The President of the Academy of Sciences Prof. Ruth Arnon: "50 scientists from Israel are participating in research at CERN" * Attached to this article is a photo gallery taken at the ceremony by Prof. Elam Gross from the Weizmann Institute, one of the senior Israeli scientists at CERN and who headed the Higgs search group at the Atlas facility at the time of the discovery in -2012.
- Israel was accepted as a member state of the European Organization of the Particle Accelerator at CERN, after years of the contribution of Israeli scientists in research, the Israeli flag was raised today (Wednesday) in Geneva, where an official signing ceremony was held in which the State of Israel was accepted as a full member state of the European Organization of the Particle Accelerator The largest in the world at CERN. After years of Israeli scientists contributing to research, Israel becomes the first country outside of Europe to be accepted as a full member of the prestigious project. The official signing ceremony was held in the presence of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs - MK Avigdor Lieberman, the President of the Israel National Academy of Sciences - Prof. Ruth Arnon, the Chairman of VT - Prof. Manuel Trachtenberg, the Director General of CERN - Prof. Ralph Hoyer and dozens Senior scientists from Israel. At the end of the ceremony, the official delegation led by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the President of the Academy of Sciences visited the underground tunnel of the LHC facility and the soil condenser of the ATLAS experiment. Israel became the 21st member country of the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), after the organization's council voted unanimously at its meeting this month for Israel to join as a full member. This is the first time since 1999 that a new country joins the organization. The membership came into effect after the State of Israel informed UNESCO that under its authority the European organization was established, which ratified the CERN Convention. About 50 Israeli scientists and research students, most of them from the Weizmann Institute, Tel Aviv University, the Technion and the Hebrew University take part in the scientific activities at CERN. Full membership means the inclusion of Israeli representatives in the organization's committees, an influence on CERN's research policy and the distribution of the organization's resources. In addition, the membership will allow Israeli researchers to access additional funds and grants to conduct research and gain access to laboratories and facilities. Israeli industries will also be able to access tenders related to the construction and maintenance of the accelerator. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman stated that "the State of Israel is committed to promoting science and technology for the benefit of human well-being and in the process is committed to being part of the international scientific community and even contributes to cooperation in developing countries." Lieberman added that "during my visit here today I witnessed the global research front and the depth of cooperation between Israel and CERN. The Israeli scientists and their colleagues at CERN share a dedication and determination to scientific excellence and technological development and education."
The CEO of the organization, Prof. Rolf Heuer: "It is an honor for me as CEO of the organization to promote Israel today as a new full member of CERN. Israel and CERN have a rich past of mutual cooperation and this day is historic and will undoubtedly be remembered as guaranteeing the continuation of the fruitful partnership." The president of the Israel National Academy of Sciences, Prof. Ruth Arnon, also welcomed the decision and said that CERN is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year and that Israel's relationship with CERN began only 3 years after its establishment, in 1957 by the late Prof. Amos de Shalit from the Weizmann Institute. A relationship that actually lasted all these years until today 50 Israeli scientists and research students are doing research here. "Israel's presence at CERN was not only groundbreaking in itself, but also created the conditions for cooperation with German scientists even before the establishment of official relations with Germany. Joining will strengthen the possibilities of Israeli research and contribute to the promotion of the overall scientific activity at CERN, and it is a significant certificate of honor that the Israeli scientists receive from their colleagues in the European scientific community." This is the proof, Prof. Arnon concluded, that scientific difficulties and cooperation between institutions can also be a bridge to dialogue and peace. Prof. Eliezer Rabinowitz, head of the High Energy Academy Committee, and Prof. Giora Mickenberg from the Weizmann Institute, who in recent years have led the establishment of Israel's relationship with CERN, said today that this is a very special moment for the scientific community in Israel in particular, and for the State of Israel in general. "This step reflects decades of Israeli contribution - on the part of scientists, technicians and the scientific industry as a whole to the international effort made within the framework of CERN." Israel's cooperation with the organization began in 1991, when the country was granted special observer status, as part of the contribution of Israel's science institutions to research activities related to the OPAL detector and the LEP accelerator. Today, Israel's contribution is centered on the activity around the ATLAS detector at the LHC accelerator alongside involvement in the ALPHA, COMPASS and other experiments conducted at the organization's ISOLDE facility. Israeli scientists also take part in the computerized grid system of the LHC. See more about Israeli involvement in CERN on the academy website On the project page: "Physics of high energies"
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Indeed a historic event.
Kudos to the Israeli scientists!