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Associates Organizations

Ben-Gurion ARGENTINA JAPAN MIDLANDS BRANCH Lic. Osvaldo Schvartzer, President Koji Akatsuka, President c/o Dr. Esther Barnett, Chair University 2 Belle Walk, Moseley ASOCIACIÓN ARGENTINA FRIENDS OF BGU JAPAN CHAPTER Birmingham B13 9DF of the Negev DE AMIGOS DE LA UNIVERSIDAD 75-1, Otobe, Tsu BEN GURIÓN DEL NEGUEV 514-0016MIE UNITED STATES Roy J. Zuckerberg Suipacha 531 piso 9 MEXICO Carol Saal, President Message From The President 1 Chairman, Board of Governors C-1008 AAM Ciudad Autónoma Prof. Amos Drory, de Buenos Aires Ing. Pedro Dondisch, President Executive Vice-President Robert H. Arnow ASOCIACIÓN MEXICANA DE AABGU NATIONAL OFFICE & 36th Annual Board Of Governors Meeting 2 Chairman Emeritus, BELGIUM AMIGOS DE LA UNIVERSIDAD GREATER NEW YORK REGION Board of Governors Irene Evens, President BEN GURIÓN EN EL NEGUEV 1430 Broadway A Peaceful Environment 14 (AMAUBG) Lord Weidenfeld of Chelsea BRAZIL 8th Floor Río Tiber 78 New York, NY 10018 Demise Of The Dinosaurs 16 Honorary Chairman, Dr. Claudio Luiz Lottenberg, President Colonia Cuauhtémoc Board of Governors Av. Albert Einstein, 627 / 701, 3er andar C.P. 06500 México, D.F. AABGU NEW ENGLAND REGION 05651-901 Morumbi 1318 Beacon Street Optics For Diagnostics 18 Vice-Chairpersons, Sao Paulo SP THE NETHERLANDS Suite 8 Board of Governors Paul A. Nouwen, President Brookline, MA 02446 CONTENTS Zvi Alon CANADA Committed To The Community 20 DUTCH ASSOCIATES BGU AABGU MID-ATLANTIC REGION Milada Ayrton Barry D. Lipson, Q.C., The Pavilion at Jenkintown National President Postbus 488 Eric A. Benhamou 2501 CL The Hague 261 Old York Road at Wyncote Road An Early Start 22 Sir Ronald Cohen Leo Marcus, Executive Vice-President Suite 417A Dr. Heinz-Horst Deichmann NATIONAL OFFICE & Republic of PANAMA P.O. Box 1128 Exploding The Myths 24 Bertram Lubner TORONTO CHAPTER Moises A. Mizrachi, President Jenkintown, PA 19046 Michael W. Sonnenfeldt 1000 Finch Avenue West AABGU WASHINGTON / Suite 506 Apartado 7347 Dr. Felix Zandman Panama 5 BALTIMORE REGION Honorary Degrees And Dedications 26 North York, ON M3J 2V5 c/o Hessel and Aluise, P.C. Suzanne Zlotowski MONTREAL CHAPTER Republic of SOUTH AFRICA 1050 17th Street, Suite 900 Illness Report 28 David Brodet 376 Victoria Avenue Bertram Lubner, President Washington, D.C. 20036 Chairman, Suite 250 Herby Rosenberg, Chairman AABGU GREATER Westmount, QUE H3Z 1C3 Project Dedications 30 Executive Committee NATIONAL & JOHANNESBURG BROWARD/DADE REGION WINNIPEG CHAPTER 3900 Hollywood Boulevard Vice-Chairpersons, OFFICE # 220 – 2025 Corydon Avenue P.O. Box 895 PH - E An Enterprising Magician Executive Committee 32 Winnipeg, MB R3P ON5 Saxonwold 2132 Hollywood, FL 33021 Dvora Tomer WESTERN CAPE CHAPTER AABGU SOUTHEAST REGION Aharon Yadlin FRANCE A Passion For Balance 34 P.O. Box 2350 Mission Bay Office Plaza Gérard Worms, Chairman 20283 State Road 7 Prof. Rivka Carmi Cape Town 8000 Les Amis Français Suite 300 Dedications and Honorary Degrees President 36 de l'Université Ben-Gourion SWITZERLAND Boca Raton, FL 33498 Prof. Jimmy Weinblatt 16, rue de la Pierre Levée Michel Halpérin, Président AABGU GREAT LAKES REGION Win Some, Lose Some 38 75011 Paris Rector AMIS DE SUISSE DE L’UNIVERSITE 4238B N. Arlington Heights Road GERMANY BEN-GOURION DU NEGUEV Suite 346 Prof. Moti Herskowitz Arlington Heights, IL 60004 Peptides & Polymers 40 Dr. Mathias Döpfner, President 5, avenue Léon-Gaud Vice-President and Dean for AABGU GREATER TEXAS REGION Klaus Kröne, Chairman CH-1206 Geneva BGU Now is published by Research and Development 24 Greenway Plaza Johannes G. Locher, Deputy-Chairman the Department of Public Affairs Food For Thought 42 UNITED KINGDOM Suite 550 Prof. Yael Edan Förderer der BGU des Negev E.V. BEN GURION UNIVERSITY Houston, TX 77046 Director: Yoram Hurvitz Deputy-Rector Axel Springer AG Publishing House Going Global 44 FOUNDATION AABGU NORTHWEST REGION Editor: Angie Zamir Büro Dr. Mathias Döpfner David Bareket 220 Montgomery Street Axel Springer Strasse 65 Lord Weidenfeld of Chelsea, President Suite 498 Assistant Editor: Yael Balaban Fitting The Pieces Together 46 Director-General D-10888 Berlin Suzanne Zlotowski, Vice-President Harold Paisner, Chairman San Francisco, CA 94104 Contributors: Sandra Bloom ISRAEL AABGU SOUTHWEST REGION Ellen Dlott, Patricia Golan, Into Unchartered Territory 48 NATIONAL AND LONDON REGION Raya Strauss Bendror, President ORT House 9911 West Pico Boulevard Roberta Neiger, Yocheved Miriam Russo Suite 710 ISRAELI FRIENDS OF BGU 126 Albert Street A Kreitman Fellow Los Angeles, CA 90035 Photos: Dani Machlis 50 3 Shaul Avigur Street London NW1 7NE Additional Photos: Ezorei Chen, Tel Aviv BRIGHTON BRANCH c/o Sam Barsam, Chair Wolfgang Motzafi-Haller, Ziv Volk Excellence Recognized 52 47 Hove Park Road Design: Shai Zauderer Summer Celebrations 54 Hove, East Sussex BN3 6LH Vol. 4, No. 1, Fall 2006 ISSN 0793-7393 Alumni In Action 56 Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, P.O. Box 653, Beer-Sheva 84105, Israel | Fax: 972-8-6472937 | E-mail: [email protected] | Website: www.bgu.ac.il

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From The President

August 6, 2006

At this writing, our nation is under duress, with Israeli citizens under attack and several of our soldiers held captive. Ben-Gurion University of the Negev is reaching out to students and staff who have been called up for army reserve duty and we have opened our facilities and hosted summer camps for children from frontline communities. During this extremely tense time, we are all working together to ensure that Israel’s academic endeavors continue, and that all Israelis have a safe haven for their children. This is the spirit of BGU. It is this spirit of caring that first brought me to BGU thirty years ago. Few of my medical school classmates chose to work in the Israeli periphery and those of us who did so shared the strong conviction of making a difference. I have had the opportunity to visit many universities both in Israel and abroad, but I have never encountered such a group of people who care so much and are so proud of their institution. From academic faculty to administrative staff to students, everyone here has a “neshama yetera” – or added spirit – that characterizes BGU. This spirit of BGU, which combines open thinking, creativity and strong social awareness, has led me to suspend my medical and research career and take upon myself the responsibilities of President, with the goal of leading our institution from good to great. The challenges which lie before us are tremendous, particularly now in light of the changes in national priorities. We are committed to being an excellent research university while at the same time spearheading the development of the Negev. These dual missions detract from our competitive edge in terms of resource allocation. In order to achieve a leading position as a research institution, we need to be stronger and better than our counterparts. During the next decade, we will pursue excellence in research and place BGU among the top universities in the world. To have a meaningful scientific impact, we must focus on our strengths and uniqueness in areas where we have a competitive edge over others and where we have proven expertise. It is hoped that BGU’s scientific achievements will eventually translate into valuable intellectual property, enabling greater independence and growth. Thanks in part to our generous friends, we are attracting the best and brightest young researchers from top universities in the United States and Europe – Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Max Plank, Oxford – by offering them, beyond material support, open-mindedness, enthusiasm, commitment, collegiality and a warm atmosphere that others may have lost, but which we have succeeded in nurturing at BGU. It is contagious, invigorating and it marks our future. David Ben-Gurion’s strength as a leader was to forge ahead despite the many obstacles. The current national crisis only reinforces his dream of a safe Israel, anchored by a strong Negev with its flourishing population, science and industry. With your help, we will be able to realize this dream and our wish for a better future for Israel and the Jewish people. In friendship,

Prof. Rivka Carmi, M.D.

