Jerusalem, January 27, 2020 — The Blavatnik Family Foundation, the New York Academy of Sciences, and the Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities (IASH) announced today the 2020 Laureates of the third annual Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists in Israel. The Blavatnik Awards recognize outstanding, innovative scientists at the early stages of their careers for both their extraordinary achievements and their promise for future discoveries. The prizes are awarded to researchers aged 42 and younger for their groundbreaking work in the disciplines of Life Sciences, Chemistry, and Physical Sciences & Engineering.
The 2020 Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists in Israel will be conferred at a formal ceremony held at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem on March 29, 2020. The Laureates will join a cadre of elite young men and women across Israel, from Tel Aviv University, Technion – Israel Institute of Technology, and the Weizmann Institute of Science, that has been honored by the Blavatnik Awards since their launch in Israel in 2017. In addition, the Laureates will become part of the international Blavatnik Science Scholars community, totaling 294 scientists from around the world. Each summer the Laureates will be invited to attend the annual Blavatnik Science Symposium in New York City at the New York Academy of Sciences, where past and present Blavatnik Awards honorees from around the world come together to share new ideas and forge collaborations for novel, cross-disciplinary research.
The 2020 Blavatnik Awards in Israel Laureates are:
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In Physical Sciences & Engineering, Dr. Guy Rothblum, Associate Professor, Department of Computer Science and Applied Mathematics, Weizmann Institute of Science
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In Life Sciences, Dr. Igor Ulitsky, Senior Scientist, Department of Biological Regulation, Weizmann Institute of Science
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In Chemistry, Dr. Emmanuel Levy, Senior Scientist, Department of Structural Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science
“Recognizing and supporting promising scientists early in their careers is essential to ensure that they maximize the impact of their future research,” says Len Blavatnik, Founder and Chairman of Access Industries and Head of the Blavatnik Family Foundation. “For the past several decades, Israel has been a powerhouse of scientific breakthroughs and technological innovation. The three young scientists recognized by these Awards are outstanding examples of the enormous potential of Israeli scientific talent.”
Ellis Rubinstein, President of the New York Academy of Sciences, noted that “From studying uncharted areas of the human genome and mapping the protein organization of cells, to improving security and efficiency in cloud computing, this year’s Blavatnik Awards Laureates have created entirely new methods to advance their respective fields and society as a whole. We are truly excited for the Weizmann Institute as it is the honored institution in 2020.”
Professor Nili Cohen, President of the Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities, said, “Together with the Blavatnik Family Foundation and the New York Academy of Sciences, we are delighted to honor these exceptional Israeli scientists on their achievement. Their drive, determination, and dedication are leading them to advance the frontiers of scientific discovery, and they deserve to be recognized with this esteemed Award.”
In 2020, 36 nominations were received from seven universities across the country. Members of the Awards’ Scientific Advisory Council, which include the President of IASH, and co-chairs Nobel Prize Laureate Professor Aaron Ciechanover and President of the New York Academy of Sciences, were also invited to submit nominations. Distinguished juries—one for each disciplinary category—composed of leading senior scientists from throughout Israel independently selected the three Laureates.
