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Bessie Lawrence summer program turns 50

Briefs

Date: October 23, 2019
Source: 
Weizmann Magazine Vol. 16
A reunion of bright minds at ISSI’s half-century mark, at the David Lopatie Conference Centre in July

A reunion of bright minds at ISSI’s half-century mark, at the David Lopatie Conference Centre in July

Established in 1969, the “Bessie program” brings together around 80 gifted high school students from all over the world to take part in a month-long program in which they work alongside top Weizmann scientists in their labs, carry out their own scientific projects, and tour Israel. The symposium, held at The David Lopatie Conference Centre on campus, opened with teams of students presenting their research to a hall full of program participants and mentors, and closed with an alumni panel and dinner.

“The celebration revealed the strong impact the program has made on these extraordinary students, at the early stages of their academic career,” ISSI Director Dr. Dorit Granot said. “Years later, the alumni still express their gratitude and appreciation. They describe the experience as a life-changing event. Many of them return to the Weizmann Institute and to Israel, and become ambassadors in their home countries. They come for the excellent scientific research at Weizmann but leave after a month with a bigger sense of international community and global responsibility as the next generation of scientists.”