Drexel alumnus Paul Baran ’49, Hon. ’97, a founding father of the Internet, will be honored with the prestigious Bower Award and Prize for Achievement in Science by the Franklin Institute on April 25.

Baran’s theories of packet-switching, which laid the foundation for the Internet, were developed in the early 1960s while designing computer and communications networks to be used by the military in case of nuclear attack.

Presented by the Institute since 1990, the Bower Award and Prize for Achievement in Science carries a cash prize of $250,000, making it one of the largest American honors in science.

During his visit to Philadelphia, Baran will participate in a mini-symposium on Drexel’s campus and have lunch with students in the University’s Honors Program.

Baran, a member of The Drexel 100, Baran remains a leader in Internet development. He founded several companies, including Metricom, which offers wireless Internet services; and Com21 Inc., which develops high-speed cable modems. Silicon Valley Business Journal named him its 1999 "Entrepreneur of the Year."