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| Formation | 1977 |
|---|---|
| Type | 501(c)3 organization |
| Focus | chemistry and life sciences research, early-career investigators, instrumentation |
| Headquarters | Irvine, CA |
| Executive director | Anne Hultgren |
| Website | https://www.beckman-foundation.org/ |
The Arnold & Mabel Beckman Foundation is a private foundation that funds research by young investigators in chemistry and life sciences. Chemist and inventor Arnold O. Beckman and his wife, Mabel, established the foundation in 1977. The foundation is based at the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Center of the National Academy of Sciences in Irvine, CA.
Since its inception, the Beckman Foundation has provided more than $700 million in grants to researchers in chemistry and life sciences.
Founders
Arnold O. Beckman met Mabel (née Meinzer) while he was serving as a private in the US Marine Corps during World War I and she as a Red Cross nurse. After nearly 6 years of dating long-distance, they married in Brooklyn in 1925 and moved west so Arnold could complete his PhD at the California Institute of Technology.
In the early 1930s, while working as an assistant professor at Caltech, Dr. Beckman invented an instrument to measure the acidity of lemon juice. This acidimeter, which he later renamed the Beckman pH meter, became the precursor to the electric that is used to measure a solution’s acidity or alkalinity.
As demand for his instrument grew, Dr. Beckman left teaching in 1935 to found National Technical Laboratories, later renamed Beckman Instruments. In 1941, the company released two more instruments: the Beckman DU spectrophotometer, which identifies chemicals based on the wavelengths of light they absorb, which Dr. Beckman called his “most impactful invention;” and the helical potentiometer, an industrially produced resistor that would soon account for 40% of the company’s overall profit.
Beckman Instruments became a leading supplier of medical and research instruments as well as electric analog computers. Dr. Beckman’s inventions made him one of the most influential chemists of the 20th century. His inventions were instrumental in establishing the base pair theory of DNA assembly and in the Meselson–Stahl experiment, which demonstrated that a DNA molecule’s two strands separate during replication. Dr. Beckman joined the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 1987 and received the National Academy of Sciences’ most prestigious award, the Public Welfare Medal, in 1999.
In 1982, Dr. Beckman sold Beckman Instruments to SmithKline Corp. for $1 billion. The sale made Dr. Beckman one of the wealthiest people in California. The company was later spun out of SmithKline Corp and operates today as Beckman Coulter and as a division within Danaher Corporation.
Mabel died of cancer in 1989 at 88 years old. Dr. Beckman lived another 15 years and died of natural causes in 2004 at 104.
Mission and history
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At age 65, Dr. Beckman stepped down as president of Beckman Instruments, and he and Mabel turned their attention to philanthropy. The couple established the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation in 1977 to give back to the scientific community.
"I accumulated my wealth by selling instruments to scientists," Dr. Beckman said. “So I thought it would be appropriate to make contributions to scientists, and that's been my number-one guideline for charity.”
The foundation started with five gifts given between 1978 and 1989 that established and constructed five Beckman institutes and centers and a National Academy of Sciences facility. The foundation continues to support research at these five Beckman research institutes and centers with annual grant funding.
- Beckman Research Institute (Duarte, CA): Opened in 1983, this institute is located at City of Hope, a clinical research center and hospital that started as a tuberculosis clinic, in remembrance of Mabel’s bout with tuberculosis early in their marriage.
- Beckman Laser Institute and Medical Clinic (Irvine, CA): Opened in 1986 at the University of California, Irvine, the clinic uses lasers to study basic cell biology and apply that knowledge to diagnose and treat disease.
- Beckman Center at the National Academy of Sciences (Irvine, CA): Beckman’s vision for a West Coast headquarters for the National Academies resulted in this center, opened in 1988, which hosts scientific conferences.
- Beckman Center for Molecular and Genetic Medicine (Stanford, CA): This center opened in 1989 at Stanford University with the goal of propelling basic science discoveries in molecular biology and genetics into the clinic.
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology (Urbana, IL): This institute, opened in 1989 at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Beckman’s alma mater, was founded with the mission of breaking down barriers among science and technology disciplines.
- Beckman Institute at Caltech (Pasadena, CA): Opened in 1990, this institute at the California Institute of Technology was designed as a hub for instrumentation and innovation.
Mabel was central to developing the foundation’s mission and in the early gifts that established the Beckman centers and institutes. As board secretary, she evaluated proposals, attended meetings and site visits, and made funding decisions. She died three months after the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology’s inauguration.
