Weizmann Institute of Science Privacy Policy

Last Updated: June 29, 2026

The Weizmann Institute of Science (“Weizmann Institute” or “the Institute”) respects the privacy of all individuals who interact with it in any capacity, including students, trainees, scientists and researchers, employees, applicants for employment or studies, partners, suppliers, research participants, volunteers, users and visitors of the Institute campus or website, application users, job applicants, and others (collectively: “Data Subjects” or “Users”) and is committed to protecting personal information of Users in accordance with all applicable laws, including the Israeli Privacy Protection Law, 1981, and regulations enacted thereunder ("Privacy Protection Law"), as well as the European Union General Data Protection Regulation (“GDPR”), where applicable.

The Weizmann Institute is a scientific research institute and an accredited institution of higher education engaged in research, teaching, and additional educational activities. The Weizmann Institute interacts with Users personally and online, on campus and remotely, directly and through service providers (“the Activities”).

The Weizmann Institute maintains transparency regarding the privacy protection policies related to the information it may collect and use as part of its relationships with Users.

This Privacy Policy ("Privacy Policy") explains the types of information the Weizmann Institute may collect from Users or that Users may provide in connection with the Activities, directly or through third parties, and the measures applied by the Weizmann Institute for collecting, using, storing, maintaining, and processing such information, including through the Weizmann Institute’s various websites and applications.

This policy shall also apply, with the necessary changes, to services and engagements performed by or through affiliated entities operating on the Weizmann Institute campus in Rehovot (such as 'Welfare & Development Enterprises (Weizmann Institute Ltd).", (recreation center) "Yad Chaim Weizmann (Public Benefit Company)" and the “Israeli Friends of the Weizmann Institute of Science R.A."), unless a separate dedicated privacy policy applies, in addition or instead of this Policy, as the case may be.

Users wishing to participate in Activities or visiting the campus may be required to provide the Weizmann Institute, directly or through third parties, such as employers, universities, schools, testing and assessment services, with certain information, including personal information, as further detailed in this Policy.

Without derogating from the foregoing, processing of employees’ personal information is further regulated under the Institute’s internal employee privacy policies. Additional dedicated Activities or services may also be governed by separate privacy policies.

Please read this Privacy Policy carefully to understand the Weizmann Institute’s privacy practices and how personal information is handled.

Data Controller and Contact Details

As a rule, the controller of the personal information processed pursuant to this policy, including the databases in which such personal information is processed, is the Weizmann Institute of Science, Company No. 520016858. Address: 234 Herzl Street, P.O. Box 26, Rehovot 7610001, Israel.

In certain cases, where entities affiliated with the Weizmann Institute receive services or support from the Weizmann Institute, including computer services, the Weizmann Institute may process Personal Information on behalf of such affiliated entities, as applicable, as a data processor.

For privacy-related inquiries, requests to exercise rights under applicable privacy and data protection laws, or questions regarding personal information processing, you may contact the Institute’s Data Protection Officer, at: DPO@weizmann.ac.il.

What Information May the Weizmann Institute Collect?

Within its Activities, the Weizmann Institute may collect and process various categories of information depending on the nature of the relationship, the Activity, or interaction with the Data Subject. Not all categories listed below are collected from every individual.

One category is anonymous and non-identifiable information (“Non-Personal Information”).

In addition, the Institute collects and holds various categories of personal information, including personal data where applicable under the GDPR, as well as information of special sensitivity as defined by the Privacy Protection Law and, where applicable, special categories of personal data under the GDPR (together, “Personal Information”). Personal Information includes identifiable details knowingly or unknowingly provided during participation in Activities, voluntarily or randomly.

