajcsy, Ph.D. University of California, Berkeley For contributions to robotics and computer vision, specifically the development of active perception and the creation of methods to improve our understanding of medical images. Sponsor: Camillo J. Taylor, Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania

2009 Benjamin Franklin Medal in Earth and Environmental Science J. Frederick Grassle, Ph.D. Rutgers University For pioneering research leading to our understanding of the unique ecosystems near volcanic vents at the sea floor, the first ever found fueled by chemical energy from the Earth’s interior instead of sunlight. Sponsor: D. James Baker, Ph.D., The William J. Clinton Foundation

2009 Benjamin Franklin Medal in Electrical Engineering Lotfi A. Zadeh, Ph.D. University of California, Berkeley For his invention and development of the field of fuzzy logic, a mathematical system that captures aspects of the ambiguity of human language and thought, which has solved problems in areas such as artificial intelligence and the automated control of machines. Sponsors: Henry M. Halpern, TechniCounseling; Kenneth Abend, Ph.D., Lambda Science, Inc.

2009 Benjamin Franklin Medal in Engineering Richard J. Robbins The Robbins Group LLC For his imagination and skill in developing a hard-rock tunnel boring machine and its associated systems, resulting in a safe, economical, and efficient method for constructing tunnels. Sponsor: E. Fred Brecher, P.E., Brecher Associates, P.C.

2009 Benjamin Franklin Medal in Life Science Stephen J. Benkovic, Ph.D. The Pennsylvania State University For his groundbreaking contributions to our mechanistic understanding of enzymes, and for helping to unravel the complexities of the enzymes involved in DNA replication. Sponsor: Bradford A. Jameson, Ph.D., Drexel University College of Medicine

2009 Franklin Institute Laureates

2009 Award Laureates Seated (left to right): J. Frederick Grassle, Stephen J. Benkovic, George M. Whitesides, Lotfi A. Zadeh, Sandra M. Faber.

Standing are: Dennis M. Wint, Mitchell P. Marcus, Richard J. Robbins, T. Boone Pickens, Ruzena Bajcsy, Frederic M. N. Bertley, Marsha R. Perelman and Gary Anderson.

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Curatorial ContributionsThe Franklin Institute maintains a significant collection of case files, historical papers and artifacts that together document the scientific history of a growing nation. Under the direction of the Institute’s senior curator John Alviti, artifacts from the collections are being displayed on a rotating basis throughout the museum. In preparation for the Electricity exhibit, the curatorial staff also collaborated with museum exhibit developers to incorporate several Benjamin Franklin artifacts.

The Journal of The Franklin InstituteThe Journal of The Franklin Institute is the second oldest scientific journal in continuous publication in the United States. Like many scholarly publications, the Journal is now published digitally in conjunction with British publisher Elsevier. All 183 years of journals are available online through libraries and research institutions. Current volumes include peer reviewed articles on information and communication systems and networks, learning algorithms, signal processing, imaging, sensing, genomic signal processing and control theory, as well as special issues dedicated to single topics. As in all other areas of the Institute, the Journal undergoes continuous review to ensure that it provides relevant, authoritative information for the academic community.

Award Laureate Dr. Stephen Benkovic from Penn State, engages students in an exercise that explains, in simplified terms, his research to understand the complexity of enzymes involved in replicating DNA.

The frontis piece to Dialogo di Galileo Galilei — Concerning the Two Chief Systems of the World: Ptolemaic and Copernican, which appeared in the Galileo exhibition, was published in 1632. The three individuals in this image represent the three interlocutors that Galileo created to carry out the three-day discussion about the validity of Ptolemaic system (or geocentric cosmology), which considered the earth as the center of the universe, and the Copernican cosmology (heliocentric system), in which the planets revolve around the sun. The third individual represents the intelligent layman. A 19th century copy of the art exists in The Franklin Institute archives.

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2009 2008

Unrestricted Temporarily

Restricted Permanently

Restricted Total Total

Revenue, support, and investment income Program Revenue Admissions fees $ 8,589,951 $ — $ — $ 8,589,951 $ 10,330,006 Ancillary activities 3,268,683 — — 3,268,683 4,289,147 Museum projects 1,394,701 — — 1,394,701 2,084,880 Educational programs and services 1,575,155 — — 1,575,155 1,625,087 Other 47,308 — — 47,308 647,682 Total program revenue 14,875,798 — — 14,875,798 18,976,802

Support Annual giving 3,548,428 477,350 — 4,025,778 4,062,029 In-kind contributions 70,325 — — 70,325 409,649 Government appropriations and grants 16,170 154,000 — 170,170 1,118,314 Contributions — Capital campaigns — 1,976,217 — 1,976,217 6,387,977 Total support 3,634,923 2,607,567 — 6,242,490 11,977,969