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The 36th Annual Board of Governors Meeting

Members of the Board, friends and guests from President of BGU was officially ratified by the Israel and around the world came to Ben-Gurion members of the Board. University of the Negev for the 36th Annual Board During the Session, awards marking the centennial of Governors Meeting and to celebrate the 100th of David Ben-Gurion’s aliyah to Israel were presented anniversary of David Ben-Gurion’s aliyah to Israel. to friends of BGU who have devoted their time and At various opportunities throughout the week, guests efforts to furthering the development of the and University staff bade farewell to outgoing University and the Negev. The recipients were Lord President, Prof. Avishay Braverman, who concluded Weidenfeld of Chelsea, UK; Edgard D. de Picciotto, 16 years in office, and welcomed the new President, Switzerland; Prof. Sir Aaron Klug OM FRS, UK; Prof. Rivka Carmi. The visitors took part in the numerous events, including the committee meetings, which covered the spectrum of University activities in the financial, student, academic and Associates arenas. At these meetings, participants heard the reports of the students, academic faculty and administrative staff members and discussed the future development of the University. Inscriptions of the names of new Founders and new members of the Ben- Gurion Society were unveiled on the Founders Wall and the Ben- Gurion Wall in the presence of President Rivka Carmi presents a Founders Scroll to Mariko supporters from around the world. Tsujita and Kyoji Tsujita, Chairman of the Beit Shalom Mizra Association, at the unveiling ceremony of the plaque At the Student Evening, sponsored by the on the Founders Wall American Associates of BGU, visitors and students became acquainted with one another on a more Dr. Heinz-Horst Deichmann, Germany; Suzanne personal level. During the evening, the Zlotowski Zlotowski, Switzerland; Ellen Marcus, USA, who Dance Troupe, supported by Suzanne Zlotowski of received the award on her own behalf as well as Geneva, Switzerland and her daughter, Adelene of that of her parents, Dr. Howard W. and Lottie R. London, England, gave a memorable performance. Marcus; and Prof. Avishay Braverman. Prof. Ya’akov Departing from their customary repertoire of Israeli Blidstein from the Goldstein-Goren Department of folk dances, they presented a breathtaking rendition Jewish Thought was heartily congratulated on his of more contemporary Israeli dance. The traditional receipt of the 2006 Israel Prize in Jewish Law – the student auction was led by co-auctioneers Eric first such academic recognition at BGU. Charles of London and Zvi Alon of California, the The Plenary Session concluded with a panel proceeds from which are dedicated to student discussion: “From The Casablanca Conference Until activities. Today: Where Are We Now?” chaired by Honorary At the Opening Plenary Session, Chairman of the Chairman of the Board of Governors Lord Weidenfeld the Board of Governors Roy J. Zuckerberg, outgoing of Chelsea of the Orion Publishing Group of London. President MK Avishay Braverman and Rector Prof. Participants were Counsellor to His Majesty King Jimmy Weinblatt addressed the audience. The Mohammed VI of Morocco and initiator of the appointment of Prof. Rivka Carmi as the sixth Casablanca Conference in 1994, André Azoulay;

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Roy J. Zuckerberg addresses the audience at the Opening Plenary Session

Director-General David Bareket addresses the Finance Committtee. Rector Prof. Jimmy Weinblatt (left) Seated: Micha Daft (left), Eric Charles and Prof. Philip Needleman chaired the Academic Affairs Committee

At the Student Affairs Committee Meeting. Seated (l-r): Suzanne Zlotowski, Adelene Zlotowski, Aharon Yadlin, Dean of Students Yaakov Affek, with students

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MK Prof. Avishay Braverman; and Chairman of Union in the Middle East and Northern Africa as founder Bancaire Privée of Geneva, Edgar D. de Picciotto; of the “Identity and Dialogue” organization and for and special guest participant, Vice Prime Minister his insight in recognizing the importance of a stable Shimon Peres. economy for the advancement of peace in the Middle A panel discussion in honor of Prof. Avishay East and of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev as Braverman was held by the architects who planned an academic partner in this process. Azoulay initiated the buildings on the Marcus Family Campus in Beer- the Casablanca Conference and pursues all efforts Sheva and the Sede Boqer Campus between 1990 for peace in the region by bringing together leaders and 2006. They gave a visual presentation of the and building bridges of trust between nations and existing and newly-completed buildings as well as states. those under construction, all of which have been President of the Supreme Court of Israel, Justice continually enhancing the aesthetic look of the BGU Aharon Barak, was a child survivor of the Kovno campuses. The outgoing president was also honored at a special session at which renowned Israeli writers, most of whom are members of BGU’s Department of Hebrew Literature, read from their works. These included Department Chairman Prof. Yigal Schwartz, Department members Prof. Amos Oz, Professor Emeritus Aharon Appelfeld, Prof. Haim Be’er, Prof. Ori Bernstein, Dr. Tal Frenkel Alroy, Nidaa Khoury, Orit Meital and Motti Perry, as well as the popular writer Etgar Roberta and Ernest Scheller, Jr. from Villanova PA, proudly Keret, who also teaches a course at the University. point to their names on the Ben-Gurion Wall The final and most moving farewell to Prof. Avishay Braverman was held at a nearby events center Ghetto in Lithuania who rose to become the highest together with his close friends and acquaintances. judge in the State of Israel and an award-winning The visibly moved outgoing President noted that academician, who received the Israel Prize in Legal although he was leaving Beer-Sheva to pursue his Sciences in 1975. He is a member of the Israel political career, the city and the region and in Academy of Sciences and Humanities and the particular, the University, would always hold a special American Academy of Arts and Sciences, a teacher place in his heart and he would do his utmost to of prominent legalists and writer of basic texts on advance its development as long as he was able. teaching law. He was honored for his support of the Honorary Doctoral Degrees were conferred upon study of law in the Negev and for being one of the eight prominent figures who have made distinguished leaders of Israel’s constitutional revolution, who contributions to science, humanity and culture champions human rights and ethics, justice and through their scholarship and concern for others. equality. André Azoulay, Counsellor to His Majesty King Jewish philanthropist and community leader Mohammed VI of Morocco, was honored for his Stephen K. Breslauer was honored for his leadership efforts toward coexistence between Jews and Arabs in Jewish and Zionist organizations in the United

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Recipients of the award marking the 100th anniversary of David Ben-Gurion's aliyah to Israel (l-r): Dr. Heinz-Horst Deichmann (Germany), Lord Weidenfeld of Chelsea (UK), Prof. Sir Aaron Klug OM FRS (UK), President Rivka Carmi, Edgar D. de Picciotto (Switzerland), outgoing President Avishay Braverman, Suzanne Zlotowski (Switzerland), Ellen S. Marcus (USA), Chairman of the Board of Governors Roy. J. Zuckerberg

Heads of the worldwide Associates offices (from left): Gérard Worms (France), Harold Paisner (UK), Barry D. Lipson, Q.C. (Canada), Lic. Osvaldo Schvartzer (Argentina), President Rivka Carmi, Carol Saal (USA), Raya Strauss Bendror (Israel), Paul A. Nouwen (Netherlands)

At the panel discussion on architecture (from left): Michael Chayutin, Lloyd Goldman, Prof. Avishay Braverman, Roy J. Zuckerberg

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States and in Israel, amongst which he is the Vice- philanthropist and successful businessman, an President of the American Reform Zionist Association entrepreneur and manager who founded the Amdocs (ARZA). A member of the University’s Board of company, the Aurec Group, and other companies Governors, Breslauer was also the founding in the fields of communications and hi-tech. He was Chairperson of the Greater Texas Region of the acknowledged for his philanthropic activities, American Associates of BGU and currently serves including the LEAD youth leadership program to on the Executive Board of the national organization. develop Israeli leaders, for his endeavors on behalf Together with his brothers Jim and Ben he has of ecology, for his contributions to education, higher served as trustee of the Samuel and Helene Soref learning and research, and for his ongoing support Foundation, facilitating significant projects for the of Ben-Gurion University and the National Institute University. for Biotechnology in the Negev.

Honorary Doctoral Degree recipients (l-r) front row: Orna Porat, André Azoulay, Shlomo Mintz, Prof. Aharon Barak; back row: Stephen K. Breslauer, Yair Green, Morris S. Kahn, Prof. A. Michael Spence

Yair Green, Advocate, of Israel was recognized as Maestro Shlomo Mintz, one of Israel’s foremost an outstanding jurist and a successful attorney, a violinists, was acknowledged as a child prodigy who man with strong Jewish and Israeli cultural values, immigrated from Russia to Israel and won over his active in cultural institutions, Chairman of the Hora audiences and critics worldwide. He is a soloist as Jerusalem Association and founder of the Green well as an orchestral violinist, violist and skillful Foundation for the Encouragement of Studies and conductor. He is the recipient of prestigious music Education which provides scholarships to students, prizes and a respected judge in international and deeply committed to the advancement of competitions. He served as Music Advisor to the scientific and medical research in Israel through Israel Chamber Orchestra and was one of the the Yeshaya Horowitz Association. Green is a founders of the Keshet Eilon International Violin member of the University’s Board of Governors and Mastercourse that has fostered talented violinists serves on its Executive and Investment Committees. around the globe and raised the prestige of music Morris S. Kahn of Israel was honored as a generous in Israel.

