The Man Behind the Nation’s #1 Science Museum

Dr. Frederic Bertley: The Man Behind the Magic of COSI. Engage. Inspire. Transform. Those three words form the foundation of the vision set forth by Dr. Frederic Bertley, nationally esteemed scientist, scholar, educator, and President and CEO of the Center of Science and Industry (COSI). Through that vision, Dr. Bertley and his team at COSI deliver experiences that empower people through handson discovery, bringing accessible science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) programming to millions annually as the topranked science museum in the nation (USA Today).

Since assuming the role of CEO in 2017, his leadership has guided the long-standing Columbus institution to new heights and expanded its influence around the globe.

Through a one-of-a-kind partnership with the American Museum of Natural History, COSI hosts a permanent Dinosaur Gallery as well as immersive traveling exhibits, including the much-anticipated Tutankhamun: His Tomb and Treasures, opening to the public on March 24, 2023.

“We at COSI could not be more excited to bring the magic and mystery of Tut’s tomb and ancient Egypt to our guests through this remarkable exhibit,” said Dr. Bertley. “It provides a chance for all of us to relive the exact moment of discovery when Howard Carter peered into the darkness of the burial chambers and saw the treasures of the King exactly as they were when first discovered 100 years ago.”

He and COSI have also launched significant efforts to expand the reach and impact of science education. In 2021, COSI partnered with WOSU to create a new television series, “QED with Dr. B.” hosted by Dr. Bertley, which explores complex topics such as gene editing, nanotechnology, and addiction in an accessible and compelling way. He also lends his image to the online animated series, “Dr. B in 3”, which delves into science topics in short, easy-to-digest web videos. Both projects, now in their second seasons, have won a combined five EMMY awards.

Dr. Bertley’s contagious enthusiasm for educating and serving the community in innovative ways is evident in COSI’s post-pandemic efforts to bring science to where people live, learn, and lounge through an ever-growing stable of impactful outreach programs. The Learning Lunchbox initiative, a program to hand out STEM kits to underprivileged children, has distributed more than 140,000 kits in over a dozen U.S. states and internationally, including events in England, France, the Caribbean, Egypt, and at the World Fair in the United Arab Emirates. For these initiatives, Dr. Bertley and COSI leveraged partnerships with organizations such as NASA, the U.S. Department of Education, Virgin Hyperloop, and the White House. Under his guidance, another community outreach program, The Color of Science, highlights the amazing contributions to science, technology, engineering, and math made by underrepresented groups such as women, persons within the Latino, African American, and

Asian-Pacific heritages, and those within the LGBTQ+ community.

Before joining COSI, Dr. Bertley served as senior vice president for science and education at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia. Earlier in his career, he conducted immunology research at McGill University and at Harvard Medical School on the development of DNA vaccines for HIV/AIDS. His global health work includes preventative medicine and basic vaccines in Haiti, Sudan and the Canadian Arctic, and education and science projects in Egypt, Paraguay, Senegal, and the Caribbean. Throughout his tenure at COSI, Dr. Bertley has remained consistent in the guiding principle that

“Science is for Everyone” and continues to work toward universal access to science, particularly in underserved and underrepresented communities. “The power of science and technology lies in connecting education to real-life experiences and bringing people together in new and innovative ways,” said Dr. Bertley. “I am fortunate to have the opportunity to do what I love while strengthening those connections in an impactful and meaningful way every day.”