THE FRANKLIN INSTITUTE 2015 ANNUAL REPORT TABLE OF CONTENTS DESTINATION A Reimagined SportsZone Exhibit 4 Special Exhibitions 6 By the Numbers: Impact at the Institute 8 Science After Hours 10 Neuroscience Lecture Series Explores Social Impacts 12 Beloved Benzio 13 SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY STEM Scholars Graduates Making Strides 16 National Climate Change Education Partnership Alliance 18 By the Numbers: Impact Online 20 Partnerships Focus on Early Learning and STEM 22 The McCabe Family: Creating a Legacy of Their Own 23 PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT City Skies: Linking Neighborhoods with NASA through Urban Astronomy 26 Neuroscience Curriculum Will Make a National Impact 27 By the Numbers: Philadelphia Science Festival Impact 28 Integrating Science into Afterschool 30 Building Capacity in Out-of-School-Time Programs 31 LEGACY The 2015 Franklin Institute Awards 34 Laureates Visit Institute Collections 36 John Alviti: Longtime Curator Preserves History 37 SUPPORT 2015 Financial Statements 40 Contributed Support 42 EXECUTIVE MESSAGE DEAR FRIENDS, As one of the leading science centers in the nation, The Franklin Institute is involved in many projects to improve scientific literacy, help students succeed, inspire the public’s curiosity in science, and celebrate scientific achievement What sets us apart is how we manage to accomplish these important goals—and have fun doing it Ask one of the hundreds of thousands of children who climbed through the neural network in our award-winning Your Brain exhibit, or one of the thousands of young adults who attended our popular Science After Hours evening events if they had fun while learning, and we guarantee that they will answer “yes!” From the special exhibits like Art of the Brick and Vatican Splendors that we brought to the new Nicholas and Athena Karabots Pavilion and the Mandell Center galleries last year, to the excitement felt throughout the region during the nine-day Philadelphia Science Festival, everything the Institute does combines the best educational materials with world-class execution, creativity, and delight When people have fun learning, they want to learn more, and this is what inspires us to continue growing and evolving the Institute’s 192-year legacy This work would not be possible without the generous support of our community Whether you purchased a ticket or a membership to the museum in 2015, made a charitable donation, partnered with us on an event or project, or volunteered your time to help advance science and technology education—as nearly 1,800 people did last year—your support matters Thank you for helping The Franklin Institute to reach as many people as possible with engaging and diverse programming, throughout the greater Philadelphia region and far beyond We hope that in the coming year you will continue to support our efforts to help people discover their own passion for science and technology They may find that passion here at the museum, at one of our programs in a park in their own neighborhood, or through one of our exciting digital initiatives Wherever we are, we promise the learning will come with a dose of Franklin Institute fun Warmest regards, Donald E Morel, Ph D Larry Dubinski Chair, Board of Trustees President and CEO ANNUAL REPORT 2015 1 2 THE FRANKLIN INSTITUTE DESTINATION A REIMAGINED SPORTSZONE EXHIBIT SPECIAL EXHIBITIONS NEUROSCIENCE LECTURE SERIES EXPLORES THE EVERYDAY BY THE NUMBERS: IMPACT AT THE INSTITUTE SCIENCE AFTER HOURS BELOVED BENZIO ANNUAL REPORT 2015 3 DESTINATION A REIMAGINED SPORTSZONE EXHIBIT For fifteen yearsSports Challenge was one of the Institute’s most popular exhibits During that time, millions of visitors delighted in learning about how sport connects with the science of the human body, the laws of motion, and technical innovation In 2015, the 3,600-square-foot exhibit was taken down to the studs and completely reimagined as the new SportsZone to educate and inspire a new generation of visitors with cutting-edge science In late October the new SportsZone exhibit opened to the public, and thousands of visitors have enjoyed the 40-foot running challenge, racing against video images of Philadelphia Eagle Jordan Matthews, the Philly Phanatic, and other athletes 4 THE FRANKLIN INSTITUTE SportsZone also emphasizes the importance of nutrition and a healthy diet on sports performance, and features dozens of other interactive experiences to help children and adults alike learn about momentum, the physics of diving and bicycle races, helmet safety, and how to throw a better pitch This outstanding new exhibit was made possible by the generous support of Lead Underwriters James J Maguire, the Maguire Foundation, and Philadelphia Insurance Companies; and Associate Supporters William and Laura