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Passing the Torch! Prof. Rivka Carmi takes over the presidency from Prof. Avishay Braverman

BGU Deans gather before the Honorary Doctorate ceremony. From left: Prof. Avigad Vonshak, Director of the Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research; Prof. Arie Reichel, Dean of the School of Management; Prof. Avishai Henik, Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences; Prof. Shaul Sofer, Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences; Rector Prof. Jimmy Weinblatt; President Prof. Rivka Carmi; Prof. Moti Herskowitz, Vice-President and Dean for Research and Development; Prof. Yigal Ronen, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering Sciences; Prof. Abraham Parola, Dean of the Faculty of Natural Sciences; Prof. Zvi Priel, Dean of the Kreitman School of Advanced Graduate Studies

At the "Writers Read" tribute. Seated: Prof. Yigal Schwarts, Chair of the Department of Hebrew Literature (left), Prof. Avishay Braverman. Standing (l-r): Prof. Haim Be'er, Motti Perry, Dr. Tal Frenkel Alroy, Nidaa Khoury, Orit Meital, Prof. Tamar Alexander, Prof. Amos Oz, Prof. Nissim Calderon, Etgar Keret

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The preeminent Israeli actress Orna Porat left her respectively daughter-in-law and granddaughter of native Germany after World War II to tie her fate Charlotte and the late Jack Spitzer of Seattle, with that of the Jewish people and immigrate to together with Rubin Salant and his daughter Robin Israel. She was recognized for her role as one of from Florida. On the same occasion, the Spitzer the first members of the Cameri Theater Ensemble Prize for Excellence and Innovation in Social Welfare who has garnered accolades both in Israel and in the Negev was awarded to the staff of the abroad and numerous prizes, including the Israel Department of Social Services of the Gaza Coast Prize for Theater in 1979. She was commended for Area Local Council. The Prize in Memory of Franny her efforts to bring theater to Israeli children through Ackerman – who as one of its founding members the establishment of the Orna Porat Theater for introduced the elder Spitzers to the Department – Children and Youth, which has helped cultivate a was presented to third-year student Orli Katzir

From right: Samara Spitzer, Prof. Avishay Braverman, Prof. Alean Al-Krenawi, Chairman of the Charlotte B. and Jack J. Spitzer Department of Social Work, and Kathleen Spitzer at the dedication ceremony of the Spitzer-Salant Building for the Department of Social Work

young audience of theater lovers. for excellence in her studies in the presence of the Prof. A. Michael Spence of the United States, Ackerman family. Nobel Prize laureate in Economic Sciences for 2001, Zvi and Ricki Alon, Eric and Illeana Benhamou, was acknowledged as a theoretician whose Dr. Harry and Carol Saal and Arlene and Steve innovative ideas and contribution to general Krieger, all of the Northwest Region of the USA, equilibrium theory revolutionized the way of thinking were present to dedicate the Alon Building for Hi- of his colleagues and enabled an understanding of Tech, which incorporates the Benhamou Technology economic processes. He is a dedicated, award- Hall, the Benhamou Incubation Center, the Harry winning academician who has filled key roles in the and Carol Saal Auditorium, the Henry and Anita academic world, leading the Graduate Business Weiss Family Floor, the Rubenstein Family Laboratory Schools at Harvard and Stanford to new heights. and the Arlene and Steve Krieger Laboratory. The The Spitzer-Salant Building for the Department impressive state-of-the-art building will facilitate of Social Work was dedicated in the presence of research in hi-tech and enable Ben-Gurion University Kathleen Spitzer and her daughter Samara Spitzer, to spearhead innovations in this field.

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Illeana and Eric Benhamou at the dedication ceremony Rubin Salant and his daughter Robin in the newly-dedicated of the Benhamou Technology Hall and the Benhamou Spitzer-Salant Building for the Department of Social Work Incubation Center

Ricki and Zvi Alon at the dedication ceremony of the Alon Arlene and Steve Krieger at the dedication ceremony of the Arlene Building for Hi-Tech and Steve Krieger Laboratory

Carol and Dr. Harry Saal get good seats at the dedication ceremony of the Harry and Carol Saal Auditorium

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The signing ceremony of the School of provide students under stress with immediate Management and the Honors MBA Strategic recourse to guidance and counseling. At the Development Plan took place in the presence of ceremony, Dr. Eva Shinar, Head of the Student President Prof. Rivka Carmi, Rector Prof. Jimmy Psychological Services, lectured on “A University Weinblatt and Prof. Arie Reichel, Dean of the School Psychological Service – An Answer to the Emotional of Management. Prof. Amos Drory moderated a Difficulties of the Young Student.” panel discussion of “The Future of Management in The Stanley and Jeanne Abensur Molecular and Israel,” participants in which included Roy J. Cell Biology Teaching Laboratory was dedicated in Zuckerberg and Prof. Ehud Houminer, Chairman of the presence of Stanley and Jeanne Abensur of the Advisory Board of the Honors MBA Program at Switzerland. Also from Switzerland, Laurence and BGU and Columbia University. Dan Ohayon represented their father, Abraham The Zlotowski Annual Lecture, held in the presence of Suzanne Zlotowski and Adelene Zlotowski, was given by Prof. Rafael Mechoulam of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, who spoke on “The Discovery of a New Major Regulatory System in Biology.” The Adam Klug Memorial Lecture, entitled “Economic Growth in Developing Countries: Prospects and Challenges in the Coming Decade,” was delivered by Nobel laureate and Honorary Doctorate recipient Prof. A. Michael Spence of Stanford University. The audience was comprised of colleagues, friends and University staff and students, as well as family members, including Prof. Aaron and Liebe Klug, parents of the late Prof. Adam Klug, and family. At the Irene and Hyman Kreitman Annual Memorial Lecture, President of the Supreme Court of Israel Chief Justice Prof. Aharon Barak lectures at the Irene Justice Prof. Aharon Barak spoke on “The Role of a and Hyman Kreitman Annual Memorial Lecture. Judge in a Democracy” to a packed auditorium that Seated: Prof. Ilan Troen, Director of the Kreitman included students, faculty and members of the legal Foundation Fellowships profession in the Southern region. Ben-David Ohayon, at the cornerstone-laying A ceremony was held marking the inauguration ceremony of the Abraham Ben-David Ohayon of a Career Development Chair in Engineering Behavioral Sciences Building. Sciences, established by Dr. Gabi and Eng. Max A symposium on the subject of “Biotechnology Lichtenberg from Israel and Florida. Incumbent of – Industry and Academia” was held in honor of the Chair is Dr. Yuval Elovici from the Department Yair Green, Advocate, and Morris S. Kahn, under of Information Systems Engineering. the auspices of the National Institute for The Sylvia A. Brodsky Psychological Walk-In Biotechnology in the Negev (NIBN), founded by Service Within the Psychological Services Unit of Edgar D. de Picciotto. Moderated by Prof. Raymond the Dean of Students Office was dedicated in the Dwek FRS, Head of the Department of Biochemistry presence of Sylvia Brodsky and her daughter Sandra at the University of Oxford, UK, members of the from Philadelphia. This much-needed service will panel included BGU President Prof. Rivka Carmi;

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Eng. Max Lichtenberg and Dr. Gabi Lichtenberg with Chair incumbent Dr. Yuval Elovici

Prof. Ehud Houminer (right) with Prof. Amos Drory, signing the School of Management and Honors MBA At the dedication ceremony of the Sylvia A. Brodsky Psychological Walk-In Strategic Development Plan Service. From left: Sandra Brodsky, Dr. Eva Shinar, Sylvia Brodsky, Dean of Students Yaakov Affek

Stanley and Jeanne Abensur hear an explanation from Prof. Allan Witztum of the Department of Life Sciences on the research being conducted in the Molecular and Cell Biology Teaching Laboratory dedicated in their name

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the honorees – Morris Kahn and Yair Green – Nobel the BGU Executive Committee David Brodet, laureate Prof. Sir Aaron Klug OM FRS of the University scholarships were awarded by the Chaim Herzog of Cambridge, UK; Assistant Dean for Special Center for Middle East Studies and Diplomacy to Projects, Washington University School of Medicine, Doctoral and Masters students. Guest of honor Prof. Philip Needleman of Prospect Venture Partners, Minister of Tourism Isaac Herzog, son of Aura and USA; Director of the NIBN Prof. Irun Cohen; Deputy- the late President of the State of Israel Chaim Director of the NIBN Prof. Varda Shoshan-Barmatz Herzog, presented the prizes together with Chairman and researchers at the Institute. of the Chaim Herzog Center, Dr. Yoram Meital. Iraqi- Participants traveled to the University’s Sede Boqer born scholar and former dissident, who later penned campus to take part in a symposium: “The Jacob the new Iraq’s Constitution, Prof. Kanan Makiya Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research Salute their Founders in the United Nations International Year of Deserts and Desertification.” In the presence of founder of the Zuckerberg Institute for Water Research, Roy J. Zuckerberg, and moderated by the Director of the Institutes, Prof. Avigad Vonshak, a panel of distinguished researchers discussed the various efforts made at the BIDR over the years and in the present to combat desertification. They included Israel Prize winners Prof. Yehudith Birk and Prof. Joshua Jortner – who both played instrumental roles in the Council for Higher Education’s early assessment and support of the creation of the Institutes – and former Directors of the Institutes, Prof. Amos Richmond, Prof. Joseph Gale, Prof. Louis Berkofsky and Prof. Uriel Safriel. A group of young BGU scholars from various disciplines presented personal accounts of themselves and their research to the Board members and guests at a special session presided over by Vice-President and Dean for Research and Laurence and Dan Ohayon at the cornerstone-laying ceremony Development Prof. Moti Herskowitz. They included of the Abraham Ben-David Ohayon Behavioral Sciences Dr. Nirit Ben-Aryeh Debby of the Department of Building Arts; Dr. Ron Folman of the Department of Physics; from Brandeis University, lectured on “A Dr. Leslie Lobel of the Department of Virology; Reassessment of the 2003 Iraq War: Planning, Dr. Eitan Rubin of the Department of Microbiology Execution and Aftermath.” and Immunology; Prof. Golan Shahar of the The Session concluded with reports by the Department of Behavioral Sciences; Prof. Alon Tal chairmen of the various committees and the motions of the Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research; that were ratified by those present. and Prof. Rachel Yerushalmi-Rozen of the Department Guests who remained in Beer-Sheva were invited of Chemical Engineering. in the evening to the homes of academic faculty Prior to the procedural activities of the Closing members and had an additional opportunity to make Plenary Session, presided over by the Chairman of their acquaintance and learn about the University.

