The Amos de-Shalit Foundation
Haim Harari, Chairman
The Annenberg Professor of High Energy PhysicsThe Foundation bearing the name of Amos de-Shalit was formally established in 1974 on the fifth anniversary of his death. A living memorial to the founder and first head of the Weizmann Institute's Department of Nuclear Physics, and later of its Department of Science Teaching, the Foundation's main goal is to foster an increased awareness of the role of science among young Israelis.
This year's activities included:
The Amos de-Shalit Science Workshop – Two-week research program for top Israeli 11th and 12th grade graduates, organized by the Science for All Unit – Shoam1. Out of the seventeen students who participated – four were granted scholarships. The Foundation partly sponsored this activity and will grant the scholarships.
The Amos de-Shalit Popular Science Lectures – A series of three lectures by prominent Weizmann Institute scientists open to the public was organized by the Science for All Unit – Shoam. 520 people participated, mostly high school students.
The Amos de-Shalit Prize for Excellence in the Teaching of Physics – In 2009 two prizes were awarded to: Rachel Knoll from the Ort Sapir High School in Yeruham and the Yeshivat Hesder in Yeruham and to Alina Kolton from the Muncipality High School in Ramat-Gan and the Aviv High School in Ra'anana.
The Annual Amos de-Shalit Summer School in Physics, Chemistry and Life Sciences – The Amos de-Shalit Foundation offers annual summer schools in physics, chemistry and life sciences for outstanding undergraduate students studying at Israeli universities who have at least two years of undergraduate studies. This year a one-week program was held for students in the life sciences and a two-week program for students in physics and chemistry. Forty seven students participated.
During the Summer School an evening marking 40 years since the passing away of Amos de-Shalit and 35 years since the launching of the Amos de-Shalit Summer School programs was held at the Clore Garden of Science. Invited to the event were generations of graduates of the Amos de-Shalit Summer School and the Science Workshop programs, who are now research students and scientists at the Institute.
Meetings at the Frontiers of Science, a series of lectures in popular science – The Amos de-Shalit Foundation partly sponsored this series of lectures, organized by the Davidson Institute for Science Education.
Tehuda2 – To mark the 40th Anniversary of the passing away of Amos de-Shalit, the Foundation sponsored the issuing of a special issue in memory of Professor Amos de-Shalit.
1 Shoam is the Hebrew acronym for "Science and Education Oriented"
2 Hebrew for resonance