The Prime Minister met at the Weizmann Institute of Science with outstanding young scientists who chose to return to work in Israel, and with boys who are rehabilitating with the help of science education programs operated by the institute
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert visited the Weizmann Institute of Science today, on the occasion of International Science Day. Rohm met with the president of the institute, Prof. Daniel Zeifman, and with four outstanding young Israeli scientists, who returned to Israel last year and joined the Weizmann Institute of Science. The young scientists (four out of 16 scientists who returned to Israel this year and joined the Weizmann Institute of Science) told the RHOM about the reasons that motivated them to return to Israel, and about their strong desire to work and live in the country, without harming the level of scientific research they carry out.
The four are: the astronomer Dr. Avishi Gal-Yam, the physicist Dr. Nirit Dudovitz, the biochemist Dr. Michal Sharon, and the brain researcher Dr. Roni Paz.
"The Weizmann Institute of Science," said Rohm, "is the jewel in the crown of Israeli society." The bigger it will be, the more people will join it, the more it will be able to create for us the infrastructure that will allow us to promote excellence in Israeli society as a whole."
Afterwards, the Prime Minister met with boys who do not study or work, who participate in a special project of the Davidson Institute for Science Education, which brings together the educational activities of the Weizmann Institute of Science. This project, called "Camp" (active science groups) brings the boys and girls back to study and work frameworks through science studies. The initiator of the project and the living spirit in it is Dr. Oved Kedem. The Prime Minister participated in the weekly class given to the youth, and Dr. Oved Kedem, the project manager, presented to him the work of the trainees. The boys and girls presented the Prime Minister with a microphone and speaker, which they built as part of the lesson, and even gave him a mosaic picture they had created as a gift.
Olmert noted that he also learned a lesson at the meeting and said: "We, as a government, are not only being tested on the financial investment but on the ability to back scientific education. This is where the secret of our power lies." The Prime Minister expressed hope that more young people will have the opportunity to integrate into the project, which was conducted in collaboration with the municipal youth departments in several cities in Israel, and recently even started its implementation in the Arab sector.
The Prime Minister also met with Professor Ada Yonat, winner of the L'Oréal-UNESCO Prize in honor of International Women's Day, which took place last Saturday.
From the right: Dr. Roni Paz, Dr. Nirit Dodovitz, President Ehud Olmert, President of the Weizmann Institute of Science Prof. Daniel Zeifman, Dr. Michal Sharon and Dr. Avishi Gal-Yam. The president of the Weizmann Institute of Science presents the Prime Minister with a painting, made by Daniel Oshri, 12 years old, who won the national drawing competition "Draw me a scientist" organized by the Weizmann Institute of Science. In the competition, the children were asked to draw the figure of the scientist as it appears in their imagination.
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I am not a fool follower of Olmert, but the criticism of him is automatic and irrelevant. Except (perhaps) Barak, previous prime ministers were no better scientists than Olmert. Beyond that, it is not at all clear among which public Olmert's image will improve following a visit to the Weizmann Institute. Every image consultant should understand that the institute has no electoral value, and that a better use of time is a publicized visit to the Yazidi synagogue. Despite Olmert being maligned and unpopular, if any party gains prestige from such a visit it is the institute.
To Sir Simon, only a person as dishonest as Olmert who understands nothing about science would take advantage of a publicized visit to the Weizmann Institute in such a cynical way.
And of course he understands the value of visiting the Weizmann Institute, the media advisors taught him.
It's not a good sign when critical criticism becomes a reflex. I don't remember any visits by Sharon, Barak or Netanyahu to the Weizmann Institute during their term as Prime Minister. To the best of my recollection, Rabin visited the institute during his first term, but not the second. I mainly remember Peres as a frequent visitor to the Mimouna celebrations, wearing a red robe passed from father to son in his family for generations .
Kudos to the Prime Minister who recognizes the value of a visit to the Weizmann Institute.
The Prime Minister represents the culture of ratings and corruption. What about that and science.
If "we, as a government, are not only tested on the financial investment but on the ability to back up scientific education." So the government should accept failed…
What about the teachers' strike?!
What about the lecturers' strike?!
Olmert should really care about education and stop pretending that he values science. Where is the budget for education?
Who ever heard of Science Day?
It's a shame that Israel is also one of the leaders in the world in brain drain abroad...
If only 16 scientists returned to Israel this year, then our situation is really very bleak. It's a shame that the writers "forgot" to mention how many outstanding and brilliant scientists left the country this year, since they were not allowed to continue their research or the authorities did their best not to allow them to stay (whether it's a lack of standards, a lack of budget for research, etc.)...