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Chairman of the Executive Young BGU researchers who spoke at the symposium “Our Scientists: Their Stories” Committee David Brodet addresses (l-r): Dr. Leslie Lobel, Prof. Rachel Yerushalmi-Rozen, Prof. Alon Tal the participants at the Closing Plenary Session

Dr. Ohad Birk address the audience at the Biotechnology symposium. Seated (from left): Yair Green, Morris S. Kahn, Prof. Raymond Dwek, Prof. Irun Cohen, Prof. Sir Aaron Klug

SAVE THE DATES! Ben-Gurion Day November 27, 2006 The 37th Annual Board of Governors Meeting May 13 - 17, 2007

From right: Dr. Yoram Meital, President Prof. Rivka Carmi, Minister Isaac Herzog and scholarship recipient Yali Hashash

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Prof. Alon Tal A Peaceful Environment

rof. Alon Tal is one of the few P Israelis who can recite the entire Gettysburg Address by heart. Abraham Lincoln’s most famous speech doesn’t have anything to do with the environmental causes to which Tal has devoted his life. What’s important, he says, is that he still remembers it. “We memorized the speech in elementary school and it stuck with me,” Tal says. “There’s a lesson there for those of us who care about the environment. What you learn as a child, you don’t forget. We have to start them out right, knowing about the environment, understanding and caring about the world they live in. If we teach them early, they’ll never forget. Even at the relatively young age of 45, Tal easily qualifies as the father of Israel’s modern environmental movement. “The environment isn’t a spectator sport,” he says. “We need players. I’ve been fortunate to have had a chance to participate in some of the efforts to make this land a better place to live, and I’m grateful.” Tal’s passion for the environment General Yitzhak Zamir, who taught of Environmental Studies (AIES) at started early in life. Growing up as him “how to be strong and Kibbutz Ketura, which, together Albert Rosenthal in North Carolina, influential, but also to be honest and with BGU’s Albert Katz the son of a scientist who dealt in pleasant. I saw how, as a jurist, in International School (AKIS) for environmental pollution, Tal was an the eye of the storm, he managed to Desert Studies, offers an avid wilderness hiker and canoer. evaluate and choose the judicious environmental studies specialization He came to Israel at the age of 20, and correct path.” in the Masters degree program. with a dual degree in political Tal took time out again to get his “The AIES and AKIS programs science and economics. Later, while Ph.D. in environmental health policy are based on the principle that pursuing another degree in law at from Harvard before he returned to nature knows no borders,” Tal says. the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel and set about changing the “The student body is comprised of Tal worked as a legal assistant in the world. In 1990, he founded Adam many Arab students, along with the Environmental Protection Service in Teva V’din, the Israel Union for Israeli and other international what is now the Ministry of the Environmental Defense (IUED), a students who live, work and study Environment. He then did an public policy advocacy group. In together. We have a dual objective: internship with then-Attorney 1996, he founded the Arava Institute not only do students build networks

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that will enable future cooperative restoration, evaluation of the environment as the place where environmental work for the benefit environmental education and I could make the greatest of the entire Middle East, but these desertification policies. A member contribution. When you’re a soldier, programs work towards peace, too. of both the Mitrani Department of you get a very different view of the Because we use the environment Desert Ecology and the Department world and one of the first things that and not peace as our primary of Man in the Desert at the Jacob began to bother me was litter. There ingredient, we are able to Blaustein Institutes for Desert is something of an insouciant accomplish much more when it Research, Tal represents the attitude among many Israelis – the comes to the peace element.” Blaustein Institutes on a number of paradox of apartments being so Tal also co-founded EcoPeace, international committees. clean you can eat off the floor, but now known as Friends of the Earth Last January, Tal – sometimes outside, on the stairs or on the Middle East. In 1998, he was elected referred to as “Nature’s Lawyer” – streets, they throw trash right on the Chair of Life and the Environment, was awarded the prestigious Charles ground. Israel’s umbrella group for Bronfman Prize in recognition of his “I think it’s really a matter of environmental organizations. In just work “to advance the environmental education. In all the years I've been

The environment isn’t a spectator sport, we need players

a short time during his tenure, the movement in Israel and the Jewish involved, I’ve seen that Israelis care organization grew from 24 member world.” The Bronfman family noted deeply about the health of their groups to 80. He also serves on the Tal’s uniqueness: “He’s an communities. They love this land. Board of Directors of the Jewish outstanding environmental When we learn to tap into that love, National Fund. visionary who set out to change the we can succeed – it’ll be just like the As if all that weren’t enough, Tal world and has actually done so.” Wildflower Campaign of the 1960s. spent 15 years teaching Environmentalism in Israel differs Forty years ago, all of Israel’s environmental law at Tel Aviv from that in the US, Tal says. "One wildflowers were disappearing – University. “I wasn’t sure I wanted of Israel’s distinguishing people were picking them. So a huge to be involved in the academic characteristics is our technological ‘Wildflower Campaign’ was started, world,” Tal says. “I’m an activist. optimism. We’re big advocates of with a message aimed primarily at My field is public policy. Although innovations like drip irrigation to children: ‘Don’t pick the flowers’. It I’ve always been involved in preserve water or using forests to worked – now, no Israeli would even research, I had the idea that control desertification while offering think of picking a wildflower. They academics were not always fully recreation at the same time. Our new learned it as children and they didn't engaged in world problems – and desalination plants are straight out forget. We have to do the same thing real problems are what I love best. of science fiction. But ultimately, again with other major But BGU offered me a great technology can only go so far. At the environmental issues – air pollution, opportunity, the best of both worlds. center is the essence of who we are, open space, the lack of urban I’m teaching, I have a vigorous of identifying the things that give planning, water quality.” research agenda, but I’m also meaning and value to our lives.” Even for a powerhouse like Tal, intensely involved in public policy “My family was very Zionistic,” turning the ship of the Israeli state – the Ministry of Environment or he says. “When I was 20, I had my in a completely different direction Israel’s Knesset is my lab. For me, Bachelors degree and I enlisted in sounds like a gargantuan task. “It this is ideal.” the Israel Defense Forces. It was may be, but you have to do what Tal’s current research focuses on during the years that I served as a you can. This is life. You don’t get water management and stream paratrooper that I began to focus on dress rehearsals.”

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Dr. Sigal Abramovich Demise Of The Dinosaurs

hat killed the dinosaurs? This Abramovich. In contrast, the W remains a riddle and a hotly microfossils, abundant throughout debated topic in the scientific world. different marine environments, can To try and explain the demise of the serve as a basis for global largest creatures that ever walked comparison. Like the dinosaurs, the planet, Dr. Sigal Abramovich of they suffered wide extinction. the Department of Geological and Located on the bottom of the food Environmental Sciences uses long- pyramid, planktic foraminifera shed extinct microorganisms several light on the existence of other millionths of a meter long. animals. Lending themselves to We must go A paleontologist, Abramovich, stable isotope analysis, they also who pursued her undergraduate allow scientists to determine straight to the and graduate studies at Ben-Gurion temperatures and amounts of fossils themselves University and received her Ph.D. animals that existed million of years from Princeton University, returned ago. to see what to BGU three years ago on a Among their other advantages, Kreitman Foundation Fellowship specific members of this group have happened. Instead for Post-Doctoral Research. Her field an especially short evolution period, of showing us one of specialization is the Latest enabling scientists to easily date Cretaceous period, 65 to 74 million them to different events. small interval of years ago, which is marked by the Widespread throughout many time – opening one extinction of the dinosaurs and other different marine environments, life forms. Seeking to uncover the planktic foraminifera are an small window – cause – or more likely, causes – of important component of an this great annihilation, she turned ecosystem. And as uni-cell they open windows to the study of unicellular marine organisms, they are sensitive to a few million years organisms called planktic changing environmental conditions. foraminifera. An extremely sensitive “We must go straight to the fossils wide indicator of paleoenvironmental themselves to see what happened,” conditions, including ecological says Abramovich. “Instead of calamities, this group is ideally showing us one small interval of concentration of iridium, an element suited to Abramovich’s goals. These time – opening one small window very rare on Earth. This layer dated microfossils, she believes, hold the – they open windows a few million to the K-T boundary, some 66 key to explaining what happened at years wide.” Thus, planktic million years ago. As iridium is the K-T boundary, the geological foraminifera enable researchers to found far more commonly in layer that separates the age of view an entire process, rather than meteorites, asteroids and comets reptiles from that of mammals. an isolated event. than in Earth’s rocks, the scientists Below this worldwide stratum of The extinction of the dinosaurs reached a startling conclusion: a rock are numerous dinosaur fossils, remains a subject of raging debate. huge body from outer space had above it, are none. In the 1980s, a team led by Nobel crashed into the planet, killing the For several reasons, planktic laureate in Physics Prof. Luis planet’s giant lizards, as well as 75 foraminifera represent an ideal tool. Alvarez and his geologist son Walter percent of its plant and animal life. “It is hard to study dinosaurs put forth their revolutionary theory. These findings led to an extensive because very few skeletons remain. In several places around the world, search for a large impact crater 65 They don’t give us enough the Alvarezes had discovered a million years old. Ultimately, quantitative information,” says layer of clay containing a high researchers located the site to

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occurred at the same time. The animals entered a survival mode, which enabled them to live,” says Abramovich, who is now using isotope analysis to further probe the microfossils. The Negev location of BGU has been a boon to Abramovich’s research. She explains that every major geological period has a ”type locality.“ Paleontologists work by cutting into the earth and examining layers of rock, each of which represents a specific period. Wide layers are desirable, as they grant researchers detailed descriptions of the period in question. Tunisia Chicxulub, an enormous buried contributed to their downfall. By provides the best type locality for crater on Mexico’s Yucatan analyzing the skeletons of the the K-T period worldwide – nine Peninsula. For several years, the microfossils, she gleans information meters representing the last 300,000 meteorite theory of extinction was about the oceans’ temperature years of the Cretaceous era, the unchallenged. millions of years ago. This way, she Maastrichtian period. The Negev About two years ago, has identified a worldwide heating runs a close second, with its eight Abramovich’s Ph.D. supervisor at trend that preceded the K-T meter-deep layer for the same epoch. Princeton University, Prof. Gerta boundary by some 450,000 years. Examining samples from this next- Keller, rocked this theory. Drilling This warming, holds Abramovich, to-ideal locality, Abramovich and in the Mexican crater, Keller’s group corresponds with intensive volcanic student, Shlomit Yovel, compare dated the impact to the last 300,000 activity in India. At the Deccan traps, results to those from around the years of the Cretaceous period, in western India, volcanoes released world. meaning toward but not at the K-T huge quantities of lava, creating Today, after two decades of boundary. greenhouse gases and ultimately scientific battle over the extinction “This means that the meteor leading to extreme warming on a of the dinosaurs, there are still no couldn’t have been the only killing global scale. obvious victors. While scientists mechanism,” explains Abramovich. Deciding to investigate this idea have engaged in huge international “It may have been one trigger, but in different locations around the efforts and gathered vast data bases there were most likely other large- world, Abramovich and her team of geo-biological-paleontological scale events of disastrous have been focusing on the last evidence, the answer is still not clear. proportions, like severe greenhouse million years at high resolution. The world of the K-T mass warming, that took place a few They examined samples from every extinctions is so distant in time, so hundred thousand years before the 10cm of earth, which corresponds immense and complex, that the K-T extinction.” to 10,000-year periods. Counting the cause of the extinctions remains Apparently, the dinosaurs were number of species of planktic shrouded in mystery. For now, in trouble long before the K-T foraminifera, they found fewer and armed with her revealing planktic boundary. Using planktic dwarfed versions of different species foraminifera, Abramovich remains foraminifera, Abramovich points during the warming periods. “This firmly devoted to uncovering the out several disasters she believes is definitely due to warming – it truth.