Present mission
The Beckmans had planned to disburse the foundation’s endowment in their lifetimes. But after Mabel’s death, in 1990, Dr. Beckman changed the foundation to be in perpetuity. He updated its mission to support innovative, high-risk research in chemistry and life sciences by young scientists, who often aren’t yet established enough to win large, federal grants, and to foster invention with an eye toward opening new avenues for basic research.
Dr. Beckman also added a focus on improving elementary school science education locally. In 1998, he announced a $14.4 million donation over 12 years to Orange County, CA, school districts for K–6 teacher training, hands-on science kits, and direct grants.
National grant programs
The Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation funds the following national grant programs:
Beckman Young Investigator Program
The Beckman Young Investigator Program supports chemistry and life sciences research by promising faculty members early in their careers. The grant amount is about $600,000 over four years.
Two Beckman Young Investigators have gone on to win Nobel Prizes:
- Jennifer Doudna (‘96) shared the 2020 Nobel Prize in Chemistry with Emmanuelle Charpentier “for the development of a method for genome editing.”
- Carolyn R. Bertozzi (‘98) shared the 2022 Nobel Prize in Chemistry with Morten Meldal and K. Barry Sharpless “for the development of click chemistry and bioorthogonal chemistry.”
Additionally, at least 33 Beckman Young Investigators have been elected to the National Academy of Sciences.
Arnold O. Beckman Postdoctoral Fellowship
The Arnold O. Beckman Postdoctoral Fellowship in Chemical Sciences or Chemical Instrumentation Award supports advanced postdoctoral research in fundamental chemistry or in the development and building of chemical instrumentation. The award amount is $224,000 over two years.
Beckman Scholars Program
The Beckman Scholars Program is a 15-month mentored research opportunity for undergraduate students in chemistry, biology, or an interdisciplinary combination of the two. The amount of the institutional award is $21,000 per student and $5,000 per mentor.
Instrumentation Grants
The foundation periodically implements short-term grant opportunities related to current instrumentation needs.
Additional Activities
Beckman Speaker and Conference Support Fund
The Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation Speaker and Conference Support program provides funding for current Beckman awardees to invite current or former Beckman awardees or foundation leaders to speak at an institutional event. The program provides up to $3,000 per request.
Annual Symposium
Each summer, the foundation holds its annual Beckman Symposium for current national grant recipients to present their latest research. The symposium is intended to promote the sharing of scientific knowledge and to foster collaboration.
Community Support Grants
In addition to national programs, the foundation provides local community support grants:
- “Beckman Family” Awardee Community Support Grants: Current national grant recipients may apply for $5,000 for a project for a local STEM or STEAM organization.
- Beckman Local Community Grants: These grants support innovative STEM or STEAM activities for youth in Orange County, CA.
Research into application anonymization
In 2024, the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation published results of a multi-year application-anonymization experiment. The foundation found that removing certain identifying information from the first round of applications for the Beckman Young Investigator Award reduced the number of awards issued to applicants from prestigious institutions by 30%. Anonymizing the application did not impact the awardees’ gender distribution.
Leadership
Dr. Beckman served as chair of the foundation board until he was 95.
Jackie Dorrance served as the foundation’s first executive director and CEO from 1996 through 2015. Anne Hultgren joined the foundation as executive director and CEO in 2015. Catrina Bryant is deputy director.
Board chairs (emeritus)
- George Argyros
- Steve Ryan
- Harry Gray
- Bill May
- Gary Wescombe
Board of directors
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Scientific advisory council
- Annaliese Franz
- Kent Hill
- Philip LeDuc
- Anne McNeil
- Karl Mueller
- Kim Orth
- Jason Shear
Financials
The Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation is a section 501(c)3 exempt private operating foundation. A financial report section within the foundation’s annual report is included on its website.
See also
- Arnold Beckman
- Beckman Coulter
- Beckman Fellow
- Beckman Young Investigators Award
- DU spectrophotometer
External links
References
- Beckman Foundation Reveals Updated Logo and Refreshed Visual Identity in Lead Up to Organization’s Semicentennial Anniversary. Accessed May 16, 2024. https://www.prweb.com/releases/beckman-foundation-reveals-updated-logo-and-refreshed-visual-identity-in-lead-up-to-organizations-semicentennial-anniversary-302082749.html
- The woman who made Beckman’s history. Default. Accessed May 16, 2024. https://beckman.illinois.edu/about/news/article/2023/03/10/the-woman-who-made-beckman-s-history
- Arnold Thackray, Minor Myers, Jr. Arnold O. Beckman: One Hundred Years of Excellence. Chemical Heritage Foundation; 2000.
