Benjamin Franklin Award (Bioinformatics)

Joseph Siffrein Duplessis - Benjamin Franklin - Google Art Project

Benjamin Franklin Award (Bioinformatics) is an annual award presented by the Bioinformatics Organization, Inc., also known as Bioinformatics.Org. The award is named after Benjamin Franklin, a founding father of the United States, in recognition of his advocacy for the sharing of scientific knowledge without restriction. This prestigious award honors individuals who have made significant contributions to the field of bioinformatics or computational biology through their work in promoting free and open access to the materials and methods used in research.

History and Purpose

The Benjamin Franklin Award was established in 2001 by the Bioinformatics Organization, Inc., a non-profit group that supports and promotes the field of bioinformatics. The award reflects the ethos of Benjamin Franklin's belief in the free exchange of ideas and information, which is a cornerstone of the scientific method and progress. It aims to recognize those who have contributed to the advancement of bioinformatics and computational biology by ensuring that data, software, and scientific results are shared openly and freely.

Award Criteria

Nominees for the Benjamin Franklin Award are selected based on their contributions to the open access in the life sciences. Criteria include efforts to promote free and open access to software, databases, and scientific publications. The recipient is chosen by the members of the Bioinformatics Organization, Inc., through an online voting process, highlighting the community-driven nature of the award.

Recipients

Over the years, the Benjamin Franklin Award has been bestowed upon a diverse group of scientists and researchers who have made outstanding contributions to bioinformatics and computational biology. Recipients of the award are recognized for their commitment to open science, including the development of open-source software, advocating for open access publications, and facilitating the free exchange of scientific data.

Significance

The Benjamin Franklin Award (Bioinformatics) plays a crucial role in highlighting the importance of open access and the sharing of information in the scientific community. By honoring individuals who have made significant efforts to ensure that bioinformatics resources are freely available, the award encourages the continuation of such practices, which are vital for the advancement of research and development in the field.

See Also

• Bioinformatics
• Computational biology
• Open access (publishing)
• Open-source software