Personal Information may include:

  • Identification and contact details
    Basic personal information which enables identification and contact, such as name, ID number, email address, phone number, mailing address, date of birth, gender, photograph, username, login credentials, and additional details provided by the Data Subject in the relevant Activity context.
  • Academic, educational, and professional information
    Information relating to studies, training, research, or professional activities, including: registration data for academic or training programs, grades, certificates, educational institution details, occupation, position, evaluations, recommendations, administrative records, professional communications, and similar information.
  • Employment and financial information
    Information collected in connection with employment, fellowships, or other payments, including salary or fellowship information, bank account and payment details, tax and pension information for financial regulatory purposes, and administrative employment, fellowship, or other engagement related information.
  • Information relating to applicants for employment, studies, training, internships, research programs or other academic programs
    Personal information relating to candidates for employment employment, studies, training programs, internships, research programs, summer programs, student exchange programs or other academic programs of the Weizmann Institute, provided or collected as part of application, admission, recruitment, screening and matching processes. Such information may include, among other things, contact details, CVs, photographs, identification details, including, where relevant, a copy of a passport or other identification document, education details, transcripts, certificates, research or professional experience, academic publications, motivation letters, academic or research preferences, including preferences regarding laboratories, research groups or supervisors, inquiries and communications relating to the evaluation of the candidacy, assessments, rankings, admission decisions, recommendations, recommendation letters and referee details.
  • Research information
    As part of scientific research, the Weizmann Institute may collect research information including biomedical information, health information, scans, biological samples, clinical data, and other sensitive information, subject to the relevant research, applicable ethical and legal approvals and informed consent.
  • Information relating to participation in cultural, leisure, hospitality, and recreational activities
    Information collected in connection with registration for, participation in, or use of leisure, cultural, community, tour, event, lecture, workshop, class, course, recreational facility, members’ club, hospitality service, or similar activity operated by the Institute or its related entities, including through the Institute’s community center. Such information may include registration and identification details, reservations, memberships, subscriptions, participation and attendance details, payment methods and billing information, User preferences, visitation data, and use of facilities. Where relevant, including in relation to minors, this information may also include details of parents or legal guardians and their contact details. Depending on the nature of the activity, the Institute or its related entities may also collect information required to safeguard participants’ health and safety and to adapt activities to their needs, such as relevant health limitations, allergies, special needs, or similar relevant information.
  • Information relating to digital systems usage
    Information related to the use of the Weizmann Institute's websites, applications, and online systems, including details of use and activity in the systems, access data, online identification, system preferences, technical or statistical information associated with the use of digital means, as well as information collected through cookies and similar technologies.

    Such information may include, but is not limited to, IP address, browser type, operating system, language and region settings, browsing and activity data, and aggregate statistics. Further details about the use of cookies and similar technologies, the types of cookies, the purposes for which they are used, and the options for managing preferences can be found in the " Website Data Collection and Cookies" section of this Policy.

  • Visual information from photography and event documentation
    As part of events, conferences, public Activities, and other Activities held within or initiated by the Institute, Weizmann may collect and process visual information, including photographs and video footage, in which employees, guests, conference attendees, or other visitors may appear. This information may be used, inter alia, for the purposes of documentation, advertising, marketing, public relations, archival management, and management of the Institute's media databases. In addition, in some cases, the Institute may make use of technological tools for image processing, including for the purpose of locating or labelling participants using facial features or similar means, as part of the Institute's Activities. For more information about photographing and processing images at the Institute's events, including the use of facial recognition technologies, please refer to the Privacy Policy for Events and Photography.
  • Security, safety, and campus presence information
    Information collected for the purposes of campus security, safety, and operations, including CCTV footage, entry and exit records, campus visitor authorization information, vehicle registration details, and other information required for Weizmann campus security and safety of Users, employees and visitors.
  • Information received from third parties
    In some cases, the Weizmann Institute may receive personal information about a Data Subject from third parties, such as educational institutions, healthcare providers, research collaborators, employers, funding entities, referees, and contact persons, as permitted by law and relevant to the Activity involved.
How Is Users' Personal Information Collected?

Personal information is collected directly and indirectly in various ways, depending on the nature of the engagement, the Activity or the service.

