About Us
Founded in 1944, the American Committee for the Weizmann Institute of Science develops philanthropic support for the Weizmann Institute in Israel, and advances its mission of science for the benefit of humanity.
Fall is here and school is back in session. In the ninth episode of Weizmann in Focus, CEO Dave Doneson shares a simple tip to help prepare for success this academic year. Weizmann Prof. Noam Sobel, who studies the olfactory system, found that people who inhaled when presented with a problem-solving task performed better than those who exhaled. So, the next time you’re faced with a difficult task, take a deep breath!
Did you know that malaria kills about half a million people each year? In the eighth episode of Weizmann in Focus, CEO Dave Doneson explains how Weizmann is helping to fight this terrible disease. Using computer-based tools, PhD student Adi Goldenzweig developed a groundbreaking malaria vaccine in the lab of Dr. Sarel Fleishman. Because the vaccine is inexpensive to produce and does not require refrigeration, it has the potential to help millions of people in developing countries where the battle against malaria is particularly devastating.
Summer is here! But more fun in the sun also increases our risk for skin cancer, including its deadliest form, melanoma. In the seventh episode of Weizmann in Focus, CEO Dave Doneson highlights a melanoma research breakthrough by Prof. Yardena Samuels, which could lead to “the ultimate personalized cancer therapy.”
Meet Dr. Efi Efrati, a member of the Department of Physics of Complex Systems. Dr. Efrati speaks about his research on “geometric frustration,” a physical state that could help us understand a host of phenomena—from the behavior of plastics to how living tissue remodels itself. His work may lead to the design of new materials, improved surgical procedures, and more. Find out why Dr. Efrati believes the Weizmann Institute is “the best place to do science in Israel … perhaps in the world.”
Technology can make our lives easier, but it also leaves us vulnerable to hackers. In the sixth episode of Weizmann in Focus, CEO Dave Doneson explores how Weizmann scientists are leading the way in cybersecurity. In a recent breakthrough, renowned cryptographer Prof. Adi Shamir exposed a major weakness in the “Internet of Things,” the growing world of smart devices that connect online. His groundbreaking work could result in better methods for keeping our private information safe.
June is Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month, an ideal time to highlight the Weizmann Institute’s cutting-edge neuroscience research. In the fifth episode of Weizmann in Focus, CEO Dave Doneson celebrates the work of Prof. Michal Schwartz, the first in the world to prove the connection between the immune system and the brain. Prof. Schwartz’s pioneering investigations are paving the way to more effective treatments for Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia ... and even a vaccine to slow the brain’s aging process.
Prof. Noam Sobel is interviewed for the U.S. Air Force Office of Scientific Research’s series “Spotlight on Basic Research” about his investigations of the sense of smell. Among other breakthroughs, he has found a way to manipulate smell to increase our trust in robots.
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.
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