The Franklin Institute is seeking nominations for the 2019 Bower Award and Prize for Achievement in Science.

The award program was established in 1990 through a bequest from Philadelphia chemical manufacturer and philanthropist Henry Bower (1896–1988). The award, a gold medal, and a cash prize of $250,000 are presented annually to a distinguished member of the international scientific community for work in a prescribed discipline.

The annual prize recognizes individuals who have made a significant contribution to understanding and quantifying perturbations of natural systems within the biosphere, atmosphere, or hydrosphere in the age of the Anthropocene. Nominations should recognize fundamental contributions that emphasize large-scale modeling or synthesis of observational data in order to provide insights into these systems within the recent past and into the near future. Such insights may come from investigating time scales of minutes to millennia and study across multiple disciplines.

Nominees for the award must be living, and the winner must participate in the Franklin Institute Awards Week programs, to be held in the spring of 2020 in Philadelphia.

While not required, Letters of Intent to nominate are appreciated and should be sent by April 30. Nominations must be received by May 31, 2019.

See the Franklin Institute website for complete program guidelines, profiles of previous winners, and nomination instructions.