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Science on Stage 2022

On Monday 13th June 2022, Benjamin Franklin House joined forces with the Royal Institute of Great Britain (Ri) and National Physical Laboratory (NPL) to deliver one of the most exciting editions of Science on Stage to date!

Science on Stage, held in partnership with The Royal Institution, illuminates the National Curriculum through a variety of activities which demonstrate how the work of Franklin and scientists at the Ri arose from a spirit of awe and curiosity about the world in which they lived. The content is appropriate for upper Key Stage 2 children with the focus on a range of learning styles to enable all children to benefit from the experience.

This year we welcome almost 400 school children and staff from schools across London into the Faraday Theatre at the Ri for an exciting day of demonstrations. The show kicked off with our very own Education Manager, Henry, whose presentation on the true nature of lightning electrified the audience from start to finish. There was a thunderous applause as he lit up the room with our Tesla Coil to give a miniature Ben Franklin a loud zap of lightning!

Our presentation was then followed by two of the Ri’s very own presenters who demonstrated some exhilarating experiments with fire. They created explosions left right and centre as well as a spectrum of brightly coloured flames. Perhaps one of the most memorable moments of the day came when they burned a few too many onion rings in one experiment, which resulted in a bonfire-sized flame erupting toward the ceiling and shattering the glass bowl beneath it!

Following a short break the show was then rounded off with a fantastic demonstration from Andrew Hanson from the NPL who explored all of the fun that can be had with liquid nitrogen. Him and his team shattered flowers, created a bubbling mass of smoke, and revealed some of the most interesting facts about temperatures found across the planet and galaxy.

This is an annual event and following the overwhelming success of the 2022 show, we are already looking forward to 2023. Science on Stage is completely free of charge for all visiting schools, however tickets are limited and given on a first come first serve basis. If you are interested in bringing your pupils to Science on Stage 2023 please contact our Education Manager (education@benjaminfranklinhouse.org) who will be able to add you to our events mailing list so that you don’t miss out on future ticket releases!

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Frank(lin) Views: Rory Sutherland

Frank(lin) Views podcast features thought leaders across disciplines on themes associated with Benjamin Franklin – the great diplomat, writer, inventor, scientist and more – including leadership, the purpose of history, modern day publishing, and diplomacy.

In today’s episode of Frank(lin) Views, Rory Sutherland, a British advertising executive and Vice Chairman of Ogilvy Group, talks lessons in marketing and advertising with our Founding Director, Márcia Balisciano.

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Frank(lin) Views: Nigel Newton CBE

Frank(lin) Views podcast features thought leaders across disciplines on themes associated with Benjamin Franklin – the great diplomat, writer, inventor, scientist and more – including leadership, the purpose of history, modern day publishing, and diplomacy.

In this episode of Frank(lin) Views, Benjamin Franklin House Director, Dr Marcia Balisciano, sits down with Nigel Newton CBE, founder and chief executive of Bloomsbury Publishing, to discuss the evolution of the publishing sector, his career so far, and how he came to publish Harry Potter with a little help from his daughter.

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Benjamin Franklin House and the latest documentary from the renowned filmmaker, Ken Burns

On April 4th and 5th 2022, the latest two-part documentary series from the world-renowned Ken Burns debuts on PBS in the US. His award-winning biopics have been broadcast across the world and have focused on an array of influential Americans such as Muhammad Ali, Ernest Hemmingway and Thomas Jefferson. His latest subject is none other than ‘the First American’ himself, Benjamin Franklin. Across four hours, Burns’ documentary explores the extraordinary life of Dr Franklin and features two of Hollywood’s most recognisable stars, Michael Douglas and Mandy Patinkin, in the starring role.

Benjamin Franklin House is proud to feature in an exclusive behind-the-scenes video detailing the Founding Father’s time in London and at 36 Craven Street.

If you would like to find out more about the documentary and watch the exclusive piece about Benjamin Franklin House, visit Ken Burns: Benjamin Franklin website here.

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Frank(lin) Views: Sir Bob Reid

Frank(lin) Views podcast features thought leaders across disciplines on themes associated with Benjamin Franklin – the great diplomat, writer, inventor, scientist and more – including leadership, the purpose of history, modern day publishing, and diplomacy.