Direct collection from Data Subjects may occur when:

Among other things, personal information is provided to the Weizmann Institute directly by the Users in cases such as:

  • A User applies to, or studies in trains in, interns in, or is a prospective participant in one of the Institute’s study, training, research, summer, exchange or other academic programs;
  • A User applies for employment, volunteers, or provides services to the Institute;
  • A User provides personal information to the Weizmann Institute while participating in scientific research of the Weizmann Institute;
  • A User has registered for or participated in one of the Activities, including events, tours, lectures, workshops, cultural Activities, hospitality or recreational services of the Weizmann Institute or a related entity;
  • A User purchases tickets, subscriptions, or services or uses facilities or services operated by the Institute or its related entities;
  • A User joins mailing lists of the Weizmann Institute;
  • A User accesses the Weizmann Institute’s website or applications;
  • A User has purchased products and services from the Weizmann Institute or provided them to the Weizmann Institute.
  • A User provides personal information for Institute campus entry authorization.

Indirect or third-party collection may occur through:

In some cases, the Weizmann Institute also receives personal information indirectly, including:

  • Personal information kept in collections, archives and documentation systems;
  • Information provided to the Weizmann Institute as part of academic research by third parties, such as hospitals, universities, or research institutions;
  • Information provided to the Weizmann Institute by educational institutions, universities, academic registrars, referees, supervisors, academic partners or similar parties, in connection with the evaluation of applications for studies, training, internships, research programs, summer programs or other academic programs;
  • The User is on donor, alumni, or partner databases;
  • Contact information provided to the Weizmann Institute by one of the Users as emergency contacts or recommenders, or otherwise;
  • Personal Information included in complaints, inquiries, or reports.

Collecting information through digital means

The Weizmann Institute, independently or through third-party services as detailed below, also collects personal information through Users' use of the Weizmann Institute's website, applications, and online systems. These may include technical details and behavioral information such as the User's Internet Protocol (IP) used to connect the computer to the Internet, URL, operating system, browser type, browser plug-in types and versions, screen resolution, flash version and time zone settings, User's 'click flow', the amount of time the User visited, the methods used to exit the page, and any phone numbers used to call Weizmann service numbers. In this framework, the Weizmann Institute may make use of cookies and similar technologies. Further details in this regard, including the types of cookies, the purposes of use and the options for managing preferences, can be found in the "Website Data Collection and Cookies" section of this policy.

What are the Purposes of Collecting Personal Information by the Weizmann Institute

The Weizmann Institute uses personal information to enable and improve its Activities and to comply with contractual, ethical, and legal obligations, including, for example:

  • Performance of contractual obligations signed between the Weizmann Institute and the User or any other person on his behalf;
  • Management of academic, educational, and scientific activities including registration for study and training programs, conducting academic research, documenting professional activities, liaising with academic partners, and managing professional interfaces;
  • Management of application, admission, screening and matching processes for study, training, internship, research, summer, student exchange and other academic programs, including verifying eligibility and admission requirements, reviewing CVs, transcripts, certificates, recommendations and motivation letters, communicating with applicants and referees, evaluating applications by professional, academic and administrative personnel of the Institute, ranking candidates, matching candidates with scientists, supervisors, laboratories or research groups, making admission decisions, and providing notices and updates regarding the candidacy or participation in the program;
  • Managing and documenting recruitment and screening procedures, including receiving applications and nominations, examining suitability for positions, contacting candidates, in accordance with the law and the Institute's internal arrangements;
  • Managing a User's account at the Weizmann Institute, including identifying and verifying access to parts of campus and Activities, including for security purposes;
  • Management and operation of cultural, community, leisure, hospitality and recreational activities, including activities of the Institute’s community center, classes, courses, workshops, events, and similar services; registration for and participation in such Activities; management of memberships, subscriptions, and reservations; provision of services to Users; operation of facilities; billing, collection, and payments; communication with participants, parents, or legal guardians, including updates and changes relating to the Activities; safeguarding participants’ health and safety and adapting Activities to participants’ needs; marketing of Activities in accordance with applicable law and any required consents; statistical analysis; and improvement of the services, Activities, and User experience;
  • User payment processing and financial administration;
  • User update about changes to Activities;
  • contacting the User for the purpose of providing technical assistance;
  • Responding to user questions, troubleshoot, detect and defend against error, fraud, or other criminal activity, and solicit feedback in connection with Activities;
  • Contacting the User in order to provide information about the Activities, or about events or for the purpose of promotion or other Activities offered by the Weizmann Institute, including on other websites;
  • Monitoring the use of Weizmann Institute's facilities and Activities in order to enable the Weizmann Institute to improve its Activities;
  • Internal management, documentation and publication of the Institute's activities, including the use of photographs and visual documentation of events, conferences and activities, for the purposes of managing and maintaining the Institute's media databases, as well as for marketing, graphics, communication and public relations purposes. In this framework, the Weizmann Institute may use technological tools, including automated or semi-automated means, for the purpose of efficiently sorting, cataloging, classifying, and locating visual materials, including labeling images or preparing them for groups and locating participants in groups, for internal management and future use of the content. It is clarified that such processing is not intended to be used for the purpose of verifying the identity of individuals, and is not used for the purposes of control, surveillance or personal decision-making;
  • Compliance and audit purposes, such as fulfilling reporting obligations, for the purpose of preventing crime or for the purpose and realization of the rights of the Weizmann Institute and/or the User and/or others.
What is the Legal Basis of Processing Personal Information by the Weizmann Institute

