The Franklin Institute 2016 Annual Report 2 3 CONTENTS 5 Executive Message 6 Destination 8 Volunteer 9 Institute as Community Hub 11 Science & Technology 12 Youth Programs 15 Professional Development 17 Public Engagement 20 Legacy 21 A Vision for the Future 22 Support 4 5 EXECUTIVE MESSAGE In the spirit of inquiry and discovery embodied by Benjamin Franklin, the mission of The Franklin Institute is to inspire a 2016 Annual Report 2016 passion for learning about Dear friends, science and technology. Understanding the impact that science and technology have on our everyday lives has never been as important to our society as it is today. A decade ago, the idea that every mobile phone would have a built-in camera wouldn’t have seemed feasible. Gene editing and its vast promise for the future of medicine was on the horizon. In 2016, astronomers discovered a new planet orbiting beyond Pluto, and Pokémon Go took the world by storm with its innovative and addictive use of augmented reality. Reflecting on the past helps us understand how we got to where we are today— and where we might go in the future. What follows is an inspirational reflection on our 2016. It was a year of growth and planning that has begun to set the stage for our 200th anniversary in 2024. It was a year in which we laid the groundwork for the Institute’s new Strategic Plan 2017–2024, which will guide the organization over the next eight years. Among its pillars are commitments to providing a world-class visitor experience; to science communication and helping adults understand critical issues so they can make informed decisions; and to impactful education programs that inspire interest in STEM careers for underserved children. This innovative plan will position The Franklin Institute as a model for science centers across the country and around the world. One thing we know about The Franklin Institute—it is a place full of stories. Stories about learning and having fun, about wonder and discovery. We hope you enjoy our stories from 2016, and we can’t wait to see what stories we can create together as the Institute continues to evolve. Warmest regards, Donald E. Morel, Jr., Ph.D. Larry Dubinski Chair, Board of Trustees President and CEO 6 7 DESTINATION 2016 Exhibitions In 2016, the Institute hosted five special exhibitions and welcomed nearly 900,000 visitors. 194,000 were students who attended 2016 Annual Report 2016 at deeply discounted rates, including nearly 30,000 who visited completely free of charge through the Institute’s Student Access Program. The Nicholas and Athena Karabots Pavilion’s 53,000 square feet of state-of-the-art exhibition space makes shows like these possible at The Franklin Institute. Vatican Splendors: Life and Faith in The Science Robot Ancient Times Behind Pixar Revolution The year began with the final Next, the Science Behind Pixar In October, visitors had their months of Vatican Splendors: Life delved behind-the-scenes of circuits blown by Robot and Faith in Ancient Times, which high-tech movie magic. More Revolution. The dozens of robots offered more than 200 treasures than 40 interactive elements were so cutting-edge that this spanning the Catholic Church’s Lost Egypt: showcased the many moving was their first interaction with Jurassic World: influence across art, history, and Ancient Secrets, parts of the production pipeline the public. A baby therapy seal The Exhibition culture. The exhibit included used at Pixar each day. Recordings named Paro was designed to sculpture by Michelangelo, art Modern Science of team members gave firsthand improve the health of those with Finally, 2016 ended with a roar— dating back two millennia, relics accounts of the eight main dementia or PTSD. A bevy of bots of dinosaurs. During the opening Shortly after the New Year, Lost of Saints Peter and Paul, and phases of production—modeling, went “head-to-head” in a game weekend of Jurassic World: The Egypt: Ancient Secrets, Modern other pieces that traveled from rigging, surfaces, set and of soccer. And another robot Exhibition, more than 10,000 Science transported visitors the Vatican and had never before cameras, animation, simulation, challenged guests to a game of guests journeyed to the mythical back to the land of the pharaohs, been on public display. lighting, and rendering—and 21. Robot Revolution showcased island of dinosaurs for the exhibit’s explored hieroglyphics and showed how the studio breathes how robots are now a necessity in North American premiere. With mummies. Visitors learned how This exhibition was generously life into its beloved characters. our daily lives, not just a fleeting towering life-sized animatronic the latest technologies, such sponsored by the Institute’s curiosity, and offered real-life models, Jurassic World continued as medical scans and forensic Proud Corporate Partner PECO. The Science Behind Pixar was locally examples of how they will evolve to amaze visitors young and old facial reconstruction, help us to Vatican Splendors