
Benjamin Franklin Lecture
Information on the lecture
The Benjamin Franklin Lecture is presented biennially at the AGU Fall Meeting in odd-numbered years and recognizes significant contributions to atmospheric and space electricity science from mid-career or senior scientist honorees. Notable contributions can include the awardee’s accomplished and interdisciplinary research and commitment to the advancement and promotion of discovery in atmospheric and space electricity.
Benjamin Franklin, a founding father of the United States, is known for his discoveries and theories regarding electricity.

Lecturer benefits
AGU is proud to recognize our section honorees. Recipients of the Benjamin Franklin Lecture will receive the following benefits with the honor:
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1Lecture certificate
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2Recognition in Eos
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3An invitation to present at the AGU Fall Meeting during the lecture presentation year
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4Complimentary ticket to the Atmospheric and Space Electricity ticketed event at the AGU Fall Meeting during the lecture presentation year
Eligibility
To better understand eligibility for nominators, supporters and committee members, review AGU’s Honors Conflict of Interest Policy.
Nominee eligibility
- The nominee is required to be an active AGU member.
- Self-nominations are not accepted.
- The following individuals are not eligible to be candidates for the award during their terms of service:
- Atmospheric and Space Electricity section leadership;
- Benjamin Franklin Lecture Committee members;
- Previous Franklin Lecturers;
- AGU President;
- AGU President-elect;
- Council Leadership Team members;
- Honors and Recognition Committee members; and
- All full-time AGU staff.
Nominator eligibility
- Members of the general public can submit nominations for the Benjamin Franklin Lecture.
- Multiple nominators for a single candidate are encouraged to collaborate on the nomination package.
- The following individuals are not eligible to be nominators for the award during their terms of service:
- AGU Atmospheric and Space Electricity Section leadership;
- AGU President;
- AGU President-elect;
- Council Leadership Team members;
- Honors and Recognition Committee members;
- Benjamin Franklin Lecture Committee members; and
- All full-time AGU staff.
Supporter eligibility
- Members of the general public can write letters supporting nominees for the Benjamin Franklin Lecture.
- The following individuals are not eligible to be supporters for the award during their terms of service:
- Atmospheric and Space Electricity section leadership;
- AGU President;
- AGU President-elect;
- Council Leadership Team members;
- Honors and Recognition Committee members;
- Benjamin Franklin Lecture Committee members; and
- All full-time AGU staff.
Relationships to a nominee
The following relationships need to be identified and communicated to the Award Committee but will not disqualify individuals from participating in the nomination or committee review process. These apply to committee members, nominators, and supporters:
- Current dean, departmental chair, supervisor, supervisee, laboratory director, an individual with whom one has a current business or financial relationship (e.g., business partner, employer, employee);
- Research collaborator or co-author within the last three years; and/or
- An individual working at the same institution or having accepted a position at the same institution.
Individuals with the following relationships are disqualified from participating in the award nomination process as a nominator or supporter:
- Family member, spouse, or partner.
- A previous graduate (Master’s or Ph.D.) and/or postdoctoral advisor, or postdoctoral fellow may not write a nomination letter but may write a supporting letter after five years of terminating their relationship with the nominee beginning on 1 January after the year the relationship was terminated.
- A former doctoral or graduate student, or a former postdoctoral fellow may not write a nomination letter for a former advisor but may write a supporting letter after five years of terminating their relationship with the nominee beginning on 1 January after the year the relationship was terminated
Nomination package
Franklin lecturers are selected based on nominations by members of the Atmospheric and Space electricity section, the broader AGU community, and the general public.
A nomination package must include a letter of recommendation from the nominator and from any supporters stating why the candidate is well-suited to give the Franklin Lecture. The letter should briefly explain the importance of the science conducted by the nominee or by those coworkers that the nominee has directly influenced in the field of atmospheric and space electricity. Any evidence of how the nominee has contributed to the advancement of discovery for the benefit of humanity should also be included.
Multiple nominators for a candidate are allowed; however, nominators should consider collaborating to submit a more robust package for the nominee.


Recipients

Victor P Pasko

Donald R MacGorman
Video

Joseph R Dwyer

Hugh J Christian

Paul R Krehbiel

Earle R Williams

Davis D. Sentman

Martin A Uman

Donald A Gurnett