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Prof. Ibrahim Abdulhalim Optics For Diagnostics

rof. Ibrahim Abdulhalim was Research Center (ORC) at again to the world of academia and P born in the village of Kfar Southampton University, England. accomplished that when he came to Manda in the Galilee. He always After returning to Israel in 1993, BGU in 2005. loved physics – so much so that he Abdulhalim worked in industry, “Ben-Gurion University has the received his undergraduate, specializing in optical metrology only graduate electrooptics program graduate and doctoral degrees in methods for the inspection of the in Israel, though we hope to open the field from the Technion in Haifa. fabrication processes of the an undergraduate program as well,” It was there that he became microelectronic industry. In 2000, he he explains. “I teach courses on interested in optical materials and returned to academia for a year as a optical properties of biomaterials, systems. “My niche,” he explains, lecturer and researcher at the biomedical optical devices and “is the multidisciplinary specialty University of Paisley in Scotland. He optics of the eye and vision. We of biomedical optics.” His path to subsequently came back to Israel to absorb students from different BGU’s Electrooptic Engineering work for a start-up company on disciplines such as physics and Unit has taken him around the guided wave liquid crystal devices electrical engineering. Research world as he balanced academic for optical telecommunications fields in the unit include research with hands-on experience applications. atmospheric optics, image in industry. Throughout his many years in processing, semiconductor and His first stop, in 1988, was at the industry, Abdulhalim maintained liquid crystal devices, optical University of Colorado, where he his academic pursuits, publishing telecommunications, optical was a research associate in the numerous refereed papers, receiving imaging and biomedical optics. Optoelectronic Computing Systems more than 10 patents and submitting “I wanted to establish the Center. He later held research countless research proposals. biomedical optics program because positions at the Optoelectronics Eventually, he wanted to return it requires multidisciplinary

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interests and experience, which is magnitude higher than medical detect toxic materials and my specialty,” he adds. “Besides, it ultrasound signals, resulting in contaminants to protect ourselves is where the next revolution in greatly increased image resolution. from bioterrorism. For example, bio- applied optics is already happening, “OCT is noninvasive and is sensor chips in the water supply can in a similar manner to what optics particularly suited for detect poisons.” has done to telecommunications in ophthalmology – in measuring the Another “hot” research field in the last 20 years. thickness of the macula or analyzing the domain of imaging and sensing “There are over 400 companies in individual layers of the retina, for technology, says Abdulhalim, are so- Israel in electrooptics, so alumni example – and dermatology, with a called T-rays. “T-rays are based on have a better chance of finding work special emphasis on skin cancer. the terahertz (THz) region of the in the field. In fact, many of our OCT can diagnosis fast-growing, electromagnetic spectrum – defined graduate students are from dangerous melanomas when they by frequencies from 0.1 to 10 THz, industry.” With regard to his are still in their earliest stages, just between infrared light and research, Abdulhalim says: “All my previous research had been driven by the industries I worked for. I like There are over 400 companies in Israel in the fact that there is somewhat more electrooptics, so alumni have a better chance freedom in the university setting, although we have funding issues to of finding work in the field contend with.” Abdulhalim explains that without having to do a biopsy. It can microwave radiation. It is a biomedical optics uses optics to also perform imaging in the brain – relatively new field that is also build devices, imaging technologies it far outperforms existing options opening the door to a wide variety and sensors for diagnostics and of ultrasound and magnetic of applications,” he explains. “We monitoring. In lay terms, that resonance imaging (MRI). In short, can use the new technology includes the noninvasive procedure it's noninvasive, faster, cheaper and combined with a special lens to of shining a certain kind of light provides much sharper images. We produce high resolution and sharp inside tissues. One of his research are working on improving the images for biomedical applications. fields is improving an imaging resolution of the OCT even further, For example, we hope to improve method called Optical Coherence and have submitted a provisional early detection of skin cancer and Tomography (OCT) which, he application for a patent,” he breast cancer. We have submitted a elucidates, is a promising new class explains. provisional patent for this.” of diagnostic medical imaging Other promising electrooptic After spending his childhood in technology that utilizes advanced research involves biosensors. Kfar Manda, Abdulhalim lived for photonics and fiber optics to obtain “Biosensors use nano-structured many years in different cities in images and tissue characterization materials (less than 100 nanos) to Israel and around the globe. Upon on a scale never before possible enhance response and electro- returning to Israel, he and his family within the human body. OCT magnetic fields by a factor of a decided to make their home in combines the principles of million. This increases optical another village – Neve Shalom- ultrasound with the imaging response (example: Raman Wahat Al-salam, a unique performance of a microscope, but scattering) by a million,” says cooperative 50-family village of uses infrared light waves that reflect Abdulhalim. “The purpose is to use Israeli Jews and Arabs in the center off the internal microstructure biosensors inside the body to of the country – where they have within the biological tissues. The analyze analytes such as blood lived for the past five years and frequencies and bandwidths of sugar and cholesterol. We can also where they hope to make their infrared light are orders of use biosensors outside the body to permanent home.

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Dr. Rafi Boehm Committed To The Community

t is now nearly three decades the new doctors committed six or seven years. During that time, I since Dr. Rafi Boehm’s first themselves to one or two years of the graduate program unfortunately involvement with the Negev service to the community, most of ended and the massive immigration development town of Yerucham. them in the Negev, before from the former Soviet Union began. Boehm’s connection to Yerucham continuing on with residency As a result, newly-arrived began when he was an internal specializations. An average of two immigrant physicians were sent to medicine resident at the Goldman graduates volunteered for Yerucham. These doctors came from Medical School and working in the Yerucham each year. Though they a completely different cultural Soroka University Medical Center. were committed caregivers and background than the residents and At the time, there was a crisis in eager to help, they were had no experience with Israel’s Yerucham’s health services and the inexperienced physicians who only medical system. Again, Boehm felt development town was left without spent a year in the community. that his input was needed. “It was a single physician. Boehm was “So, again, the town was faced the same scenario all over again in determined to find a solution for the with the same problem: adequate a different guise,” he says. ailing community and together with medical care on the one hand, but ”I continued to volunteer in the his mentor, Prof. Shimon Glick, turnover on the other,” explains town, instructing the new immigrant developed the “Yerucham Project.” Boehm. “I decided to volunteer my doctors.” “Basically, the program was that time and dedicate two days a week In 1993, Boehm initiated another a group of medical residents in the in Yerucham, to maintain continuity Yerucham project within the Faculty of Health Sciences program for community-oriented volunteered to spend a few months primary medical care: a group of of their residency in Yerucham. That I always try to internal medicine residents was how we made sure that there stop by and check committed themselves to working would always be at least one or two in Yerucham while in-residence. This residents manning the Yerucham up on ‘my’ was coupled with a philanthropic clinic at any given time,” explains endeavor of the Sacta-Rashi Boehm. patients and Foundation, which financed one “Thus, we managed to solve the show that the additional physician in Yerucham crisis and provide basic medical beyond the standard “allotment” of services to the town, but I was not human touch is the health fund. satisfied. After all, the residents most important “The program was very alternated all the time, creating a successful,” says Boehm. “These turnover problem; patients were of all were no longer inexperienced constantly shuffled between medical students, but full-fledged different doctors. Meanwhile I had physicians, and they guided the grown close to the community and and contact with the population.” newly arrived immigrant doctors in had become acquainted with their By this time, he was an internal the town. Seven residents completed needs. So I decided to volunteer a medicine physician with five years the program, two of whom accepted day or two a week, beyond the experience and three years contact full-time positions in the town after program requirements, to maintain with the town. “I estimate that I had their residency. The others went to some continuity of care and provide visited about 70 percent of the other places in the Negev.” stability to the town’s residents.” households in Yerucham,” he says. Yet Boehm remained involved. Boehm finished his residency in “I was the address for problematic “Even now, I maintain the Yerucham 1981, together with the very first or chronic patients, and I guided the human connection,” he says. “Today, graduating class. At the time, there rotating new doctors as well.” I am Deputy Chairman of Internal was a graduate program in which This situation continued for about Medicine Department A at the

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Soroka University Medical Center room’ in the Yerucham clinics. They a day care center for handicapped and anyone from Yerucham who take advantage of the time when elderly, who are transported from needs to be hospitalized comes children wait to be seen by their their homes and back, bathed and straight to my Department. I always pediatricians to teach them aspects fed and kept busy in activities. try to stop by and check up on ‘my’ of health education such as hygiene, Another project is an after-school patients and show that the human dealing with summer/winter bugs, community center for children with touch is most important of all.” and other topics. a wide variety of disabilities. The Boehm is still very much involved “The average family physician in care-givers provide food and in the community. the health fund is effectively limited activities adapted to each child and “For the last nine years, we have to about 7-10 minutes to devote to teach the children life-skills. This has involved our medical students in each patient and this is often been a big success: six graduates of three community volunteer inadequate, so we have four this center live together in an projects,” he says proudly. “Some of rotating students who sit with independent apartment and work our medical students give a Magen chronic patients and offer in a rehab center. David Adom first-aid course to high guidance.” For Boehm, volunteerism and school students in Yerucham. They In summary, Boehm has attained community involvement are a way learn first aid, of course, but in the impressive achievement of of life. The recipient of the 2005 addition, they absorb the values of adding three levels of medical Volunteer of the Year Award from community volunteerism. Some of personnel to Yerucham: students Lions Clubs International sums up them continue on to serve as medics and residents, as well as full-fledged his life work with two very different in the army. Some of the medical senior physicians. All are involved phrases: “A society is judged by its students, meanwhile, go on to do in the town and many students treatment of its weakest members,” residencies in internal medicine in continue to be involved in and also: “I truly love the town of my Department. Everyone benefits. community medicine. Yerucham and its community and I “Other medical students operate In addition, he oversees a Senior don’t feel that I am sacrificing an afternoon ‘health education play Citizen’s Association that operates anything by being involved.”