Personal Information is generally processed based on one or more of the following legal grounds  depending on the nature of the Activity, the type of Personal Information, the relationship with the Data Subject, and the applicable law. Where the GDPR applies, the Weizmann Institute will rely on one or more of the legal bases set out under the GDPR, as applicable, including:

  • Performance of a contract or steps prior to entering into a contract – where the processing is necessary to provide an Activity, service, program, registration, membership, employment-related process, engagement, payment process, or other relationship requested by or involving the Data Subject;
  • Compliance with legal obligations – where the processing is necessary for the Institute to comply with legal, regulatory, tax, accounting, employment, research, safety, security, reporting, or other obligations applicable to it;
  • Legitimate interests – where the processing is necessary for the legitimate interests of the Weizmann Institute or a third party, and such interests are not overridden by the rights and freedoms of the Data Subject. Such interests may include operating, managing, securing and improving the Institute’s Activities, campus, facilities, websites and systems; managing relationships with Users, applicants, students, trainees, researchers, partners, suppliers and visitors; promoting the Institute’s Activities; recruiting suitable candidates, students and research participants; preventing fraud, misuse or security incidents; and protecting the rights, property and safety of the Institute, its Users and others;
  • Consent – where consent is requested and is an appropriate legal basis under applicable law, including, where relevant, for certain marketing communications, optional cookies or similar technologies, photography or other specific Activities. Where processing is based on consent, the Data Subject may withdraw consent in accordance with applicable law, without affecting the lawfulness of processing carried out before withdrawal;
  • Public interest or other lawful grounds relevant to academic, educational and scientific research activities – where applicable, including in connection with the Institute’s academic, educational, scientific research or public-interest functions, subject to the conditions and safeguards required by applicable law;
  • Scientific research purposes – where Personal Information is processed in the context of scientific research, such processing will generally be carried out for scientific research purposes, on the basis of an applicable lawful ground, and subject to applicable legal, ethical and professional requirements, research protocols, ethics committee approvals, informed consent or other research-specific consent requirements, and appropriate safeguards.

Where the processing involves information of special sensitivity under Israeli law or special categories of personal data under the GDPR, the Institute will process such information only where permitted under applicable law and subject to any required conditions and safeguards.

Legal Obligation to Provide Information and Implications of not Providing

Providing Personal Information to the Weizmann Institute is generally voluntary unless specifically otherwise required by law regarding certain information, where the Institute is subject to legal obligation to collect or provide information (for example: labor law obligations, tax law, security, or legal requirements applicable to scientific research or to employment).

Failure to provide personal information that is not required by law will be done at the discretion of the Data Subject. However, failure to provide personal information may result in the inability to:

  • Allow participation in certain Activity;
  • Provision of services, access or authorization;
  • Completion of engagement, research process, screening, admission, employment, or payment processing.

All depending on the type of Activity and relevant information.

Sharing Information with Third Parties

The Weizmann Institute may share personal information with third parties for the purposes described in this Policy and to the extent required for the realization of those goals, in accordance with applicable law.

