Meet physicist Prof. Erez Berg, the 2019 Physical Sciences & Engineering Laureate of the Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists. Prof. Berg has conducted influential studies to gain insights into quantum materials—materials whose electronic properties cannot be characterized by traditional physics. His research holds major promise for devising new ways of storing and manipulating quantum information, with implications for a new computing age, as well as next-generation electronics, superconducting power lines, and MRI technologies. The Blavatnik Awards, presented by The Blavatnik Family Foundation, the New York Academy of Sciences, and the Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities (IASH), recognize early-career scientists and engineers in Israel for both their extraordinary achievements and promise for future discoveries. Of the three 2019 laureates, two were from the Weizmann Institute; the other Weizmann winner was Dr. Michal Rivlin of the Department of Neurobiology. Video courtesy of the New York Academy of Sciences.
Meet visual neuroscientist Dr. Michal Rivlin, the 2019 Life Sciences Laureate of the Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists. Dr. Rivlin’s research is making major strides in understanding sight, in particular the retina, the part of the eye where all visual processes begin. She has found that retinal cells, rather than being fixed and hardwired, are malleable and can dramatically change their properties in response to stimuli like light and motion. Her work has implications for retinal disease and blindness, and the development of computer vision technologies. The Blavatnik Awards, presented by The Blavatnik Family Foundation, the New York Academy of Sciences, and the Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities (IASH), recognize early-career scientists and engineers in Israel for both their extraordinary achievements and promise for future discoveries. Of the three 2019 laureates, two were from the Weizmann Institute; the other Weizmann winner was Prof. Erez Berg of the Department of Condensed Matter Physics. Video courtesy of the New York Academy of Sciences.
The Midwest Region’s annual Gala Dinner took place at The Geraghty in Chicago with over 600 guests in attendance. Local civic and community leaders came together to honor Michael Polsky, Founder and CEO of Invenergy. A dedicated philanthropist and energy industry pioneer, Mr. Polsky received the Weizmann Leadership Award. The evening’s program, emceed by ABC 7 reporter Janet Davies, also consisted of presentations by University of Chicago President Robert Zimmer and Prof. Avigdor Scherz, Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, who discussed his cutting-edge cancer research. Chaired by Janet and Steven Anixter and JoAnn Anixter Silva, the highly successful gala raised over $1.3 million in support of the Weizmann Institute.
Catch a glimpse of one day in the life of the Weizmann Institute, where scientists and graduate students collaborate in a unique culture of curiosity. Meet some of the passionate researchers on campus who question, explore, and discover.
Four of the Institute’s newest recruits—Drs. Amir Abboud, Yaron Antebi, Noam Tal Hod, and Sergey Semenov—kick off this review of the Weizmann Institute’s phenomenal progress in 2018. They lead us into the David Lopatie Conference Centre, where we’re introduced to other new faculty members who came aboard this year: Drs. Moran Shalev-Benami, Naama Kanarek, Filipe Natalio, Serge Rosenblum, Sivan Refaely Abramson, Giora Alexandron, and Yael Kiro.
From discovering new cancer treatments to alleviating world hunger to harnessing renewable energy sources, the Weizmann Institute provides hope for a brighter future.
The Midwest Region hosted a memorable Gala Dinner under the theme of “Breakthrough: Celebrating Discoveries. Shaping Tomorrow.” More than 500 community and industry leaders came together at the Fairmont Chicago Millennium Park to honor Jeffrey S. Aronin, Chairman and CEO of Paragon Biosciences, LLC. An entrepreneur, innovator and investor, Mr. Aronin received the American Committee’s Weizmann Leadership Award in recognition of his dedication to improving lives through his community and philanthropic endeavors. National and Midwest Regional Board members Dr. Marilyn Perlman and Brian Price once again served as event chairs, and WGN Radio’s Ilyce Glink served as emcee. Watch the full program, which featured a tribute to Mr. Aronin and the announcement of a new career development chair at the Institute.
November 15, 2017
December 14, 2016
©2019 American Committee for the Weizmann Institute of Science
