WIM no. 17 Spring 2020

מכון ויצמן למדע Boots on the ground in Ofakim Israel’s first science pre-army prep program When teenagers hang out together at two in the morning, quantummechanics is not typically their chosen topic of conversation. But in the Davidson Institute’s new pre-military preparatory program, discussing science is one of the favorite pastimes of its young cadets. Founded by Davidson Institute of Science Education CEO Dr. Liat Ben David, program coordinator Eli Amedi, and former Weizmann President Prof. Daniel Zajfman, this pre-military training unit—or mechina — is not just another gap-year program offered to high school graduates in Israel before they enlist g Talking science: cadets in the pre-army program in Ofakim in the Israel Defense Forces. Besides courses on Judaism, Zionism, philosophy, and Israeli society that are standard in every pre-military program, a substantial part of the Davidson mechina curriculum is devoted to science, mathematics, and technology. “We wanted to create a program that stood out in the sea of gap-year programs that already exist in Israel—one that would allow youth to use science to strengthen their connection to their country,” Amedi says. After two years of planning, the vision was realized, and Davidson’s new mechina program launched last summer in the southern town of Ofakim. Twenty kilometers west of Beersheva, Ofakim was selected as the first site of what is hoped will be a series of similar science- oriented mechinot [multiple such programs]. A development town established in the barren desert in 1955 where the government placed immigrants fromMorocco and Tunisia, Ofakim suffered from high rates of unemployment and poverty for decades, until renewal efforts over the last two decades began to change the face of the city. “This town is situated in the center of the country where quality science education is still lacking,” Amedi says. “So it was the perfect location to launch this new mechina program.” Selected for their passion for science, the program’s first 19 recruits moved into a small villa in the heart of Ofakim. Their daily schedule is filled with classes designed to enrich them physically, mentally, and spiritually: from philosophy, history, and science, to physical training, army preparation—and even yoga and mindfulness. Once a week, the cadets visit the Weizmann Institute to meet with researchers and hear lectures. They analyze scientific articles, develop research skills, and Weizmann MAGAZINE Education