Such third parties may include:

Related Entities & Partners

The Weizmann Institute may transfer personal information to entities affiliated with the Weizmann Institute, including subsidiaries – whether they are wholly or partially owned by the Weizmann Institute and other related entities (such as Friends Associations), whether they are for-profit or non-profit entities, as well as research partners, business partners and academic collaborators, for the purpose of joint activity, relationship management, promotion of the Institute's goals, conducting research, operating services and other activities related to the Weizmann Institute's Activities.

Personal Information may also be shared with relevant academic, professional or administrative personnel, committees, scientists, supervisors, laboratories, research groups, academic collaborators or program partners, where necessary for evaluating applications, matching candidates with programs, laboratories or supervisors, administering academic programs, or otherwise operating the relevant Activity.

Suppliers & Service Providers

The Weizmann Institute is assisted by various suppliers and service providers in order to operate its Activities. In this framework, the Institute may transfer personal information to suppliers that provide, inter alia:

  • IT, hosting, cybersecurity, and technical support providers;
  • Learning management, organizational resource management and business operation systems;
  • Marketing, mailing, data analytics, and website usage analytics services;
  • Video conferencing and communications services;
  • Security, administrative, and campus operation services;
  • Human resources, recruitment, pensions, and administrative services;
  • Various operational providers, such as delivery, catering, cleaning, contractors, maintenance, and IT support services;
  • Systems for managing registration, reservations, subscriptions, payment processing and ticketing systems for activities, events, tours, leisure and leisure services;
  • Providers that provide event production, hospitality, culture, leisure and facility operation services;
  • Professional services, such as legal, accounting, and other services.

The Weizmann Institute endeavors to enter into appropriate agreements with relevant suppliers that regulate the manner in which personal information is used and processed on behalf of the Institute, in accordance with applicable law.

Media Platforms & Social Media

In addition, personal information may also be shared with media platforms and social networks, if the User chooses to make use of sharing or logging in to those platforms, as detailed in the chapter " Website Data Collection and Cookies".

Legal and Business Circumstances

In addition, the Weizmann Institute may disclose personal information to third parties in connection with the sale of assets, technology licensing and commercial partnerships, as well as any form of corporate transaction. Similarly, the Weizmann Institute may transfer personal information to third parties if it is obligated to disclose or share such information in order to comply with any legal obligation, review or compliance, during any legal or regulatory proceeding or investigation, or to enforce or apply Weizmann Institute agreements; or to protect the rights, property, or safety of Users, or others. These cases involve exchanging information with other companies and organizations for the purposes of fraud protection, credit risk mitigation and cybercrime prevention.

For the avoidance of doubt, the Weizmann Institute may transfer and disclose non-personal data to third parties at its discretion.

Where does the Weizmann Institute store User data?

The Weizmann Institute and/or anyone on its behalf may store personal information on Weizmann Institute's computers, local servers and data centers, or in cloud-based computing services, such as OneDrive, Google Drive, Box, Dropbox, etc.

International data transfers

There may be cases of transfer, storage, and use of personal information at destinations located outside or within Israel or the European Economic Area (EEA). In these cases, the Weizmann Institute will act in accordance with the provisions of the law, including, as applicable, the GDPR and Privacy Protection Regulations (Transfer of Information to Databases Outside the Borders of the State), 5761-2001, and will take reasonable measures to ensure that the information is stored and processed at an appropriate level of protection, in accordance with this policy.

The Weizmann Institute may transfer personal information outside of the European Economic Area and Israel, to:

  • Store or back up the information;
  • Enable the provision of Activities and the fulfillment of a contract;
  • Fulfill any obligation under the law, audit or compliance, that requires the Weizmann Institute to make the transfer;
  • To allow the Activities to be carried out, when this is within the framework of the legitimate interests of the Weizmann Institute and it has reached the conclusion that they do not infringe on the rights of the User;
  • To serve the Users;
  • To maintain its relationships with subsidiaries, affiliates and other related entities, in an efficient and optimal manner.
Data Retention

The Weizmann Institute will retain personal information to carry out the Activities, comply with legal obligations, resolve disputes, enforce agreements, and uphold best practices for research, testing, compliance, and any other legitimate purpose. If access to such data is determined to be unexpected or no longer required, it may be encrypted and archived, deleted, and anonymized. Research information may be retained for an indefinite period to maintain the reliability of the research data and for future secondary research on this information.