Buck, Mr and Mrs Ernest Scheller, Jr , and the Dow Chemical Company Facing: Local little league star Mo’ne Davis inspires a young visitor in the pitching interactive Top: The Temple University marching band helps celebrate the opening of the reimagined SportsZone exhibit Above and left: Visitors learn about the physics behind balance and momentum ANNUAL REPORT 2015 5 DESTINATION SPECIAL EXHIBITIONS In 2015 the Institute hosted four diverse and exhibit showcased just how intricate the blood riveting special exhibitions that combined vessels of animals are, what the muscular system, welcomed more than half a million people to body parts, and various organs of different learn about biology, architecture and design, animals look like, and how they compare to other history, and art Body Worlds: Animals Inside animals as well as to human bodies From goats Out opened in 2014 and continued through to giraffes, squids to sharks, and octopuses to the winter to amaze guests with beautifully ostriches, creatures large and small astounded preserved specimens of dozens of animals This visitors with their beauty, power, and complexity Next, The Art of the Brick wowed the more than 336,000 people who visited the exhibit with elaborate sculptures built from one of the most recognized and beloved toys: LEGO® Art and science collided in this unforgettable display of brick masterpieces by contemporary artist Nathan Sawaya Children and adults alike enjoyed more than 100 one-of-a-kind sculptures, some based on famous works of art such as the classic Venus de Milo and Van Gogh’s Starry Night, while Top: Lego sculptures in The Art of the Brick others were Sawaya’s original creations including Above: exploring anatomy in Body Worlds: Animals Facing: Genghis Khan showcased traditional Mongolian a 20-foot-long T Rex skeleton, and the Liberty costumes and other artifacts; Vatican Splendors Bell, created just for the show’s Philadelphia run displayed priceless works of art that rarely leave Italy 6 THE FRANKLIN INSTITUTE Later, visitors traveled back in time through Genghis Khan: Bring the Legend to Life, learning about the leader of the Mongol Empire and the effects of his reign This exhibition explained how an illiterate, unsophisticated warrior-nomad had such a profound effect on world politics and created an empire that led the world into the modern age Though he lived more than eight centuries ago, we still see his influence today Genghis Khan was sponsored by the Institute’s Proud Corporate Partner, PECO, and was produced by Don Lessem Finally, the year ended with the opening of remains of Saints Peter and Paul, and historical Vatican Splendors: Life and Faith in Ancient Times, objects from the modern and ancient basilicas which exhibited more than 200 works of art and of Saint Peter’s in Rome Many of the objects treasured objects that together form a great in Vatican Splendors had never before been on mosaic of the history of the Catholic Church and display for public view and the historic visit of its impact on art, history, and culture Highlights Pope Francis to Philadelphia was a wonderful of the nearly 10,000 square-foot exhibition time to make them available Vatican Splendors included artwork by Michelangelo, such as was organized and circulated in conjunction with signed documents and a rarely seen bas relief the Congregazione per l’Evangelizzazione dei sculpture, and tools used to work on the Sistine Popoli of the Vatican City State The exhibition Chapel and Basilica of Saint Peter; works by was produced by Evergreen Exhibitions in masters including Bernini and Guercino, artwork association with The Franklin Institute dating back to the first century, venerated ANNUAL REPORT 2015 7 BY THE NUMBERS: IMPACT AT THE INSTITUTE 888,084 ADMISSIONS 440 emerging scientists in PACTS, STEM, & freshmen from SCIENCE LEADERSHIP ACADEMY 1,933 aspiring astronomers at NIGHT SKIES IN THE OBSERVATORY 8 THE FRANKLIN INSTITUTE 8,828 young scientists enrolled in DISCOVERY CAMP 14,774 science-hungry revelers at SCIENCE AFTER HOURS 137,883 6,989 TRAVELING late-night explorers at SCIENCE SHOW CAMP IN audience members ANNUAL REPORT 2015 9 DESTINATION SCIENCE AFTER HOURS Since its initial pilot in 2013, Science After Hours, In 2015, nearly 15,000 people attended a the Institute’s monthly event series for adults, Science After Hours evening That’s a massive has become the most fun, most educational, 230% increase over the 6,000 attendees in and most popular place to be one Tuesday each 2014! Fun and sometimes zany themes included month With typical Franklin Institute flair, and March’s “Survivor!”, May’s “Trek, Wars & Who: with the help of dozens of corporate, academic, Adventures Through Space”, April’s “Philadelphia and nonprofit partners from around the region, Science Festival Kick-off: 8-bit