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Dr. Andrea Berger

An Early Start Neuroscience have demonstrated known as “event-related potential” that not only are very young infants or ERP, analyzes electro- he human brain is a wondrous aware of external objects, they can physiological responses. Berger says T creation. According to studies actually count them. that the aim of her project is to carried out at BGU, it emerges that Berger is trying to find out what provide data to back up the theory infants are able to process basic is going on inside the minds of that “babies can process quantity mathematical calculations and even young babies, particularly regarding data very, very early in life and can detect errors. their mathematical abilities. “There even perform very basic The influential 20th century is some evidence that babies at a mathematical operations like developmental psychologist Jean very young age have some addition and subtraction.” The Piaget theorized that in its earliest understanding of quantities, even infants in the study were from ages developmental stages, a baby is addition and subtraction.” six to nine months. ”In order to aware of sensations, but doesn’t The research involves the use of convince a mother to bring her recognize them as coming from a device which measures the healthy baby to a lab for research, I external sources. Dr. Andrea Berger electrical activity produced by the have to make it very easy,” explains has been conducting research that brain in response to a certain Berger. “So the whole procedure has challenges this view. “Today, we stimulus. In this case, the stimulus to be simple and fun.” Once the know that babies not only are aware is a cartoon showing puppets. designated baby is hooked up and that objects exist outside of The babies being tested wear a comfortably sitting on its mother’s themselves and have a real physical head-covering resembling a shower lap, the experiment begins as the presence, but they also follow how cap consisting of 128 electrodes baby is shown a cartoon with a tiger many objects there are,” explains woven together. The electrodes puppet. There is musical Berger. She and her colleagues in the transmit electrical impulses to a accompaniment specially composed Department of Behavioral Sciences computer, which records the brain for this research to ensure the baby’s and the Zlotowski Center for activity. This electrical scan method, attention. A screen comes up to hide

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In Memoriam Shraga Segal the puppet and then a second research also shows that the basic puppet is shown going behind the brain circuitry involved in the screen. When the screen is removed, detection of errors is already either one or two puppets are functional before the end of the first revealed. One would expect to see year of life. This data is being two puppets: 1 + 1 = 2. But if there’s published in the prestigious only one puppet, i.e., the incorrect Proceedings of the National Academy result, how does the infant respond? of Sciences of the United States of “We tried to check how much a America (PNAS). baby understands and if it is able to Berger studied for her B.A., M.A. make some basic mathematical and Ph.D. degrees at Bar Ilan calculations, and how to distinguish University and is conducting her whether they are correct or study jointly with Prof. Michael incorrect,” explains Berger. The Posner at the University of Oregon, researchers are also filming the an institution at the leading edge of baby’s face so they can analyze eye ERP research and the place where movements. she did her post-doctoral work. Their “Babies look longer at the research is being supported by the The University community incorrect answer because they US-Israel Binational Science mourned the sudden death of perceive the error. That means the Foundation. Deputy-Rector Prof. Shraga Segal. baby can differentiate when Berger, who joined the BGU A faculty member for more than 30 something conflicts with what it has faculty in 2000, was the first to bring years, Segal helped to establish the perceived. Its brain reacts in a the geodesic-net ERP tool to Israel Faculty of Health Sciences. different way when it recognizes and apply it to research on infants. Incumbent of the Joseph H. Krupp Chair in Cancer Immunobiology, There is some evidence that babies at a very he was one of the leaders of immunological research in Israel young age have some understanding of and shaped the University’s quantities, even addition and subtraction curriculum on molecular biology, general and clinical microbiology and immunology. “The overall direction of our work that there is something wrong. Our Segal held a number of senior is to look for the development of initial results show that an infant’s administrative positions including executive attention and cognitive brain works very much like that of Dean of the Faculty of Health functions in babies. The way I an adult,” she concludes. Using the Sciences, Head of the University’s decided to do it was to connect it to ERP technique, Berger’s researchers Center for Cancer Research, Acting the babies’ perception of quantities.” are able to identify the exact Director of the Institute for Applied She believes that some day the millisecond when the baby is Biosciences in its transitionary tools used in this research could be presented with an impossible event period as it became the nucleus of applied to detecting learning and can examine the brainwaves the National Institute of disabilities or developmental and pattern of activity. There has Biotechnology in the Negev, and problems at a much earlier age. The long been an assumption that served two tenures as Chairman of findings might one day even help human beings have an innate mental the Department of Microbiology in devising ways to teach children ability to process quantities in the and Immunology. mathematics more effectively. environment. Berger believes this May his memory be blessed. research proves that theory. Her

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Prof. Yitzhak Hen Exploding The Myths

rof. Yitzhak Hen, along with foreign legion. “Actually, the Roman cultures,” he says. “They had wide P other researchers of the early emperor asked this group to interests and their kings were the medieval period, is turning history conquer Italy and return it to Roman patrons of poets and scholars. They upside down. Attacking myths rule. The Romans settled Barbarians collected one of the most famous about 5th to 11th century Romans, on their soil and drafted them to anthologies of Latin poetry.” In Barbarians and Christians, Hen, a fight against other Barbarians.” addition, he maintains that the member of the Department of Generations of schoolchildren Vandals were Arian Christians and General History, is helping to write have been raised on Edward that their king sponsored religious a new version of history that has Gibbon’s The Decline and Fall of the debate and encouraged open- become widely accepted, not only Roman Empire, which attributes the minded thinking. And while they in scholarly circles, but in colleges end of the classical world to are known as persecutors of and high schools worldwide. decadence, the rise of Christianity Catholics, this was for political, not That the Roman Empire fell, the and the Barbarian invasions. Hen religious reasons and was less dramatic than is commonly portrayed. Hen points out that he and his colleagues still use the name “Barbarian” without reservation. “We want to get rid of the ethnic notion of what a Barbarian is and replace it with the idea of diverse groups formed for war,” he says. “Actually,” he continues, “‘Barbarian’ is a neutral name with Greek origins meaning ‘those whose culture is other than Greek.’ It was used to describe Romans and Christians too.” With a keen interest in Charlemagne, or Charles the Great, Hen is translator of the king’s first biography by Einhard, from Latin to Hebrew. The Carolingian ruler is Vandals were vandals and counters at least part of this thesis. commonly portrayed as a highly Charlemagne was the first medieval “In reality, all Barbarians behaved civilized man who revived culture benign patron of the arts are just like Romans – they spoke Latin, following its post-Roman era some of the myths that Hen is served in the Roman army and were decline. “I say there is continuity of exploding. “The Roman Empire Arian Christians. The Barbarian culture from Roman times through never fell; it underwent a long invasion was, in fact, a Christian the Barbarian kingdoms through to period of transformation,” he says, invasion.” Charlemagne,” notes Hen. “He explaining that the invading In another reversal, Hen attacks earned his name in history not only Ostrogoths were neither invaders, the myth that depicts the Vandals, for his contributions to culture, but nor “Ostrogoths,” that is, one people who controlled large parts of North mainly due to his internal from one place. Rather, they were a Africa, as a primitive people of ecclesiastical and administrative collection of warriors composed of violence. “The Vandals were the reforms.” different peoples – something of a most intellectual of all Barbarian Hen earned his Bachelors and

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Prof. Yael Edan New Deputy-Rector Masters degrees from the Hebrew as his main contribution. To unravel University in Jerusalem. He then the mysteries of daily life more than went to Cambridge University, a thousand years ago, he turned to where he studied with Prof. liturgical texts, which he terms “the Rosamond McKitterick, one of the mass media par excellence” of that world’s leading experts in this area. period. “This material gets you He has been on the BGU faculty for closer to real life, to the previously the last three years. silent majority,” he says. Apparently, Hen had perfect Liturgy is composed of prayers timing, as during the last two and sermons written according to a decades, early medieval history has set formula. However, each priest undergone a revival. Only recently, or bishop in the early Middle Ages he half-jokes, have researchers would compose his own text, shown awareness that there was revealing his personal thoughts. Written in corrupt Latin, this huge In reality, all corpus of material touches on such unholy topics as paganism, Barbarians behaved drunkenness and magic. In addition, Prof. Yael Edan has been appointed rulers used liturgy as propaganda to the position of Deputy-Rector, like Romans – they and for indoctrination. replacing Prof. Shraga Segal, who spoke Latin, served In one liturgical text, Hen passed away in February 2006. discovered a bishop’s recrimination For the last six years, Edan has in the Roman army of those who wasted money on served as Chairperson of the and were Arian alcohol instead of giving to charity. Department of Industrial Another manuscript included the Engineering and Management. Christians account of a priest who was She received her doctorate from preaching in the malaria-infested Purdue University and holds a something prior to the 12th century. Alps at a hostel for infected pilgrims. Masters degree in Agricultural He explains this neglect by the fact Hen’s broad knowledge of Engineering and a Bachelors that until recently, few original languages has been helpful in his degree in Computer Engineering sources existed – researchers had to research. Aside from his fluency in from the Technion. She has been search for manuscripts and to read Hebrew and English, he reads and a member of the Department of corrupt Latin, a language that writes French and German and Industrial Engineering and diverted from classical syntax and reads Italian, Spanish, Byzantine Management since 1993. was widely used in that period. Greek, Latin, Gothic and Dutch. Edan’s research focuses on “Today, this is the most productive Asked why he chose this area, robotics, sensors, simulation, field in medieval history,” he says, Hen answers, “The Middle Ages computer integrated manu- adding that new sources, in the form always fascinated me. The early facturing and intelligent of liturgy, hagiography (that is, Middle Age period was even more automation in agriculture. She has Saints’ Lives) and poetry can be compelling because there was so instructed and continues to guide used to create a historiographical little known about it. I feel like a many graduate and postgraduate picture of the early Middle Ages. detective searching for clues and students. She has received Not only benefiting from this putting together a puzzle. I always accreditation for a number of trend, Hen has significantly find new angles to pursue,” he patents and has published widely enhanced it. He points to the use of continues. “I am lucky enough to be in Israeli and international liturgy as a proper historical source able to say that my hobby is my job.” journals.