Endowment income return designated for current operations 2,040,071 — — 2,040,071 1,647,172

Net assets released from restrictions — satisfaction of purpose restrictions 1,934,819 (1,934,819) — — — Total revenue, support, & operating investment income and net assets released from restrictions 22,485,611 672,748 — 23,158,359 32,601,943

Expenses Program expenses Museum operations 14,125,060 — — 14,125,060 19,290,491 Ancillary activities 1,738,916 — — 1,738,916 2,191,537 Museum projects 2,791,545 — — 2,791,545 3,085,017 Educational programs and services 1,089,453 — — 1,089,453 1,346,518 Total program expenses 19,744,974 — — 19,744,974 25,913,563

Interest 692,220 — — 692,220 710,450 Development — Capital campaigns 558,177 — — 558,177 1,081,965 General development 882,911 — — 882,911 1,032,454 Total expenses 21,878,282 — — 21,878,282 28,738,432

Operating income before depreciation 607,329 672,748 — 1,280,077 3,863,511

Depreciation and amortization 6,253,224 — — 6,253,224 5,846,474

Operating income (loss) (5,645,895) 672,748 — (4,973,147) (1,982,963)

Non-operating income and expenses, and releases Net assets released from restrictions — Satisfaction of purpose restrictions 5,373,212 (5,373,212) — — — Endowment return net of amounts designated for current operations 1,437,115 3,568,074 — 5,005,189 (12,156,207)Net actuarial gain (loss) on defined benefit retirement plan 653,339 — — 653,339 (2,222,263)Unrealized gain (loss) on interest rate swap 1,546,445 — — 1,546,445 (2,246,988)Change in value of investments held by third parties — — 1,632,888 1,632,888 (4,303,548) Total non-operating income, expenses and releases 9,010,111 (1,805,138) 1,632,888 8,837,861 (20,929,006)

Increase (Decrease) in net assets 3,364,216 (1,132,390) 1,632,888 3,864,714 (22,911,969)

Net assets, beginning of year 63,500,947 38,109,376 11,554,720 113,165,043 136,077,012

Net assets, end of year $ 66,865,163 $ 36,976,986 $ 13,187,608 $ 117,029,757 $ 113,165,043

Statements of Activities and Changes in Net AssetsYears ended December 31, 2009 with summarized information for 2008

Financial Report

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2009 2008

AssetsCash and cash equivalents $ 9,003,285 $ 10,197,413 Accounts receivable, net 1,241,935 2,033,622 Pledges receivable, net 9,689,268 12,853,940 Inventory 283,040 331,755 Prepaid and other current assets 533,867 622,852 Pooled investments 32,817,151 27,441,041 Beneficial interest in perpetual trusts 10,748,137 9,115,249 Property, buildings and equipment, net 75,086,972 75,470,681 Deferred loan costs, net 168,143 203,797 Total assets $ 139,571,798 $ 138,270,350

Liabilities and Net AssetsAccounts payable and accrued expenses $ 4,903,107 $ 7,843,508 Deferred revenue 1,092,120 69,841 Long-term debt 16,546,814 17,191,958 Total liabilities 22,542,041 25,105,307

Net assets Unrestricted 66,865,163 63,500,947 Temporarily restricted 36,976,986 38,109,376 Permanently restricted 13,187,608 11,554,720 Total net assets 117,029,757 113,165,043 Total liabilities and net assets $ 139,571,798 $ 138,270,350

Statements of Financial PositionDecember 31, 2009 and 2008

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The Franklin Institute expresses its sincere gratitude to its outstanding Board of Trustees, whose dedicated annual service allows the Institute to maintain its international standing and to strive for even greater achievement.

Marsha R. PerelmanChair, Board of Trustees The Franklin Institute

Frank Baldino, Jr., Ph.D.Chairman and CEOCephalon, Inc.

Scott A. BattersbyVice President and TreasurerUnisys Corporation

David J. BerkmanManaging PartnerLiberty Associated Partners LP

Wade H. Berrettini, M.D., Ph.D.Director, Center for Neurobiology

and BehaviorUniversity of Pennsylvania

School of MedicineSuzanne BodaSenior Vice President, East CoastUS AirwaysRaza Bokhari, M.D.Managing PartnerBuilding Beyond BRIC Investment Fund, LPRenee B. Booth, Ph.D.PresidentLeadership Solutions, Inc.

Donald E. CallaghanRetired PrincipalHirtle, Callaghan & Company

Michael F. CamardoRetired Executive Vice PresidentLockheed Martin

Arthur L. Caplan, Ph.D.Executive DirectorCenter for BioethicsUniversity of Pennsylvania

Robert M. ChappelearSenior Vice PresidentWachovia Wealth ManagementWachovia Bank, N.A.

