The 2025 Benjamin Franklin Birthday Celebration:
Exploring New Worlds
This event will take place on Friday, January 17, 2025, in Philadelphia.
Honoring Dr. John C. Mather
Morning Seminar -
(no registration required) - 9:00-11:00 AM, Benjamin Franklin Hall, 427 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia
Procession - (no registration required) - 11:15 AM-12:00 PM, assemble at Library of the APS
Closed-street procession to Dr. Franklin's grave
Luncheon - (Registration Required) - 12:15-1:30 PM
LUNCHEOn:
Presentation of the 2025 Franklin Founder Award & Talk by Dr. John C. Mather
Museum of the American Revolution, 101 S. 3rd Street, Philadelphia
In keeping with the theme, “Exploring New Worlds”, Dr. John C. Mather is Senior Scientist, cosmology, at NASA. Dr. Mather received a Nobel Prize in Physics in 2006, and has been Senior Project Scientist for the Webb Space Telescope. He will give a talk, "Opening New Worlds with the James Webb Space Telescope", and will receive 2025 Franklin Founder Award.
MORNING SEMINAR:
Moderator:
Dr. Derrick Pitts Chief Astronomer, The Franklin Institute Science Museum
SPEAKERS:
Dr. Emily A. Margolis Curator of Contemporary Spaceflight, Smithsonian National Air & Space, "Crossing the Karman Line: Private Spaceflight in the 21st Century”
Dr. Mariangela Bernardi Professor, University of Pennsylvania, "Exploring New Worlds: From the First Galaxies to the Milky Way"
Dr. Tess Lavezzi Light - Electromagnetic Sciences and Cognitive Space Group, Intelligence and Space Research, Los Alamos National Laboratory, "Lightning: Mystery in the Mundane"
The annual Franklin Birthday Celebration serves as a public “junto” about important issues that trace a through-line from Franklin’s day to our own.
Recent themes and honorees include:
Sign up for the MORNING SEMINAR (free) and/or the LUNCHEON (charge) on Friday, January 17, 2025!
Here is a 3-minute video
about the history of
The Franklin Birthday Celebrations