Personal information may accumulate and become anonymous. Certain data may also be stored on suppliers' servers until it is deleted in accordance with such suppliers' privacy and retention policies. Personal information may be retained for additional periods of time, until it is removed from the backup systems.

In the event that interactions with the Weizmann Institute involve inappropriate behavior, over the phone, online or in person, that would endanger Weizmann Institute employees or other individuals or otherwise require special attention, the Weizmann Institute will store records of such interactions and share such information with relevant employees to prevent such risk in the future, and may share it with authorities or other entities as required. This is in order to fulfill the Weizmann Institute's commitments to ensure safety on the Institute's campus and in the context of Activities. The User may have the right to object to the collection and storage of such data, and the Weizmann Institute may refuse such a request.

Website Data Collection and Cookies

Use of Online Tracking Technologies

When a User accesses Activities in an online environment, the Weizmann Institute may use, directly or through service providers acting on its behalf, industry-standard technologies such as cookies, pixels, tags, SDKs and similar technologies. These technologies may store certain information on the User’s computer, browser or browsing device, or enable recognition of the User’s browser or device.

These technologies are used, among other things, for the proper operation of the website and online services, security, management of User preferences, improvement of the User experience, analysis of usage and performance, measurement of the effectiveness of content and Activities, adjustment of content and settings, and, on some Weizmann Institute websites and depending on the tools implemented on them, also for advertising, marketing, campaign measurement, tailoring marketing communications, or presenting more relevant content or advertisements to Users.

Types of Cookies Used

The Weizmann Institute may use different types of cookies and similar technologies, depending on the website, online service and tools implemented on them. Some cookies are strictly necessary, as they are required for the proper operation of the website or online service, its security, loading of pages, saving essential choices, access to secure areas, or prevention of misuse.

In addition, the Weizmann Institute may use functional cookies, which are used to remember User preferences, such as language, region, display settings or previous choices; analytics and performance cookies, which allow the Institute to identify and count visitors, understand how Users move around the website, measure use of content, and improve the website and services; and cookies or technologies of third parties used to integrate third-party content, functions or services into the website, such as embedded content, videos, maps, forms or sharing capabilities.

On some Weizmann Institute websites, and depending on the nature of the website and the tools used on it, cookies, pixels or similar technologies may also be used for marketing, advertising, campaign measurement, tailoring marketing content, building audiences, or presenting more relevant advertisements, including through media providers, social networks or external advertising platforms. The types of cookies and technologies actually used may vary from one website to another and may change from time to time.

Cookie Retention Periods and Third-Party Cookies

Different cookies are stored for different periods of time, depending on the type of cookie, its purpose and the settings of the relevant website or service. “Session” cookies are generally used during a single browser session and usually expire when the browser is closed, although in some cases certain information may be retained for an additional period. Persistent cookies remain on the device after the browser is closed and are used, among other things, to remember preferences, User choices, login details or previous settings, depending on the purpose of the cookie.

Weizmann Institute websites may also include cookies, pixels, tags or similar technologies of third parties, such as providers of analytics, measurement, security, operational, embedded content, social media, advertising or marketing services. Depending on the website and the tools implemented on it, these technologies may be used to enable certain website functions, analyze usage and performance, measure the effectiveness of content or campaigns, integrate third-party content and services, tailor content or advertisements, or for similar purposes described in this Policy and, where available on the relevant website, in the cookie preference management mechanism.

The retention periods of cookies and similar technologies, including third-party cookies, may vary according to the type of cookie, its purpose and the settings of the relevant provider. Where a cookie preference management mechanism is made available on a website, additional information regarding the categories of cookies, their purposes and retention periods may be available through that mechanism. Users may also control certain cookies, including blocking or deleting them, through their browser or device settings.

