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 future of humanity.
Sep 30, 2020... In this American Committee webinar, Weizmann President Prof. Alon Chen presents the Institute’s vision for the future in the form of three flagship projects: the Institute for Brain and Neural Sciences, the Artificial Intelligence Enterprise for Scientific Discovery, and Frontiers of the Universe.
https://www.weizmann-usa.org/blog/before-coronavirus-crisis-response-at-the-weizmann-institute/
Sep 30, 2020...
The Weizmann Institute of Science is small but mighty, not weighed down by artificial demands and committed to giving its researchers the freedom to pursue their curiosity. Because of such flexibility, the Institute was able to immediately pivot to take on COVID-19, quickly transforming scientific labs and lines of research to focus on testing, treatment, and prevention.
But as with so much at Weizmann, it’s the people that made the difference: when the pandemic began, a single scientist, Dr. Ron Diskin, was studying corona and other viruses in his lab; today 66 out of 250 labs are doing so, meaning that over 25% of our scientists faced the crisis by doing what they do best: applying their formidable skills to tackling this strange virus.
Oct 15, 2020... This crisis has shown me just how fragile our social systems are — from the ways we do business to the ways we interact with family and friends. We’ve seen our world change at a pace we couldn’t have envisioned before this pandemic struck. As a result, I’m more sensitive to how quickly the fabric of our lives can be disrupted. And I’m more keenly aware of how important it is to find solutions before the next major disruption happens. Whether we’re attempting to address climate change, the global energy crisis, or another emerging virus, scientists will, once again, be instrumental in charting the path forward.
Oct 22, 2020... The Midwest Region hosted its tenth annual Women for Science Luncheon, this time in a virtual format. Chaired by Midwest Regional Board member Rona Wolf and Bess Ekstein, the event honored Dr. Melissa Simon of Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine with the Vision & Impact Award.
Oct 23, 2020... In July of 2016, incoming Harvard freshman Eric Sun gazed up at the starry night while camping in the Judean desert. For the first time, Sun, who spent a month in Israel as part of Weizmann’s Dr. Bessie F. Lawrence International Summer Science Institute (ISSI), was thousands of miles away from his family. And yet, the awe-inspiring experience felt to him like a piece of home on the other side of the globe.
Oct 25, 2020... The number of women in science is still too low, which is why the Institute has multiple programs to turn the situation around. Meet three of Weizmann’s remarkable female scientists, including Prof. Adi Kimchi, who – in addition to conducting her Israel Prize-winning molecular genetics research – has developed several initiatives for women, such as how to balance family and career.
Nov 10, 2020...
The Weizmann Institute of Science has been ranked eighth globally for research quality in a ranking published by the Centre for Science and Technology Studies (CWTS) of Leiden University in the Netherlands.
The Institute is one of only two institutions outside the US that made it into the top ten. The other is Shandong University in China which ranked at number ten. The next Israeli university on the ranking is the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, which was number 395, followed by the Technion Institute of Technology in Haifa at 454.
Oct 07, 2020...
Finally, some positive news about climate change: Even small groves in your backyard or city park help fight the effects of rising temperatures, drought and greenhouse gases.
“Urban orchards and green spaces can contribute to a range of ecosystem services,” writes Weizmann Institute of Science postdoctoral researcher Rafat Qubaja in a soon-to-be-published paper.
Those “services” include storing carbon, reducing air pollution, regulating the urban microclimate, cooling and shading, retaining rainwater and soil moisture, recharging groundwater and more.
Dec 02, 2020... The Institute has been increasing diversity among its scientists, postdocs, and students, with new recruits from Germany, China, France, Austria, and Japan. This video takes us to the new Gershon Kekst International Office, which helps arrivals from overseas to be comfortable in their home away from home.
https://www.weizmann-usa.org/news-media/feature-stories/the-year-in-weizmann-science/
Dec 07, 2020...
As we draw to the close of a year in which humanity faced unprecedented difficulties ranging from COVID-19 to climate change-related fires and storms, we look forward to the new year with hope – an optimism that is fueled by a belief in science and its power to heal the world.
But before we put 2020 behind us, it is worthwhile and inspiring to review the many advances made by Weizmann Institute scientists.
©2023 American Committee for the Weizmann Institute of Science