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Henry Weiss Receives Honorary Doctorate

When Henry and Anita Weiss visited where the Laboratory Facilities for the campus with their family to Nanoscale Systems facilitate the become more acquainted with BGU advancement of innovative research and the philanthropic projects they in hi-tech and nanotechnology. support, the University arranged a Outgoing President Prof. Avishay surprise ceremony to bestow upon Braverman praised the Weiss family: Henry an Honorary Doctoral “Anita and Henry are true friends Degree. of the Negev and the University.

Henry and Anita Weiss (center) with their daughters Rochelle Handy (left) and Donna Lam and her husband, Cantor Nathan Lam of the Stephen S. Wise Synagogue in Los Angeles

Weiss was honored for his Their commitment to recruiting thanked the University for helping philanthropic endeavors on behalf promising young scientists for the him realize a lifelong dream: “I was of the State of Israel in such fields University and developing cutting- a pharmacist who always wanted as security and health, especially at edge technologies will ensure to be a doctor. Now you have BGU. The Weiss family has donated Israel’s future for generations to proven that if you have enough the Henry and Anita Weiss Family come.” patience, you can achieve whatever Building for Advanced Research, Speaking at the ceremony, Weiss your heart wishes!”

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Etingin Chair in Desert Research Inaugurated

The Maks and Rochelle Etingin Chair in Desert Research was inaugurated at the Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research in the presence of the benefactors, Maks and Rochelle Etingin from New York, and representatives of the Blaustein family, Arthur and Betty Roswell of New Jersey. Incumbent of the Chair, Prof. Zvi Hacohen, has been a member of the Albert Katz Department of Dryland Biotechnologies since 1981 and Chairman of the University’s Academic Faculty Association since 1996. His research centers on the various aspects of the production of commercially important lipids in microalgae, the source of fatty acids essential to the development of the brain. Maks and Rochelle Etingin (right) with Chair incumbent Prof. Zvi Hacohen Prizes Awarded to Outstanding Faculty Members

At the close of the academic year, excellence. The prizes were awarded lecturers from all the Faculties, outstanding scholars and lecturers at the annual concert sponsored by chosen through a survey of teaching were honored with prizes of the Rector. Thirty-seven outstanding quality conducted among the students, received awards given by the Office of the Rector and the David and Luba Glatt Fund for the Promotion of Teaching. Eleven outstanding researchers received awards from the Vice- President and Dean for Research and Development, Prof. Moti Herskowitz. On the same occasion, the Toronto Prize for Excellence in Research for 2006, established by the Toronto Chapter of BGU’s Canadian Associates, was awarded to Dr. Yoav Tsori from the Department of Chemical Engineering and Prof. From left: Rector Prof. Jimmy Weinblatt; Outstanding Researcher award recipient Prof. Shmuel Hauser of the Department of Business Administration; Rony Granek from the Department President Prof. Rivka Carmi; Vice-President and Dean for R&D, Prof. Moti Herskowitz of Biotechnology Engineering.

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Illness Report Representations of the Injured or Ill Body in the Works of Contemporary Artists in Israel

The widely-acclaimed exhibition recently on display on campus was held in conjunction with an interdisciplinary two-day symposium on “Pain, Flesh and Blood” devoted to various presentations of the sick, suffering and self- gratifying body. The exhibition, curated by Prof. Haim Ma’or and his students in the Curatorship course in the Department of Arts, included the works of 19 Israeli artists who deal with infection, plague, illness and recovery in the vulnerable, injured, sick, disabled and imperfect body. The early appearances of these artistic

expressions emerged in the “Body Art” of the Larry Abramson, Rose of Jericho VIII, 2004 1970s and developed from the 1990s. As a Oil and acrylic on canvas, 100x100 cm paraphrase on the concept of “redemption through the gutters,” the exhibition presents the range of expressions from a personal process of “redemption through pain” to turning the injured and helpless body into an esthetic and artistic object. The artists’ works touch the subject out of personal, familial affiliation or out of a broader human sensitivity. The illness becomes for them a visual story, delivered as an expression of struggle; as a stylish memory of touching the death experience and returning to normal life; as a symbolic perpetuation of the experience. The art work itself becomes a healing tool. At times, dealing with illness intimidates us and we seek to ignore it. The exhibition attempts to overcome the withdrawal and fear and look Yoram Kupermintz, Untitled, 1987 Acrylic on paper, 120x120 cm directly at the visually and emotionally difficult material, and to extract from it the artistic force.

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Aya Ben Ron, Blister, 2002 Print on photographic paper cut and glued in layers; plexiglas box, 100x100 cm

Jossef Krispel, Pupil 1, 2004 Oil on canvas, 60x40 cm

Motti Yifrach, Shoes, 1992, Emulsion on canvas, 150x100 cm

Gideon Gechtman, Stopper on a Shelf, 1985 Aluminum and execution iron, sphere: diameter 38 cm, height 59 cm; shelf: length 41, depth 40.5, height 21 cm

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Research Collaboration with Deutsche Telekom

From right: President Prof. Rivka Carmi; CEO of Deutsche Telekom Kai-Uwe Ricke; outgoing President Prof. Avishay Braverman; Minister Avraham Hirshson The German communications scientific research in the region. noted that DT is “examining options company Deutsche Telekom (DT) Prof. Avishay Braverman lauded to provide venture capital and to has signed an agreement with BGU DT’s decision to invest in the Negev, establish an incubator model.” to create the Deutsche Telekom noting that the decision to locate the The new laboratories will be Laboratories at the University, DT Laboratories at BGUwas a direct directed by Dr. Yuval Elovici of the which will focus on applied research result of the University’s efforts to Department of Information Systems in the area of information and promote applied research, parti- Engineering, who also heads its communication technologies. This cularly in hi-tech industries in the Software Engineering program. He is the first time that the telecom- region. “This fulfills the vision of is currently working with DT on a munications giant has created an David Ben-Gurion and Konrad research project that focuses on applied research institute outside Adenauer to develop science and computer and network security. The Germany. technology in the Negev and in laboratories will initially focus on CEO of Deutsche Telekom Israel,” he said. several key areas – security in Kai-Uwe Ricke and a number of Visibly moved by his first visit to telecommunications networks; the senior DT executives were in Beer- Israel and the University, Ricke organization of software Sheva to sign the $12.1 million expressed his admiration of Israeli components distributed over agreement in the presence of Israeli innovation in the field of infor- various networks quickly and Minister of Communications and mation technology and security. efficiently and their adaptation to Tourism Avraham Hirshson. During Describing the agreement to invest customers’ business processes; and the same ceremony, the University in BGU over the next two years, he “intuitive usability,” enabling the presented Ricke with the Ben- said, “We are putting down a marker customer to use complex Gurion Negev Award in recognition for the research work of DT and the communications services in an of his contribution to advancing development of the University,” and uncomplicated way.

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NIBN Becomes Part of Negev Prof. Ramy Brustein Development Plans New Dean of Kreitman School The Israeli government has The NIBN was established to committed to provide $30 million create an effective academic towards a $90 million research fund platform for the emergence of a for the National Institute for successful applied biotechnology Biotechnology in the Negev (NIBN) industry in the Negev in particular at BGU. The decision is part of a $3.6 and in Israel in general, while billion, 10-year comprehensive plan benefiting from the support of to bring development to the Negev internationally-recognized scientists region. The NIBN is the brainchild and industrialists. Focused on very of Swiss banker Edgar D. de specific research goals, the Institute Picciotto, who provided the includes an extensive system of peer incentive, financial support and review and critique to ensure vision to found the innovative standards of academic excellence scientific research institute. At an and commercial viability. Its event marking the Government’s international advisory board decision, de Picciotto declared his includes leading global business intention to continue investing in the persons and international luminaries Institute’s second stage of growth. in the field of biotechnology. Prof. Ramy Brustein from the Department of Physics has been appointed Dean of the Kreitman School of Advanced Graduate Studies. He replaces Prof. Zvi Priel, who recently completed his three- year term. Prof. Brustein joined the Department of Physics in 1995 as an Alon Fellow. He earned his Ph.D. in theoretical physics from Tel Aviv University, receiving during his studies numerous scholarships in recognition for his outstanding academic achievements. After spending time as a post-doctoral fellow at the University of Texas at Austin with Nobel laureate Prof. Steven Weinberg and at the University of Pennsylvania, he spent two years at the European Center for Nuclear Research (CERN) in Geneva, continuing his research in theoretical physics and cosmology. His research focuses on the interface between particle physics, string theory and cosmology. He has instructed and continues to guide many graduate and postgraduate students and has published widely in leading international Edgar D. de Picciotto addresses the audience journals.