- Helical Potentiometer (Helipot). Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation. Accessed May 16, 2024. https://www.beckman-foundation.org/about-foundation/inventions/helical-potentiometer-helipot/
- Laws D. Beckman, Shockley and the 60th Anniversary of the Birth of Silicon Valley. CHM. Published February 10, 2016. Accessed May 16, 2024. https://computerhistory.org/blog/beckman-shockley-and-the-60th-anniversary-of-the-birth-of-silicon-valley/
- Arnold O. Beckman. Science History Institute. Accessed May 16, 2024. https://www.sciencehistory.org/education/scientific-biographies/arnold-o-beckman/
- Vischer E, Chargaff E. The separation and quantitative estimation of purines and pyrimidines in minute amounts. J Biol Chem. 1948;176(2):703-714.
- Meselson M, Stahl FW. The Replication of DNA in Escherichia Coli. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1958;44(7):671-682.
- National Inventors Hall of Fame Inductee Arnold Beckman and the PH Meter. Published May 16, 2024. Accessed May 16, 2024. https://www.invent.org/inductees/arnold-o-beckman
- Public Welfare Medal. Accessed May 16, 2024. https://www.nasonline.org/programs/awards/public-welfare-medal.html
- Reed V. Beckman Foundation: Lasting Impact. Orange County Business Journal. Published May 30, 2004. Accessed May 16, 2024. https://www.ocbj.com/imported/beckman-foundation-lasting-impact/
- Company History. Accessed June 4, 2024. https://www.beckman.com/about-us/company-history
- Berkman L. Mabel Beckman, 88; Philanthropist and Wife of Inventor Arnold O. Beckman. Los Angeles Times. Published June 3, 1989. Accessed May 16, 2024. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-06-03-mn-714-story.html
- Saxon W. A. O. Beckman, 104, Science Benefactor, Dies. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/20/us/a-o-beckman-104-science-benefactor-dies.html. Published May 20, 2004. Accessed May 16, 2024.
- Looking Back at Arnold Beckman. Chemical & Engineering News. Accessed May 16, 2024. https://cen.acs.org/articles/82/i23/LOOKING-BACK-ARNOLD-BECKMAN.html
- Arnold O. Beckman, 104; invented pH meter in 1934 | The San Diego Union-Tribune. Accessed May 16, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20170312041456/http://legacy.sandiegouniontribune.com/uniontrib/20040520/news_1m20beckman.html
- The woman who made Beckman’s history. Default. Accessed May 16, 2024. https://beckman.illinois.edu/about/news/article/2023/03/10/the-woman-who-made-beckman-s-history
- Foundation Overview. Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation. Accessed May 16, 2024. https://www.beckman-foundation.org/about-foundation/mission-philosophy/
- Beckman’s $14.4-Million Science Project - Los Angeles Times. Accessed May 16, 2024. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-sep-15-mn-23331-story.html
- The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2020. NobelPrize.org. Accessed May 16, 2024. https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/chemistry/2020/doudna/facts/
- The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2022. NobelPrize.org. Accessed May 16, 2024. https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/chemistry/2022/bertozzi/facts/
- Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation 2023 Annual Report. https://media-beckman-foundation.s3.amazonaws.com/documents/2023_Annual_Report.pdf
- Hultgren AE, Patras NM, Hicks J. Blinding reduces institutional prestige bias during initial review of applications for a young investigator award. Rodgers P, ed. eLife. 2024;13:e92339. doi:10.7554/eLife.92339
- Removing institutional information from grant application materials could reduce reviewers’ bias. Chemical & Engineering News. Accessed May 16, 2024. https://cen.acs.org/policy/research-funding/Removing-institutional-information-grant-application-materials-could-reduce-reviewers-bias/102/web/2024/03
- Anonymizing research funding applications could reduce ‘prestige privilege.’ Accessed May 16, 2024. https://www.science.org/content/article/anonymizing-research-funding-applications-could-reduce-prestige-privilege
- Looking Back at Arnold Beckman. Chemical & Engineering News. Accessed May 16, 2024. https://cen.acs.org/articles/82/i23/LOOKING-BACK-ARNOLD-BECKMAN.html
- Anne Hultgren. Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation. Accessed May 16, 2024. https://www.beckman-foundation.org/people/anne-hultgren/
- Catrina Bryant. Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation. Accessed May 16, 2024. https://www.beckman-foundation.org/people/catrina-bryant/
- Roberts AS Alec Glassford, Ash Ngu, Brandon. Arnold And Mabel Beckman Foundation - Nonprofit Explorer. ProPublica. Published May 9, 2013. Accessed May 16, 2024. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/953169713
- Foundation Overview. Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation. Accessed May 16, 2024. https://www.beckman-foundation.org/about-foundation/mission-philosophy/