This institute, whose expanded executive committee is headed by Prof. Haim Harari, brings together the educational activities of the Weizmann Institute of Science
The Davidson Institute for Science Education, which consolidates and develops the educational activities of the Weizmann Institute of Science, is expanding and reorganizing. Within it will be included from now on the Klor science garden, the interactive science museum, which operates under the dome of heaven under the management of Dr. Moshe Rashpon; the unit for young people in science (JSMD) under the direction of Dr. Zvi Peltiel; All previous and ongoing activities of the Davidson Institute under the direction of Dr. Yehuda Ben-Hur; and the national mentoring project, Parah, which was born at the Weizmann Institute of Science and is managed by Amos Carmeli. The four heads of these units continue to hold their positions. Dr. Ariel Hayman was appointed the first CEO of the expanded Davidson Institute.
Dr. Ariel Hayman, born in 1953, received a bachelor's degree in geology and biology from the Hebrew University in 1979. In 1985 he received a master's degree, and in 1990 he completed doctoral studies in geology at the Hebrew University. In the years 1990-1992, he carried out post-doctoral research at Ohio University in the USA, where he won the award for the outstanding post-doctoral researcher. Upon his return to Israel he began working at the Geological Institute. He served as a lecturer in geology at the University of Haifa, where he won the Outstanding Lecturer Award, and a lecturer from abroad at the Hebrew University. He was a member of various national committees, including the National Committee for Dealing with Earthquake Risks in the State of Israel.
During his regular service in the IDF, he served in the Matkal Patrol and the Armored Corps. As part of the reserve service, he rose through the chain of command and the various positions up to the position of brigadier general at the rank of lieutenant colonel. In the years 2002 - 2005 he served in the IDF, at the rank of lieutenant colonel, in the position of chief reserve officer. In this capacity, he led, among other things, the writing of the reserve law proposal that was approved in the first reading in the Knesset, and worked to create a partnership between the IDF, Israeli society, reserve service members and their families. Among the actions he initiated and implemented is the national appreciation day for the reserve system; signing the agreement to treat a student serving in the reserves; The contract of the employee serving in the reserves signed by all the economic organizations and employers in the economy, and more. Dr. Heyman is married to Roitel, doctor of education, lecturer, and organizational consultant. The couple has four sons.
The Davidson Institute was established at the Weizmann Institute of Science in 1999, at the initiative of the institute's president at the time, Prof. Haim Harari, as a continuation and expansion of the Weizmann Institute's activities in the field of scientific education, which began back in 1963. The institute operates various scientific programs for students of the education system and the general public and maintains special frameworks for professional development constant of the science teachers. The new and expanded framework of the Davidson Institute will allow it to effectively combine the educational activities of the Weizmann Institute of Science, which are carried out in full partnership with the researchers and scientists, for the promotion of mathematical, scientific and technological education for all levels of the population.
At the Weizmann Institute, the science teaching department operates at the same time, which deals with the development of programs and learning materials, educational research and academic training in the field of science teaching. The department will soon celebrate its fortieth anniversary.
The executive committee of the expanded Davidson Institute, headed by Prof. Harari, includes senior scientists from the Weizmann Institute of Science, public figures, business and industry.
