On May l4, 2008, the Exploratorium hosts the 31st Annual Awards Dinner. Dr. William J. Rutter, Founder and CEO

Bill Rutter, Founder and CEO of Synergenics; Co-Founder of Chiron

of Synergenics (and co-founder of Chiron), will be presented with the prestigious Director’s Award; Dr. Donald Kennedy, former Editor-in-Chief of Science magazine and president emeritus of Stanford University, receives the Public Understanding of Science Award; and The George Lucas Educational Foundation will receive the Outstanding Educator Award. The Exploratorium has honored leaders in technology, science and education for over thirty years.

Kate Kelly will act as Master of Ceremonies. Over 700 guests are anticipated. The reception begins at 6:30pm. Dinner begins at 7:30pm. Table sponsorships range from $50,000 to $5,000. Individual tickets are $500. For more information, please call the Exploratorium’s Development Department at (415) 561-0322 or visit www.exploratorium.edu/support/awards_dinner.

Funds generously provided through the Exploratorium Awards Dinner are used to develop and maintain the 400+ educational exhibits that are the heart of educational programming for training teachers in the Greater Bay Area, as well as in 862 school districts in 39 states. The funds also enable the Exploratorium to reach out to underserved audiences in the community, and to make science content easily understandable and freely available to the 20 million annual visitors to our Website.

The honorees are:

Dr. William Rutter, Founder, Chairman and CEO of Synergenics, LLC; Co-Founder of Chiron
Director’s Award
The Exploratorium honors Dr. William Rutter for his leading roles in biotechnology and in science education. Dr Rutter is the Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Synergenics, LLC. He has made an indelible impact on the biotechnology field and continues to do so today with Synergenics. In 1968, he became Chair of the biochemistry and biophysics program at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), and dramatically improved the department’s reputation. Dr. Rutter co-founded Chiron Corporation in 1981; the company went on to create the first genetically engineered vaccine, develop diagnostic tests to determine contamination of blood, and produce biological products to treat multiple sclerosis and Lou Gehrig’s disease. In addition to his work in the biotech field, Dr. Rutter is credited as being a driving force behind University of California, San Francisco’s (UCSF) Mission Bay project.

Dr. Donald Kennedy, Former Editor-in-Chief of Science Magazine
Public Understanding of Science Award
Former Editor-in-Chief of Science magazine, Dr. Donald Kennedy has spent his career advancing science and education. Dr. Kennedy is President Emeritus of Stanford University. His time there was marked by a renewed attention to undergraduate education and an increase in student volunteerism and public service. In the 1970s, Dr. Kennedy served as Commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) after his increasing academic interest in regulatory policy regarding health and the environment. A biologist by training, Dr. Kennedy’s research has focused on exploring how the natural and social sciences can contribute to improving environmental practices and institutions. His specific areas of expertise range from global climate change to the ecosystem impacts of alien marine species invasions.

The George Lucas Educational Foundation
Outstanding Educator Award
Founded in 1991, The George Lucas Educational Foundation celebrates and encourages innovation in schools. The Foundation documents, disseminates, and advocates for exemplary programs in K–12 public schools to help these practices spread nationwide. It publishes stories of innovative teaching and learning through various media such as their magazine and Web site, an e-newsletter, and DVDs and books. The George Lucas Educational Foundation is honored for their work in sharing educational success stories with the public.

# # #