I Michael CoslovChairman and CEOTube City IMS Corporation

Gerard P. CuddyPresident & Chief Executive OfficerBeneficial Savings Bank

Kevin F. DonohoePresident The Kevin F. Donohoe Company, Inc.

Philip DunfordVice President and General Manager of

Rotorcraft OperationsThe Boeing Company

Daniel K. FitzpatrickPresident and Chief Executive,

Eastern PA and NJCitizens Bank

Michael C. FormanManaging General Partnerf/b Capital Partners LP

Toni GarrisonCommunity Volunteer

Elizabeth H. GemmillCommunity Volunteer

William L. GrahamPresident, Enterprise Integration GroupLockheed Martin

Richard A. GreenawaltPrincipalRMK Associates

S. Matthews V. Hamilton, Jr.President Travel Services Company

Paul C. Heintz, Esq.PartnerObermayer, Rebmann, Maxwell

& Hippel, LLP

Barbara KowalczykCommunity Volunteer

Charisse R. Lillie, Esq.Vice President, Community Investment and Executive Vice President Comcast FoundationComcast Corporation

Ira M. LubertPrincipalLubert-Adler Management, Inc.

Miriam G. MandellVice PresidentMGM Consulting Corporation

Sandra G. MarshallCommunity Volunteer

Robert S. McMenaminSenior Vice PresidentU.S. Trust, Bank of America Private

Wealth Management

Donald E. Morel, Jr., Ph.D.Chairman and CEOWest Pharmaceutical Services, Inc.

Denis P. O’BrienPresident and CEOPECO

Hershel J. Richman, Esq.Retired Special CounselDechert

William H. Shea, Jr.CEO Penn Virginia Resource Partners LP and

Penn Virginia GP Holdings

Ann R. SorgentiCommunity Volunteer

William J. StallkampCommunity Volunteer

Joan N. Stern, Esq.Chair, Public FinanceBlank Rome LLP

Richard W. VagueCEO and Co-FounderEnergy Plus

David R. WhiteSenior Vice President, Global Supply ChainCampbell Soup Company

Paul H. Woodruff, PEPresident Mistwood Enterprises

Harold L. Yoh IIIChairman and CEODay & Zimmermann

Ex-Officio MembersArlene C. Ackerman, Ed.D.Superintendent School District of Philadelphia

Christine H. BerrettiniCo-Chair, Benefactor Society BoardCommunity Volunteer

The Honorable Darrell L. ClarkeMember, Philadelphia City Council

The Honorable Michael A. Nutter Mayor, City of Philadelphia

Stuart Pittel, Ph.D.Professor and DirectorBartol Research Institute University of Delaware

The Honorable Edward G. RendellGovernor, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

Randy S. RonningCo-Chair, Benefactor Society BoardCommunity Volunteer

The Honorable Anna C. Verna President, Philadelphia City Council

Dennis M. Wint, Ph.D.President and CEO, The Franklin Institute

Emeritus MembersWilliam J. AveryChairman Emeritus

Henry M. Chance II

Bowen C. Dees, Ph.D.*President Emeritus

James J. Eberl, Ph.D.

James A. UnruhChairman Emeritus

OfficersMarsha R. PerelmanChair, Board of Trustees

Dennis M. Wint, Ph.D.President and CEO

Larry Dubinski, Esq.Secretary

Jeffery PerkinsTreasurer

Leadership CouncilDennis M. Wint, Ph. D.President and CEO

Frederic Bertley, Ph.D.Vice President

Center for Innovation in Science Learning and The Franklin Center

Troy CollinsSenior Vice President Programs,

Marketing and Business Development

Larry Dubinski, Esq.Senior Vice President External Affairs and

General Counsel

Jeffery PerkinsSenior Vice President Finance and

Administration

Richard D. RabenaVice President Operations

Steve Snyder, Ph.D.Vice President Exhibits and Program

Development

Reid O. StylesVice President Human Resources

Marisa WigglesworthVice President for Development

Board of Trustees

*Deceased(List as of December 1, 2009)

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Design Allemann Almquist & Jones, Philadelphia

Photography Cover: Keith Watanabe/Allemann Almquist & Jones

Keith Watanabe: Front, inside front and inside back covers, 4, 7–13, 16, 17, 25 (square finish), 26–29

Susan Holmes: 14

Tom Gralish/Courtesy The Philadelphia Inquirer: 15

Mike Loughran: 17 (lower right), 18, 20

Kelly & Massa: 19

Peter Olson: 5

Lisa Godfrey: 3 (right), 25 (center)

Gene Mancini: 31

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