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.
May 19, 2021... The Weizmann Institute is made up of scientists and staff from many faiths and more than 50 nationalities. During the current crisis in Israel, the Weizmann Institute community offers a message of hope, unity, and coexistence. As Prof. Maya Schuldiner, Department of Molecular Genetics, says, “We know that the only way to move humanity forward is by working together.” Dr. Yifat Merbl, Department of Immunology, adds, “Just like in science, rather than focusing on the problem, we must start looking for the right solutions.”
Jun 21, 2021...
Around 50,000 years ago, a group of Neanderthals was living in the Negev Desert, near today’s town of Ofakim. No bones remain because the high concentration of gypsum in the soil decomposes the bones, but the stone tool set found there is typical of Neanderthals.
At about the same time, a wave of migration by anatomically modern humans reached a site known as Boker Tachtit, by Kibbutz Sde Boker, as reported in Haaretz. Their bones have also long since turned into dust, but the tools there – defined as Initial Upper Paleolithic tool culture – are typical of Homo sapiens, the archaeologists say. Boker Tachtit appears to have been a sort of waystation for great migration waves of modern humanity out of Africa to Eurasia via the land that is today Israel.
https://www.weizmann-usa.org/blog/will-ai-tell-us-what-whales-are-saying/
Jul 08, 2021... In the 70s, an album was released that shared something remarkable, even transformative: recordings of humpback whales singing. The whalesong on the soon-to-be-a-hit album moved people worldwide, and the raised awareness led to the “Save the Whales” movement. Half a century later, technology has evolved a bit from LPs and may be able to help us understand these highly intelligent, mysterious mammals and their eerie songs, their clicks and whirrs.
https://www.weizmann-usa.org/news-media/video-gallery/a-glimpse-of-the-weizmann-institute/
Jul 12, 2021... Catch a glimpse of the Weizmann Institute’s beautiful, garden-like campus where scientists are working to solve the greatest challenges of our time.
Jul 26, 2021...
Ofer Yizhar photographed war zones before he ever imaged a mouse brain.
Today, the former documentary photographer in the Israeli army is professor of neurobiology at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot, Israel, where he builds tools — such as engineered proteins and neural probes — to manipulate and monitor neural circuits using pulses of light.
Yizhar works at the forefront of a type of neurotechnology called two-photon optogenetics that enables researchers to stimulate and monitor neural circuits at the same time, including in moving mice. He uses this technology to study the neural circuits underlying autism and other complex conditions.
https://www.weizmann-usa.org/news-media/feature-stories/weizmann-tops-2021-leiden-ranking-again/
Dec 06, 2021...
For the second year in a row, the Weizmann Institute of Science was ranked amongst the world’s top ten research institutions!
Specifically, the Institute was ranked eighth for research quality by the Centre for Science and Technology Studies (CWTS) of Leiden University, the Netherlands (“Leiden Ranking”). It is also one of only two institutions outside the United States in the top ten (the other is the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Switzerland, ranking ninth). Other institutions in the top ten include Harvard, Stanford, Princeton, Berkeley, Rockefeller, MIT, and Caltech.
Jun 13, 2022... REHOVOT, ISRAEL—June 13, 2022—They say that where there’s smoke, there’s fire, and Weizmann Institute of Science researchers are working hard to investigate that claim, or at least elucidate what constitutes “smoke.” In an article published today in PNAS, the scientists reveal an advanced, innovative method that they have developed and used to detect nonvisual traces of fire dating back at least 800,000 years – one of the earliest known pieces of evidence for the use of fire. The newly developed technique may provide a push toward a more scientific, data-driven type of archaeology, but – perhaps more importantly – it could help us better understand the origins of the human story, our most basic traditions, and our experimental and innovative nature.
Jul 18, 2022...
Homo sapiens has come to dominate the planet, but what are the traits that have allowed humans to have such a position? On this episode, “Human Story,” Dr. Liat Ben David, CEO of the Davidson Institute of Science Education, the educational arm of Israel's acclaimed Weizmann Institute of Science, discusses her book, The Story of Our Lives, The: Homo Sapiens' Secrets of Success.
Excerpt from Groks Science Show"I do have strong beliefs that through the education processes such as we’re doing at Davidson with youths — from not only Israel but all over the world — creating and developing science literacy as the tools for making decisions and solving problems for more and more of our youngsters, and if we want the bright future that I’m talking about, science literacy is the pillar of building up a better, democratic, and tolerant society.” – Dr. Liat Ben David
Jul 22, 2022...
The American Committee for the Weizmann Institute of Science has been awarded a 2022 Gold Seal of Transparency from charity rating organization Candid.
The official seal recognizes philanthropic organizations that demonstrate a deep commitment to transparency, accountability, and inclusivity, and that operate from a position of strong financial health.
To earn Candid’s “Gold Seal of Transparency” the American Committee shared financial details and information about their leadership and board as well as their goals, strategies, and impact on the world.
https://www.weizmann-usa.org/news-media/in-the-news/expanding-the-limits-of-the-possible-1/
Nov 07, 2022...
A rock star, a Paralympic swimmer, and a Nobel Prize in Physics laureate were among the nine recipients of honorary Doctor of Philosophy degrees from the Weizmann Institute of Science on Monday, November 7, bestowed upon them in recognition of their extraordinary contributions to society.
"Each one of tonight’s honorees has expanded the limits of the possible, while inspiring others to fulfill their own boundless potential," Prof. Alon Chen, president of the Weizmann Institute, said at the conferment ceremony, hosted by news anchor Lucy Aharish on campus at the Michael Sela Auditorium. Part of the Institute’s 74th Annual General Meeting of the International Board, the ceremony and related events are taking place in person — and as usual — for the first time since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.