All seven scientists selected are outstanding and prominent scientists in their field, researchers who have demonstrated excellence in research and original thinking and have received awards and marks of excellence for their research or won prestigious research grants.
Seven elected and leading scientists in their fields, including biologists, genetics experts, a lawyer, a historian, and more, have recently joined as full members of the Israeli Young Academy, which operates with the backing and assistance of the Israel National Academy of Sciences. All seven scientists selected are outstanding and prominent scientists in their field, researchers who have demonstrated excellence in research and original thinking and have received awards and marks of excellence for their research or won prestigious research grants.
The seven members of the young academy who were selected are: Prof. Liat Ayalon, School of Social Work, Bar-Ilan University, Prof. Elisheva Baumgarten, Department of History, and the Department of History of the People of Israel and Contemporary Judaism, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Prof. Oren Gazel-Il, Faculty of Law, University of Haifa, Dr. Yaakov Hana, Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Prof. Ron Milo, Department of Molecular Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Prof. Dan Farr, Cell Biology and Immunology, Tel Aviv University, Prof. Maya Schuldiner, Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science.
The seven join 26 additional academy members and in total the young academy currently has 33 members who were each elected for a fixed period of four years. The Young Academy chooses every year and according to the regulations up to ten scientists who stand out in their field of research.
The Israeli National Academy of Sciences joined a global trend that began more than a decade ago in Germany and was followed by the Netherlands and established the Young Academy in November 2012.
Among the goals of the Young Academy is to promote the status of young scientists in Israel, to promote the relationship between science and policy makers and between science and the Israeli public and society, to foster the relationship and cooperation between young researchers from different fields of thought and to encourage joint research with young researchers around the world. The activity within the Young Academy is voluntary and requires active public-social involvement in issues related to the affairs of the academic system.
According to the Academy's regulations, the members are appointed for a period of four years. In the composition of the young academy, there is an aspiration for a disciplinary/disciplinary balance (exact sciences, life sciences, humanities, social sciences), and for an adequate representation of the population and the scientific community in Israel, subject to the principle of excellence as a determining condition.
Prof. Ruth Arnon, president of the Israeli National Academy of Sciences, said that it is very important to include young and excellent scientists in the activities of the young academy, which already in the first year of its establishment initiated a variety of activities to advance its goals. Prof. Arnon congratulated the seven selected young scientists and wished the participants success in their activities to foster scientific research and public-social involvement in issues related to the academic system in Israel.
The first event in which the seven newly elected members will participate is a study day on a new project that the young academy is putting up, entitled: "Science Basket". Its purpose is to encourage students to pursue a scientific career as an attractive option, and to expose them to scientific work in research institutions. The vision behind the "Science Basket" project is based on the diagnosis that although the university gates are open to anyone, only a few who are not students and researchers visit the universities. This disconnection is an influential factor in the positioning of the universities in the Israeli public as the "Ivory Towers". The connection between the academy and the community is vital and necessary for society as a whole. Strengthening such a relationship will lead to an understanding and appreciation of the importance of research, promoting the status of the young scientist in society, building a relationship with future students and stimulating the curiosity of young men and women who have never considered coming to academia or choosing an academic career as a profession for life. The members of the Academy took the initiative to implement a program in which every male and female student in the State of Israel will be entitled to visit the university at least once during his studies at the school, with the cooperation and assistance of the Ministries of Science and Education and other factors. This exposure of male and female students to universities, to higher education institutions, to the research possibilities and to the broad spectrum of the various sciences - will open up a new, intriguing and refreshing experience for them.
The Scientists' Night will receive funding from the Horizon 2020 program
The Minister of Science, Technology and Space Jacob Perry and the head of the European Union delegation in Israel, Ambassador Lars Favrog-Andersen, signed today in the presence of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso the accession of the State of Israel to the European research and development program "Horizon 2020" (HORIZON 2020).
According to the Minister of Science, Technology and Space Yaakov Perry: "This is conclusive proof of the power of Israeli science and its importance to the future of the State of Israel. Our joining the program is significant news for Israeli science, and will lead to strengthened scientific ties with Europe and hundreds of generous research grants for researchers in Israel."
"Horizon 2020" is one of the largest programs in the world for scientific and industrial cooperation, and Israel will transfer approximately 140 million euros to it every year from the ministries of science, economics and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The investment in the previous programs of the European Union paid off: the return ratio of the Israeli investment in the program was almost 60% - Israel invested 535 million euros in the seventh program - while Israeli entities received grants in the amount of 840 million euros, of which 579.5 million euros went to scientists in universities. In the program, which ended last year, 1,197 projects were approved with the participation of 2,124 Israeli scientists from academia and industry.
Today's signing of the agreement, which until now was only signed with initials, confirms Israel's position as a full partner in the program. The first votes for the program were published in December 2013 and so far about 500 proposals have been submitted, including participants from Israel. The judging process of the proposals will end in September 2014 and the grant agreements will be signed by the end of the year.
Israel's first project to receive funding from the European Union under the program this year is the "Scientists' Night", which takes place every year in collaboration with the Ministry of Science and at the "Medatek" scientific concentration. Different from previous years, this year the "Night of the Scientists" was faced with larger and more similar events from around Europe, but in the end it was chosen thanks to the great success of the last year with 55 thousand visitors to the event.
The Minister of Science, Technology and Space, Jacob Perry, met this morning (Tuesday) with the Minister of Education, Universities and Research of Italy, Professor Stefania Gianini. Minister Perry greeted the Minister and her delegation and noted the cooperation between Israel and Italy in the field of science and It's research collaborations, space exploration programs and academic collaborations. Minister Perry said: "There are many joint projects between Israel and Italy in the field of science and we see their positive results on a daily basis. The State of Israel excels in research in technology and in advanced uses of science and today it is our best export. I appreciate Italy's standing by Israel's side in everything related to the Horizon 2020 program." Minister Giannini thanked Minister Perry for his kind words and also noted Italy's commitment to strengthening and deepening the relationship between the countries in the fields of science, technology and space.
It should be emphasized that joint work is currently being carried out between the Israeli Space Agency and the Italian Space Agency, which together are working to promote the "Shalom" project - a project that will enable hyperspectral observations from space at a high level, which will enable the detection of substances on the surface of the ground. This project is designed to provide defense and civil-commercial applications for space research.
The Minister came for a 24-hour quick visit in honor of Italy's National Day, toured Tel Aviv University and the Weizmann Institute and met with senior government officials, scientists and more.
One response
You don't see mathematicians, computer scientists and physicists here. Is it just this bangla or at all.