Opening of the 68th International Board

The Opening Gala of the 68th Annual General Meeting of the International Board of the Weizmann Institute of Science started with a bang, as the Revolution Orchestra accompanied the evening's presentations.

The evening, hosted by Weizmann scientist Prof. Roee Ozeri, featured scientific presentations by Dr. Shikma Bressler of the Department of Particle Physics and Astrophysics, Prof. Alon Chen of the Department of Neurobiology, and Prof. Assaf Vardi of the Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences with his wife, artist Nivi Alroy. The gala was dedicated to the late André Deloro and the ADELIS Foundation.

Clore Prize Awarded to Dr. Shikma Bressler

The 2017 Sir Charles Clore Prize for Outstanding Appointment as a Senior Scientist was awarded to Dr. Shikma Bressler of the Department of Particle Physics and Astrophysics. After the traditional address by Dame Vivien Duffield DBE, the board members and guests heard an interesting and topical analysis of the geopolitical situation in the Middle East by the eleventh Mosad Chief, Tamir Pardo.

PhD honoris causa conferred

on 6 visionaries in commerce, science, and the arts

This year honorary doctorates were conferred upon (back row, L to R): businessman and philanthropist Stephen Grand of the U.S.; the Hon. Laura Wolfson Townsley, Chair of the Wolfson Family Charitable Trust of the U.K; and businessman and philanthropist Sami Sagol of Israel; (front row, L to R): mathematician and Turing Prize winner Prof. Michael Rabin of Israel and the U.S.; Israeli poet Agi Mishol; and neurobiologist Prof. Jean-Pierre Changeux of France.

Dedicating The Schwartz/ Reisman Science
Education Center at the Arnon Science
Education Campus

Prof. Daniel Zajfman dedicated the new Schwartz/Reisman Science Education Center at the Ruth and Uriel Arnon Science Education Campus. Shabtai Shavit (pictured here), Chair of the HESEG Advisory Board, spoke on behalf of Gerry Schwartz and Heather Reisman. Hundreds of high-school students from Rehovot and Ness Ziona attend classes in physics at the new Center in a new regional model of advanced science education.

Spotlight on Science Education

At a luncheon on science education, Prof. Daniel Zajfman introduced the Institute’s new initiative to enrich science education and literacy through modern technology, called iScience. The program is run by the Weizmann Institute’s Davidson Institute of Science Education. Supporters of the program, the Windsong Trust, Drs. Esther and Michael Pirak, Miriam and Merle Hinrich, Dita and Yehuda Bronicki, and Blythe Brenden were honored at the luncheon.

Mandy Moross

Gala dedicated to a friend and supporter exemplar

A special tribute to Mandy Moross, former Chair of the International Board, and founder of the Moross Integrated Cancer Center (MICC), was held at at Beit Hatfuzot (Museum of the Jewish People) with Israeli novelist A.B. Yehoshua as guest speaker. Mr. Yehoshua spoke on the meaning of being a Jew and a Zionist. After the dinner, guests had the opportunity to tour the special exhibits of the museum.

Panel on cancer research

Donors and scientists discuss the future of the MICC

Prof. Israel Bar-Joseph, Vice President of Resource Development and Public Affairs, hosted a special panel on cancer research. Participants of the panel were: Bob Drake, Chair of the European Committee, who, with his wife Renée established the EKARD Institute for Cancer Diagnosis Research; Prof. Yardena Samuels, Director of both the EKARD Institute and the Weizmann-Brazil Tumor Bank; Eric Stupp, President of the Swiss Society of Friends, representing the Swiss Society Institute for Cancer Prevention Research; Prof. Zvi Livneh, Director of the Swiss Society Institute; Mario Fleck, President of the Brazilian Friends, representing the Weizmann-Brazil Tumor Bank; Solo Dwek who, together with his nephew Julian, established the Dwek Institute for Cancer Therapy Research; Prof. Yosef Yarden, Director of the Dwek Institute; and Prof. Moshe Oren, Director of the Moross Integrated Cancer Center (MICC).

After the panel discussion, Prof. Avigdor Scherz discussed his research on prostate cancer.

Panel on prostate cancer research advancements

Prof. Avigdor Scherz, pictured here with Canadian friend Sharon Zuckerman and her daughter Alison Jarvis (pictured right), gave Board members an in-depth presentation of his collaboration with Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center to advance a prostate cancer therapy called Vascular Targeted Photodynamic Therapy used in concert with TOOKAD Soluble® (TS-VTP). Prof. Scherz developed the therapy jointly with Prof. Yoram Salomon of the Department of Biological Regulation.

Celebrating Giving

Board members and guests met at the Donor Wall at the International Plaza, the major site for donor recognition on the Weizmann Institute campus, to honor those supporters who were inscribed on the wall this year. A mainstay of the International Board meetings, the Celebrating Giving ceremony allows us to publicly thank our many donors and partners in promoting science.

Closing Gala

Tribute to Morris Kahn & the Kahn Institute for Human Immunology

Long-time supporter Morris Kahn was honored at a festive gala dinner celebrating the establishment of the Kahn Institute for Human Immunology. Pictured: Mr. Kahn with his partner, Ariella Delaney. Iconic Israeli singer Aviv Geffen surprised Mr. Kahn with a few select songs.