Prof. Gazit is an expert on freshwater bodies, and worked to preserve the Kinneret and the winter pools
The Minister of Education, Yoav Kish, announces today (Wednesday) the winning of the winner of the Israel Prize, Prof. Avital Gazit from the zoology school at the Faculty of Life Sciences at Tel Aviv University, in the field of environmental and sustainability research for the year 2018. This is the first time that the Minister of Education has awarded a prize in this field, which is a significant topic on the world agenda and has recently also entered the curriculum in the Israeli education system. Prof. Gazit is the third researcher from the school for zoology the winner of this prestigious award.
Pioneering activity to preserve the bodies of water in Israel
The award committee convened under the chairmanship of Prof. Yaron Ziv and with the participation of the members: Prof. Ofira Ilon, Prof. Benny Hefetz and Prof. Dan Yakir. In its reasoning, the award committee stated that: "Prof. Avital Gazit is a leading researcher in the field of liminology (the study of bodies of fresh water) and ecosystems in these environments. Along with these studies, Prof. Gazit led a pioneering activity to examine the health of streams in Israel and a large-scale activity to restore the streams of our country. Alongside his work Prof. Gazit contributed scientifically to the preservation of the Sea of Galilee and the winter pools in Israel."
The committee also noted that "Prof. Gazit was able to apply science in public struggles and political decisions that were expressed on the ground. Prof. Gazit is a public activist in many committees that promote the preservation of nature and sustainability in the Land of Israel."
"I am very happy," said Prof. Avital Gazit. "This morning, when I was informed of receiving the award, it was certainly a pleasant and exciting surprise. For me, this is first of all recognition by the State of Israel of the importance of investing in and promoting awareness of environmental activity, a recognition that hardly existed at the beginning of my academic career. As part of my work, I tried to create an infrastructure for the environmental approach from the side of science , on the part of the public and the decision-makers, where we can go, and to my delight today there are many students who can continue on this important path."
The Israel Award is the most important and prestigious award given in the State of Israel in various and varied fields of the existence of doing and creating in Israel.
More of the topic in Hayadan:
- Historian Prof. Zvi Yaevtz, winner of the Israel Prize and founder of Tel Aviv University, has passed away
- Prof. Nathan Nelson from Tel Aviv University won the Israel Prize in the field of life sciences research
- Winner of the Israel Prize in the field of earth science research and atmospheric research - Prof. Gideon Dagan from Tel Aviv University
