Furthering Franklin's Legacy

Eyewire © 2000

Harkening back to mid-18th century science, Clay M. Armstrong, professor of physiology at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, tied his ground-breaking research on the ion-channel gating mechanism to Ben Franklin's famous kite and key theories as he accepted the 2000 John Scott Award on Nov. 17. The award's advisory committee also recognized Adriaan Bax for his development of nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy applications and Mary-Dell Chilton for her research that enabled the production of genetically engineered plants. It was particularly suitable that Armstrong called on the memory of Franklin because the John Scott Award, which is administered by the Philadelphia Board of Directors of City Trusts, was created to forward Franklin's legacy.

Armstrong explained to the audience gathered at the College of Physicians in Philadelphia the connection between his research and electricity research begun more than 200 years ago: When Franklin postulated that...