Avi Blizovsky
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"Winning the Nobel Prize is of course finally recognition of the excellence and uniqueness of Israeli science. We constantly know that we are at the forefront of world science and this is recognized within the scientific community in the data of the publications in the prestigious journals and the number of citations of Israeli scientists, but now the State of Israel is finally on the map of the Nobel Prizes in the exact sciences." This is what Minister of Science and Technology Ilan Shelgi says in an interview with the science website. Shelgi was among the first to congratulate Prof. Hershko and Prof. Chachanover for their win and even spoke with them on the phone yesterday afternoon. It should be noted that up to this moment, Saturday 18:00, that is, 36 hours after receiving the notification of the win, the winners have not yet received phone calls from Education Minister Limor Livnat and Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.
Shelgi: "From time to time you wonder how it is that there are so many American Jews who are among the Nobel Prize winners, until now there was no Israeli in the sciences. These are really blue and white awards. The work of researchers at the Technion who are active scientists in Israel, in a magnificent Israeli institution. It is not like the other awards that Israelis have received or been involved in until now. I told both Hershko and Chechanover that beyond all the blessings I support their hand for saying that Israeli science is in danger. "
Do you agree with the statement that in the future the chances of Israeli scientific Nobel prizes will decrease as a result of the damage to the education and higher education system?
"Prof Hershko said in an interview with you that this might be the last Israeli Nobel, although we still have enough leading scientists who are products of the Israeli education system of the sixties and seventies. Even if we have more Nobel Prize winners it won't last long because this wonder of Israeli science is so successful and internationally recognized and the education system is so failed. In the international tests in science and mathematics we are in the fourth tenth - places 31st and 33rd and also our outstanding today in the international tests - we have a low rate of excellent compared to the other countries and on the other hand among the weak our rate of weak is high compared to other countries."
"The results of the OCED PISA tests ranked us 31st and 33rd in math and science. In terms of gaps, we are in first place - this is the only thing we lead. Within the category of outstanding, the average for all countries is 16 percent, the Israeli outstanding are only 9 percent. Among the backward - those who are among the lowest scores, we are far above the global average. Our education system recently taught mathematics according to the discrete method. They brought it from California where when they started with it they really went down, and with us they continued by force. There is no point in going into all the failures of the education system, but if we do not go for a very significant reform of the education system and a spokeswoman's report is the right direction, and if we do not significantly strengthen the budgets of higher education and scientific research both in universities and in research institutes, our relative advantage will simply disappear."
"I strengthened the hands of Prof. Hershko and Prof. Chachanover that they find it appropriate to express themselves on this matter because they will be listened to. The State of Israel invests resources in places and issues that today, in order of priority, there are things that are more important than the education and science budgets, and if we do not change the proportion significantly, our national resilience will simply be damaged."
What do you think about the disregard of your colleagues in the government, in particular of Minister Livnat and of the Prime Minister himself?
"I heard that the president of the country blessed them. I sent out a telegram half an hour after the news was published and called them and talked to them. I am convinced that the Prime Minister will also see fit to congratulate them."
The winners are interviewed by GLC - transcript
The two Nobel Prize winners - Avraham Hershko and Aharon Chechenover were interviewed together for the holiday program of Gali IDF. Here is a selection of the questions and answers.
Avraham Hershko. How do you feel?
I feel great. happy.
when did you get the phone
The truth is I didn't get it right away because we had a fun day for the granddaughters. We have 4 granddaughters, they sat with us, and I didn't get 12. My cousin heard it on the radio and called me on the cell phone.
Then I found the message on the secretary. They say that Stockholm is speaking that there is a message for me. Call later on the 17th. The chairman of the committee announces the award, explains why and says there will be a letter.
Aharon Chechenover. How do you feel?
excellent.
Tell me about how you got the message?
I was at home, I was editing the article, I was going to leave around 12 noon for errands. My son got a call from Stockholm. I thought it was connected from there. The truth came out in 30 seconds. said the secretary of the Swedish Academy of Sciences and congratulated me on my win. I didn't even think that it was the prize in chemistry. I was completely surprised. I was on my way out. He told me about my other friends who won - Prof. Hershko and Prof. Ernie Rose. and read me the summary of the committee's decision
As soon as you hang up, is there shouting in the house?
My wife was also by us left speechless. I can't remember the exact details. Need to repeat with my wife and son.
When did you first talk to each other?
Chechenover: The Technion organized a press conference for three o'clock in the afternoon and by then we had time to prepare. I was speechless. We shook hands. We have come a long way as Abraham's student and also in Ernie's laboratory in California. I have been in the system since I was born in 1976.
Is this an old study?
Hershko: This is research that requires a lot of patience. It started in 1965 in my post-doc. I returned, joined the Technion as a faculty member in the Faculty of Medicine. (Here Hershko repeats the scientific description within the limits of the Radiponics).
Aharon - How much money is involved?
Chechenover: I really don't know and it really doesn't bother me.
Have you started sewing the suits?
Chechenover: "I'm not. Never goes with suits.”
When is the ceremony?
Hershko: "At the beginning of December."
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