was organized presented by TE Connectivity, and in the future. through the end of the year. investigate ancient excavation and circulated together with the was developed by the Museum of sites and artifacts. Congregazione per l’evangelizzazione Science, Boston in collaboration with Robot Revolution was supported Jurassic World: The Exhibition dei popoli of the Vatican City State and Pixar Animation Studios. All images by Google.org with additional major was sponsored by PECO, and is a produced by Evergreen Exhibitions in ©Disney/Pixar. All Rights Reserved. support from The Boeing Company. trademark and copyright of Universal association with The Franklin Institute. Used under Authorization. Other funding provided by RACO Studios and Amblin Entertainment, Industrial, The David Bohnett Inc. Presented in the Nicholas and Athena Presented in the Nicholas and Athena Foundation, The Kaplan Foundation Karabots Pavilion. Karabots Pavilion and the Mandell and official exhibit airline United Presented in the Nicholas and Athena Center. Airlines. The exhibit was locally Karabots Pavilion and the Mandell presented by PECO. Center. 8 9 VOLUNTEER INSTITUTE AS COMMUNITY HUB When it comes to Community Night superpowers . volunteer Tom Twardowski knows a few things. How does Community Night—a free, educational, and fun-filled Annual Report 2016 Spiderman climb walls? How can Ghost Rider throw fire? The evening of science held at The Franklin Institute answer, according to the man known as Dr. T., is simple: plastics. every third Wednesday—plays host to hundreds of Dr. T. has been a science presenter at The Franklin Institute for area residents each month. Visitors who turn out more than a decade. Since 2012 he has organized the Plastic for Community Night gain free admission to the Chemistry Fair, a family-oriented plastics education show that Institute’s exhibitions along with a slate of special has taken place in the Institute since 2012. This year’s fair, now programs and themed activities. Every Community an annual event, found Dr. T. treating audiences to his “Plastics Night is unique and 2016 found more than 8,000 are Super” demonstration where young and old alike learned all children and grownups taking part in a wide range of about the plastics that make the impossible possible. programming. With an undergraduate degree in chemical engineering and At April’s Community Night, a Creativity Garden a Ph.D. in material science engineering from the University of Mini-Grant generously provided to the Institute Illinois, Dr. T. is a highly respected former teacher and university by the Association of Science-Technology Centers professor who now works as a scientist at Integra LifeSciences. supported hands-on design workshops exploring the Finding time in a busy schedule like his might seem like a ways creativity and STEM work together to generate superhuman skill, but Dr. T. credits the Museum Programs Team new objects, ideas, and art. “The Construction for their enthusiasm in helping him bring his message about Challenge” invited teams to dream up and build the many uses of plastics to a wider audience. “The Programs a problem-solving machine, allowing them to Department provides the encouragement that makes a volunteer discover the critical role creative thinking plays in want to contribute. It’s one thing to teach students,” he said, “it’s the engineering process. Visitors taking part in “The another thing entirely to share your knowledge with the public.” Science of Animation” workshop that same night dove into the computer science behind film animation and With the assistance of the Museum Programs department and used what they discovered to generate an animated the Philadelphia section of the Society of Plastic Engineers, world of their own imagining. Come May, the Brain Dr. T. has grown the Plastic Chemistry Fair into an all-day affair Injury Association of Pennsylvania hosted a Brain involving more than 100 volunteers from local businesses, Safety Awareness Fair during Community Night. universities, and organizations. They are just some of the more Guests learned about the human brain and some 400 than 1,800 volunteers who in 2016 contributed nearly 84,000 of them were fitted with free bicycle helmets as part hours of their time to support activities throughout the museum. of the event. For The Franklin Institute, it is volunteers like Dr. Twardowski— the knowledge they share and the time they give—that make the Community Night serves as a model of how to impossible possible. increase accessibility and engagement for museums around the country. Made possible by Merck and EMD Performance Materials. 10 11 SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY Virtual Reality and Mobile App Launch In this digital era, we aim to have The Annual Report 2016 Franklin Institute be the place where the public can experience the latest technologies, both as science experiences on site as well as tools they can use to improve their visit to the museum.