Professor Franklin A. Davis, a professor of Chemistry at Temple University is recommended for the 2006 John Scott Award for his work in chemistry that opened up new experimental procedures to achieve the synthesis of important molecular structures.  Synthetic methods developed by him have been adopted by laboratories around the world to aid in the synthesis of bioactive materials.  His methods involving so-called Davis Reagents, which oxodize specific chemical groups while maintaining in the product molecules the handedness of the starting materials, were used in the total synthesis of Taxol, an antitumor agent, as well as in many other applications.  Professor Davis attended Syracuse University and the University of Texas at Austin before joining the faculty at Drexel University in 1968 where he became the George S. Sain Professor.  Since 1995 he has been a professor at Temple University.

The John Scott Award

The John Scott Award is given to "the most deserving" men and woman whose inventions have contributed in some outstanding way to the "comfort, welfare and happiness" of mankind. 

The donor, John Scott, was an Edinburgh druggist who in the early 1800's set up a fund calling upon the "Corporation of Philadelphia entrusted with the management of Dr. Franklin's legacy" to bestow upon "ingenious men or women who make useful inventions" a premium not to exceed twenty dollars and a suitably inscribed copper medal.  Why Scott chose an American city to administer his bequest is not known, although it is believed he had a longstanding interest in America and appreciated the achievements of Benjamin Franklin.  The first awards were made in 1834 for the inventions of the knitting machine and a door lock.  Through the years, awards have been made internationally for inventions in industry, agriculture, manufacturing, science and medicine.

Since 1920, most of the awards have gone to contributors of science and medicine.  Awards have recognized significant contributions in prevention of yellow fever and malaria, and in the development of penicillin and streptomycin.  Among the recipients are Mme. Curie, Thomas Edison, the Wright brothers, Edwin Land, Jonas Salk, Irving Langmuir, Glenn Seaborg, Frederick G. Banting, Guglielmo Marconi, John Bardeen and Sir Joseph J. Thomson.  Awardees Alan J. Heeger, Alan G. MacDiarmid, Barry J. Marshall and K. Barry Sharpless recently won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry.

Nominations for the award are made by a committee of Philadelphians to the Board of Directors of City Trusts of the City of Philadelphia.  Reflecting the increased value of the John Scott Trust account, the award includes a substantial cash payment, in addition to the copper medal and a certificate.

The John Scott Award ceremony and reception will take place on Friday, November 17, 2006 at 5:30 P.M. at the American Philosophical Society, 427 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.