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UK: A page out of Weizmann history for the Abraham Society

Date: Sunday, April 11, 2021
Prof. David Mirelman

Prof. David Mirelman

In February, Emeritus Prof. David Mirelman became the latest in a long line of distinguished speakers to give an online presentation to the Abraham Society, a London-based discussion and debating society dedicated to bringing topics of interest to a primarily Jewish audience. Almost 500 participants attended the virtual event, many of whom were new to the wonders of the Weizmann Institute. They were given a virtual whistle-stop tour of some of the Institute’s highlights, starting from its visionary founder Dr. Chaim Weizmann to its modern success as a world-class scientific research institute.  
Sheridan Gould, Executive Director of Weizmann UK, introduced Prof. Mirelman who described the Institute’s historic links to the UK. His talk included the story of how a scientific discovery by Dr. Weizmann played a notable role in securing the Balfour Declaration in 1917, signaling for the first time the British Government’s support for the establishment of a national home for the Jewish people.
Prof. Mirelman also offered insight into Dr. Weizmann’s early pioneering approach to patenting scientific discoveries and the crucial role it would have in funding future research. As a former Vice President of Technology Transfer and a former Chairman of Yeda, the Institute’s tech transfer arm, Prof. Mirelman discussed his book Not for Profit, which traces the Weizmann Institute’s expertise in patenting scientific discoveries for application in the commercial realm.