In this episode of Frank(lin) Views, Benjamin Franklin House Director, Dr Marcia Balisciano, sits down with BFH Board Member Sir Bob Reid to discuss the purpose of history.

Sir Bob Reid graduated from St Andrews University after studying political economy and modern history. In 1956 he joined Shell International Petroleum Company Limited, and he served as chairman and chief executive of Shell UK from 1985 to 1990. During his tenure at Shell, Sir Bob spent much of his career overseas, including posts in Brunei, Nigeria, Thailand and Australia while responsible for all oil exploration, production, refineries and coastal shipping.

In 1997 he joined Bank of Scotland as Deputy Chairman, where he remained until 2004. He became chairman of the British Railways Board in 1990 during the build-up to privatisation and held this post until 1995. From 1997 to 2004 he was the deputy governor of the Bank of Scotland. He received his knighthood in Queen Elizabeth’s 1990 Birthday Honours.

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Frank(lin) Views: David Bruce Smith

 

Frank(lin) Views podcast features thought leaders across disciplines on themes associated with Benjamin Franklin – the great diplomat, writer, inventor, scientist and more – including leadership, the purpose of history, modern day publishing, and diplomacy.

In this episode of Frank(lin) Views, David Bruce Smith speaks with Benjamin Franklin House Founding Director, Dr Márcia Balisciano, about making learning accessible, ways of thinking about history, and the virtues of polymathy.

Smith is based in Washington DC and is an author, publisher, businessman, and philanthropist. Following a successful two-decade career in residential and commercial property management at the Charles E. Smith Realty Companies, Smith shifted his focus to writing, editing, and publishing. In 2003 he founded David Bruce Smith Publications, a company specialising in books about authors, historical figures, artists, and leaders.

To date, he has authored twelve books: In Many Arenas, 13 Young Men, Tennessee, Three Miles from Providence, Conversations with Papa Charlie, Afternoon Tea with Mom, Letters to My Children, Building the Community, Continuum, Building My Life and the children’s book American Hero: John Marshall, Chief Justice of the United States and Abigail & John.

In 2014 Smith launched The Grateful American Series, an interactive multimedia program designed to restore enthusiasm in American history for children and adults. In the same year he formed The Grateful American Foundation, which focuses on publishing materials and producing activities for children about American History. In 2015, along with Dr Bruce Cole, Smith cofounded the Grateful American Book Prize. The annual award recognises written 7-9th grade level work in fiction, historical fiction, and nonfiction categories.

 

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Frank(lin) Views: Gay Huey Evan, CBE

 

Frank(lin) Views podcast features thought leaders across disciplines on themes associated with Benjamin Franklin – the great diplomat, writer, inventor, scientist and more – including leadership, the purpose of history, modern day publishing, and diplomacy.

Gay Huey Evans CBE sits down with Founding Director of Benjamin Franklin House, Dr Márcia Balisciano, to discuss her long career in finance and her thoughts on Benjamin Franklin and leadership.

Gay is Chairman of the London Metal Exchange and also serves on the Boards of Standard Chartered, ConocoPhillips, IHS Markit and HM Treasury. She is a Trustee of Benjamin Franklin House, Sr Advisor to Chatham House and is a member of the US Council on Foreign Relations and the IUKFP (Indian UK Financial Partnership).

Since taking up her role as Chairman of the LME, Gay has supported and steered a number of key initiatives – from the major technology infrastructure rebuild, to the diversity and inclusion agenda and sustainability initiatives.

Gay has worked within the finance and commodity industry for the past 30 years, as both an established market practitioner and regulator, giving her deep expertise across commerce, risk, governance, policy and regulation in capital markets. Awarded a CBE in 2021 for services to the economy and philanthropy, and an OBE in 2016 for services to financial services and diversity, Gay is a passionate advocate for ensuring markets build trust through accessibility and transparency and for increased diversity in business.

Gay has previously served on the Boards of Itau BBA International, the Financial Reporting Council, Aviva and the London Stock Exchange and held executive roles with Barclays Capital, Citi, the Financial Services Authority and Bankers Trust.