The Basis for Using Cookies

The Weizmann Institute uses cookies and similar technologies where they are necessary for the operation of the website, its security or the provision of the requested service; where their use is consistent with the Institute’s legitimate interests in improving, optimizing, measuring and adapting its Activities and services, subject to applicable law; or on the basis of the User’s consent, where consent is required by applicable law or where a cookie consent mechanism is used for cookies that are not strictly necessary, including analytics, marketing or advertising cookies.

Cookie Consent and Control Mechanism

As part of the use of Weizmann Institute websites, a cookie consent and preference management mechanism may be activated on some websites. This mechanism may include a dedicated cookie banner that allows Users to accept, reject or manage the use of cookies that are not strictly necessary, including through a cookie preference center. On some websites, an icon or dedicated link may also be available, allowing Users to reopen the preference center and update their choices at any time.

The options available to Users, the categories of cookies presented in the preference center and the manner in which preferences may be managed may vary between Weizmann Institute websites, depending on the technological tools used on each website, applicable law and the characteristics of the relevant online service. Choices made through the mechanism will generally apply to cookies that are not strictly necessary for the operation of the website or online service. Strictly necessary cookies may operate without consent, to the extent they are required for proper operation, security or provision of the requested service.

Additional control over cookies, including blocking or deleting cookies, may be exercised through the User’s browser settings. The manner in which this can be done depends on the browser used, and further information can be found on the support sites of the main browsers. However, blocking or deleting cookies may affect the availability or functionality of certain services, preferences and functions on the website.

Links to External Websites and Services

The Weizmann Institute websites and Weizmann Institute researchers’ websites may, from time to time, include links to external websites and services. The Weizmann Institute is not responsible for the operation, information practices, privacy policies, content, or any other aspect of such websites and services.

Use of Social Networks and Third-Party Media Platforms

The Weizmann Institute website may allow Users to connect, share content, or interact with social media platforms and third-party media services, such as Facebook, Google, YouTube, LinkedIn, Instagram, and X. Such use is made at the User’s discretion and responsibility.

These platforms may use cookies, plug-ins, application programming interfaces (APIs), pixels or similar technologies in order to enable their operation, measure interactions, personalize content or advertisements, or for other purposes determined by those platforms. As part of such use, information about the User may be collected by or shared with the relevant platforms, in accordance with the User’s settings and the privacy policies of those platforms.

The Weizmann Institute does not control and is not responsible for the privacy policies, terms of use, or the way information is processed by third-party platforms, and recommends that Users review the privacy policies of these platforms before using them.

Information Security and Storage

The Weizmann Institute is very meticulous and invests a great deal of resources in maintaining the level of security of personal information held and processed by it. Similarly, the Weizmann Institute takes steps to ensure the safety of its websites and applications. However, Users should be aware that there are no perfect or impenetrable data security measures, and the Weizmann Institute cannot guarantee that unauthorized access, leaks, viruses, and other data security breaches will never occur.

The Weizmann Institute takes steps to restrict access to personal information and to maintain its integrity and availability, as well as to ensure that its employees with access to personal information are subject to duty of confidentiality.

The Weizmann Institute will act in accordance with its policy to inform the relevant authorities and Data Subjects as soon as possible in any case of loss, theft or unauthorized access to personal information held and processed by the Weizmann Institute, all in accordance with applicable law and in accordance with the instructions of the competent authority. The Weizmann Institute will take reasonable corrective action as soon as possible.

Data Subject Rights

Data Subjects may have rights in relation to their Personal Information under applicable privacy and data protection laws. The scope and availability of these rights may vary depending on the applicable law, the type of Personal Information, the context of processing, and applicable exceptions.

Under the Israeli Privacy Protection Law 1981, Data Subjects may have the following rights:

  • Right to review: The right to review the personal information collected about them and found in the Institute's databases, in accordance with Section 13 of the Law.
  • Right to rectification or deletion: The right to request the correction or deletion of personal information, if incorrect, incomplete, unclear or out of date, in accordance with section 14 of the law.

