Congress of the Future - and a side trip to Antarctica

It was high summer in southern Chile and Antarctica, but Prof. Lucio Frydman and Prof. Ernesto Joselevich brought their warmest winter gear to attend the Congress of the Future in Santiago, Chile.

The fifth Congress of the Future, which took place Jan. 9-23, is one of Latin America’s most important events. Its goal is to bring together leaders from a variety of fields to discuss the future of the planet and humankind. The event, organized by the Chilean Congress, was inaugurated by President Michelle Bachelet and included the participation of about 100 prominent scientists and intellectuals. Other participants included Chilean senators, telecommunications industry leaders, historians, sociologists, anthropologists and astrophysicists, journalists, and more.

Scientific topics included artificial intelligence, energy and climate, astronomy, medicine, and more. Prof. Frydman, of the Department of Chemical Physics, and Prof. Joselevich of the Department of Materials and Interfaces, presented on their respective fields of research.

As part of the Congress, the Weizmann Institute duo set off with dozens of fellow participants in two planes—a Hercules and a smaller jet—for an expedition to southern Chile and Antarctica. Pictured here are Prof. Frydman (left) and Prof. Joselevich (right) with Prof. Steven Chu, Nobel Laureate in Physics and former U.S. Secretary of Energy.

“It was an unbelievable experience. The meeting gave us a chance to meet new colleagues in our research areas and in science in general, and strengthen our links with the Chilean scientific community and with the local Jewish community,” says Prof. Frydman, who is originally from Argentina, as is Prof. Joselevich.