Funding for Frank(lin) Views has generously been provided by the United States Government

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Mary Robinson receives Benjamin Franklin House Medal for Leadership

 

Former President of Ireland, stateswoman and campaigner Mary Robinson has received the Benjamin Franklin House Medal for Leadership in a virtual ceremony on Wednesday 7 July. The award recognises extraordinary individuals following in Franklin’s footsteps who exemplify a commitment to justice, cross-cultural understanding, tolerance and humanity.

Robinson was the first woman President of Ireland from 1990 to 1997 and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights from 1997 to 2002. Her many roles now include Adjunct Professor for Climate Justice in Trinity College Dublin and Chair of The Elders.

Robinson received the award in recognition of her many achievements, over several decades, particularly on gender equality, human rights and climate change.

Watch the full ceremony below:

Previously the Award has been given to:

  • Michael Bloomberg, former Mayor of New York and Founder of Bloomberg LP (2014).
  • John Kerry, then Special Envoy on Climate Ambition and Solutions (2016).
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Frank(lin) Views Podcast: Irina Bokova

Frank(lin) Views podcast features thought leaders across disciplines on themes associated with Benjamin Franklin – the great diplomat, writer, inventor, scientist and more – including leadership, the purpose of history, modern day publishing, and diplomacy.

In Episode 3 of the Frank(lin) Views Podcast, we speak to Irina Bokova, former Director-General of UNESCO and current cultural diplomacy leader.

Irina Bokova began her career at the United Nations Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria. She was elected twice Member of Parliament and served as First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Government’s first Secretary for European affairs.

Before being elected as Director General of UNESCO, from 2005 to 2009 Irina Bokova was Ambassador of Bulgaria to France, Monaco and UNESCO and Personal Representative of the President of the Republic of Bulgaria to the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie.

As Director-General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova was actively engaged in the UN efforts to adopt Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development, including quality education for all, gender equality, the protection of the world’s cultural heritage. She actively promotes dialogue among cultures and mutual respect against violent extremism and terrorism.

She was particularly active in defence of cultural heritage in conflict in Mali, Syria and Iraq and in denouncing extremists’ destruction of heritage as a tool of war. As a result, the UN Security Council adopted several landmark resolutions on the link between maintaining peace, security and the protection of cultural heritage.

Irina Bokova was on the Forbes List of the world’s most influential women for 2016. She has received state distinctions from more than 40 countries, and is Doctor honoris causa and /or Honorary degrees of leading universities across the world, among which King’s College, Durham University and University of Edinburgh, UK, University of Massachusetts, Boston, Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, Italy, University of Geneva, Switzerland, Tongji University, Shanghai, China, and others.

Currently, she is a Member of the Strategic Committee of the Paris School of International Affairs /PSIA/ at SciencePo, France and lecturer on cultural diplomacy, visiting professor at the University of Geneva, Switzerland, Honorary Dean of the Humanitas College and honorary professor of Peace Studies, of Kyung-Hee University, Seoul, Member of the Concordia Leadership Council, New York, Member of the Board of “Ban Ki Moon Centre for Global Citizens, among others.

Funding for Frank(lin) Views has generously been provided by the United States Government

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Frank(lin) Views Podcast: YS Chi

Frank(lin) Views podcast features thought leaders across disciplines on themes associated with Benjamin Franklin – the great diplomat, writer, inventor, scientist and more – including leadership, the purpose of history, modern day publishing, and diplomacy.

In Episode 2 of the Frank(lin) Views Podcast, we speak to Youngsuk “YS” Chi. YS Chi is an international business leader and a global thought leader in the publishing, education and information solutions industries.

In his primary role as Director of Corporate Affairs and Asia Strategy for RELX, he is responsible for government affairs, corporate communications, and corporate responsibility for RELX. As non-executive Chairman of Elsevier, he works directly with governments, Elsevier customers, and in industry associations worldwide.

YS recently served as Chairman of the Association of American Publishers and has also concluded 4 years of service as the President of the International Publishers Association. He has also served on dozens of charitable, educational and industry boards, including Princeton University, South Federal State University, the Korean American Community Foundation and McCarter Theatre.

Funding for Frank(lin) Views has generously been provided by the United States Government

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