Where the GDPR or other applicable privacy laws apply, Data Subjects may have additional rights, subject to the conditions and limitations under those laws. These may include, as applicable:

  • the right to access Personal Information concerning them;
  • the right to request rectification of inaccurate or incomplete Personal Information;
  • the right to request deletion of Personal Information;
  • the right to request restriction of processing;
  • the right to object to processing, including processing based on legitimate interests and, where applicable, direct marketing;
  • the right to data portability;
  • the right to withdraw consent, where processing is based on consent, without affecting the lawfulness of processing carried out before withdrawal;
  • the right not to be subject to a decision based solely on automated processing, including profiling, where such right applies under applicable law;
  • the right to lodge a complaint with a competent supervisory authority.

Requests for executions of such rights may be sent to to the Institute’s Data Protection Officer at DPO@weizmann.ac.il or by mail to: Data Protection Officer, Weizmann Institute of Science, 234 Herzl Street, P.O. Box 26, Rehovot 7610001, Israel.

For the purpose of handling a request, the Institute may request reasonable information to verify the identity of the requester and to locate the relevant information. The Institute may also retain records relating to the request where necessary for compliance, documentation, audit, legal claims, or other legitimate purposes.

The exercise of rights will be handled in accordance with applicable law. The Institute may refuse, limit or defer a request where permitted or required by law, including where disclosure may infringe the rights and freedoms of others, compromise confidentiality, intellectual property, research integrity, legal privilege, security, or other protected interests.

Where Personal Information is provided to the Institute through a third party, such as a school, employer, research collaborator, or other organization, the exercise of rights may need to be handled through, or in coordination with, that third party, depending on the circumstances. Similarly, in the context of scientific research, it may not always be possible to access, delete or correct certain information, for example where the information has been anonymized, aggregated, incorporated into research records, or where fulfilling the request would adversely affect research integrity, ethical obligations, legal obligations, or the rights and freedoms of others, subject to applicable law.

Collecting Information in the Context of Children and Minors’ Activities

The Weizmann Institute facilitates specific Activities for children and minors, such as experiential scientific learning on the website and online, and other similar Activities.  In addition, in the context of the Institute’s community center, classes, courses, workshops, events, or other leisure and community Activities intended for children or in which minors participate, the Institute or its related entities may collect and process personal information about the minor, as well as details of a parent or legal guardian, for purposes such as registration for the Activity, operation and administration of the Activity, communication with the parent or legal guardian, billing and payments, safeguarding participants’ health and safety, and adapting the Activity to participants’ needs.

When students participate in Weizmann Institute programs through schools, it is the responsibility of the school to obtain the consent of the students' parents or legal guardians and the exercise of students’ rights in relation to their information will generally be handled through, or in coordination with, the school, as applicable. In addition, the Weizmann Institute may collect data related to children in the context of scientific research. 

Except for such Activities, the Weizmann Institute does not knowingly collect or solicit information from children under the age of 16 or knowingly allow children under the age of 16 to register for Weizmann Institute Activities. If you do not participate in such Activities specifically intended for children, as described above, and if you are under the age of 16, do not register or attempt to register for any Weizmann Institute Activity or send us any information about yourself;  If the Weizmann Institute becomes aware that it has collected or received personal information from a child under the age of 16, the Weizmann Institute may delete such personal information without any liability on the part of the Weizmann Institute. If a person believes that information may have been collected or received from a minor under the age of 16, except as described above, you can contact us at DPO@weizmann.ac.il.

Changes to the Privacy Policy

The terms of this Privacy Policy will apply to any personal information collected, received, or held by the Weizmann Institute as stated in this Policy. The Weizmann Institute may change or update the Privacy Policy from time to time. The most current version of the Privacy Policy will be on the Institute's website. Any changes to this Policy will take effect as of the “Last Updated” date indicated in the Policy, and any continued access to or use of the Activities after that date will be subject to the updated Policy. Where a specific change requires separate consent under applicable law, the Institute will seek such consent in accordance with applicable law.

Questions or comments regarding this Privacy Policy may be directed by email to the Data Protection Officer at: DPO@weizmann.ac.il or by reaching the Weizmann Institute through other means and Weizmann will endeavor to respond within reasonable time.