Latin America: Connecting minds and amigos

Recent events in Argentina, Brazil, and Mexico attracted a widening circle of  Weizmann friends. At the Connecting Minds event in Brazil in October, Luis and Sonia Terepins graciously hosted an evening gathering that represented a joint effort with Luis Stuhlberger, Marcos Lederman, and the President of the Brazilian Association of Friends, Mario Fleck. Prof. Israel Bar-Joseph gave an overview of the Institute to more than 100 guests, and Dr. Ruth Scherz-Shouval from the Department of Biomolecular Sciences spoke about her research. 

In Argentina, Prof. Mudi Sheves, Chairman of Yeda Research and Development Company Ltd., and Weizmann Institute Vice President for Technology Transfer, delivered the opening lecture at the fifth BioArgentina conference. The event was held in November at the Buenos Aires Exhibition and Convention Centre, with nearly 1,000 people in attendance. Prof. Sheves described the  work Yeda is carrying out and how society can benefit from the Weizmann Institute’s scientific developments.

BioArgentina is organized by the Argentine Chamber of Biotechnology, which is led by Dr. Hugo Sigman. Dr. Sigman also serves as President of the Argentinian Society of Friends.

Prof. Alon Chen, head of the Department of Neurobiology and the next Weizmann Institute President, spoke at various events in Mexico, including those hosted by the Mexican Association of Friends. His visit included a reception at the the home of Martha Flisser (then President of the Mexican Friends) and her husband Manuel, and a cocktail party hosted by Mauricio and Joan Schwarz and the New-Generation Mexican Friends group. Silvia Gerson will become the next President of the Mexican Association.