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Prof. Yuval Shahar An Enterprising Magician

hat happens when you cross a complex computer programs that complexity, such as ‘diabetes in a W math genius with a future are capable of monitoring and pregnant woman with high blood doctor? To that theoretical question processing large amounts of data pressure.’ we give one answer: Prof. Yuval over lengthy time periods. This “Another problem I wanted to Shahar. Shahar is one of the few who technology has earned Shahar the solve was the large amounts of data have combined the study of reputation as an international expert that a physician must process in a medicine (for a medical degree at in automated medical-decision short amount of time. Family the Hebrew University of Jerusalem) support systems. doctors may treat patients who have with mathematics and computers The names of these complex suffered from diabetes for decades; (for a Masters degree at Bar-Ilan computer programs have roots in these patients accumulate results of University), which has placed him several languages: from the Hebrew tests with hundreds of items of data. at the forefront of the emerging field IDAN (epoch) and DeGel (flag) to The physician must monitor these of Medical Bioinformatics. After his Vayduria (a Tibetan healer) to the patients for numerous complications military service as a medic he won acronym KNAVE, for Knowledge- such as renal insufficiency, a scholarship for a Masters program based Navigation, Abstraction, neuropathy (numbness) of limbs, at Yale University, where he studied Visualization and Exploration. But ulcers or toxicity toward drugs – all artificial intelligence (AI). Two years later, he was accepted to a doctoral program at Stanford Spock suggests guidelines, but the physician University headed by Prof. Edward can overrule or modify them. It’s the doctor Shortliffe. Stanford is the academic world’s center of medical who's in charge informatics and it was there that Shahar was truly bitten by the the one he describes with the most this, again, in a typically short visit medical informatics bug. He was to enjoyment evokes associations in all that must address the patient’s spend ten years in Stanford, first as English-speakers: the Spock Hybrid present complaints in the context of a doctoral student, then a faculty Runtime Application Model – or, accumulated data that may reveal member, and was the recipient of simply, “Spock,” named after Mr. trends. Is it any wonder that the several prestigious prizes and Spock of the 1960s TV series Star physician is likely to miss subtle awards, including a National Trek. patterns of change? Institute of Health 5-year personal “Various medical associations in “That’s where the KNAVE visual FIRST award for research and an the United States produce what they exploration module comes in. It award from the National Science call ‘guidelines’ for physicians,” relies on the underlying IDAN Foundation to develop his explains Shahar. “These are text module, which performs what we theoretical work on temporal guides with explanations of how to call temporal abstraction– reasoning. treat everything from hypertension interpretation of clinical data Shahar came from Stanford to to diabetes and they are very useful, accumulating over time and their BGU in 2000, joining the Department but few physicians actually use summarization as clinically of Information Systems Engineering, them because of lack of time. One meaningful patterns. We’ve found which he now chairs. He also of my goals was to computerize that it takes only about ten minutes established the Medical Informatics these guidelines into a more to teach physicians how to use Research Center (MIRC) which he available format for diagnostic KNAVE and a few seconds for the heads, thus making the jump from purposes. Also, these guidelines IDAN/KNAVE combination to theoretical to applied research. often cover conditions in a general review the online blood tests and Shahar and his team of researchers way, such as ‘treatment of diabetes,’ records and then tap the doctor on use AI technology to develop while Spock allows greater the shoulder and say: this patient

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has been slowly developing renal available, Spock will ask the Shahar goes on to explain that insufficiency – something that the physician to provide basic medicine is only one application of doctor might have completely information appropriate to the his technology of temporal missed. The resulting interpretation specific case: blood sugar levels, abstraction, namely intelligent can also be used by the Spock blood pressure, presence of anemia, monitoring and processing of large module to suggest a particular whether the patient smokes. Then it amounts of time-related information. guideline and even to walk the will suggest treatments, based on Other applications include physician through it. the information that was input.” integration of intelligence data “KNAVE is beneficial to Why the name of ”Spock”? accumulating over time, detection specialists as well. Take the example “Well, remember how Mr. Spock of electronic threats in telecomm- of bone marrow transplant patients in the TV program always knew the unication networks, fraud analysis, who must be carefully monitored answers? His suggestions and detection of suspicious patterns in for multiple organ toxicity and who answers helped Captain Kirk out, financial dealings, or monitoring of can accumulate as much as two but the Captain always had the final traffic and traffic controllers’ actions. thousand items of data in their test word, of course – just like in our case. Shahar is also an active member of results. We have found that it takes Spock suggests guidelines, but the the Deutsche Telekom Laboratories a highly-trained medical specialist physician can overrule or modify Team and holds the position of a full half hour to review these them. It’s the doctor who’s in charge. Deputy-Dean of Research in the results – and twenty seconds with “In short, I view our suite of Faculty of Engineering Sciences. KNAVE. Moreover, while the monitoring, interpretation and Recently, Shahar was elected as a physicians have an accuracy rate of therapy tools as a valuable set of fellow of the American College of 78 percent, using the KNAVE/IDAN tools for physicians and not a Medical Informatics, the “Hall of system has led to an accuracy rate replacement for them. I see Spock Fame” of the medical informatics of 98 percent. and KNAVE as the 21st century field. But ask him what he enjoys the “Spock is called a hybrid system equivalent of the 19th century most and he pulls out a deck of because it is useful even when there stethoscope or the 20th century CT cards, as he is also a member of the is no electronic patient record. If a and MRI. They don’t replace the Israel Magicians Association with a diabetic patient is being treated and doctor; they simply enhance his or specialty in card magic, as well as no online medical records are her expertise.” an expert bridge player.

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Nidaa Khoury A Passion For Balance

or renowned Arabic poet Nidaa Literature to work, teaching a class need to study?’ But there was this F Khoury, life has been a constant that contrasts Arab and Israeli fire in my heart, something within search for balance, integrity and cultures. “I use texts from both me. I felt as though something must truth. “Even when I was a child,” Arabic and Hebrew literature,” she be changed, and I had to search for she says, “I saw the problems of the says. “We study them side by side, it myself.” world and felt them very deeply. The so students see where societal values Although Khoury’s early poems first poem I wrote was about a differ and conjoin.” focus on love, she writes out of her soldier who died on the border, Khoury’s decision to travel the own pain, she says. “I was disturbed alone, without his mother, sister or length of Israel to join the BGU with the way society treated women wife there to comfort him as he died. faculty stems from her passion for – in our tradition, the ideal woman Even then, I was preoccupied with balance. “I love the desert,” she says. is beautiful and quiet and in the the meaning of existence, life and death. That’s why, later, I decided to study philosophy. I thought it “. . . Oh you my dream that ruptures in my neck would help me understand what I And scatters in many other places was feeling.” If Khoury’s decision to study For you and only you philosophy sounds simple, it wasn’t. Khoury, now the author of seven I destroyed the shrines of my sleep published works of poetry – many And scandalized the burial of perfume of which are translated and studied in universities around the world – You were the ultimate God of pain was born and still lives in Fassouta, a village in northern Israel about From the knives of the ages in the meat of the place.” three miles south of the Lebanese August 1998 border. In Fassouta, all 3,000 residents are Melkite Catholic Arabs. “The open space gives a feeling of home. But I saw the beauty of a Considering that there were no open doors. I came to the University woman’s soul. Women must have a computers or internet access until a several years ago and loved the voice. We, too, have souls that need couple of years ago, Khoury’s status atmosphere – it’s so relaxed, less to reach out in this life, to do things, as a poet of international renown materialistic. And I love the way the to say things. Women are needed to speaks volumes about her courage University works for balance here, bring balance into the world. To and tenacity. by including so many Bedouin and make our own unique contribution.” Even more unique is that Khoury Arab students.” Much of Khoury’s writing didn’t begin serious study until she When Khoury married, her own involves spirituality. Before her was a married woman with three formal education stopped for a time. marriage, Khoury studied at Our children. “I was married at 16,” she She dropped out of high school and Lady of Lourdes School in Tiberias says “By the time I was 19 and only later, on her own, studied to which, she says, “took my soul to started university, I already had pass her matriculation exams. “My another place.” It also provoked three children. Now my husband society is very traditional,” she says. many questions about the balance and I have a younger son, too.” “It was very difficult at the of a life of prayer and a woman’s role Khoury teaches in the Department beginning when I wanted more in the world. “The nuns were very of Hebrew Literature. In addition to education. No one in my family or spiritual,” she says. “The paradox courses in Creative Thought and village could understand. ‘Why is for me was to search for the truth Creative Writing, she puts her a woman with a husband and a about their lives of prayer and Masters degree in Comparative home doing this? Why does she devotion, and another life that

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would balance spirituality with the “Association of Forty,” a human works to create balance between needs of the body.” rights organization pressing for full teaching the students – giving to Khoury’s first five books were acceptance for the unrecognized them – and taking from them, by published while she worked in a Arab villages in Israel. She went on listening. Students must be allowed bank. “For ten years, I saved every to form “Path to Peace” and became to learn from themselves and each

“My town consists of vultures Each day they devour the silence And lean on the vulcano Vultures take a rest From the dust clouds.” July 1993

shekel and published five books of a member of the General Union of other in their own search for truth. poetry,” she says, “But I still wasn’t Arab Writers in Israel. “In Israel, Arab and Jew must satisfied. I began studying at Haifa Everything in life is about balance, come to know each other in a University, which again caused she says. “Balance between men and neutral setting, not just a political quite an uproar. My mother thought women, between spirituality and one. On the BGU campus, students I was crazy to leave a good paying the body, between the self and the enjoy that opportunity every day.” job.” other, between the Arabs and In addition to her seven books After graduation, Khoury moved Israelis. already in print, Khoury has two into a more public life, teaching “Balance is one of the things I more about to be published: creative writing in the town of appreciate so much about BGU,” “Communion and Redemption” Tarshiha, and working for the she says. “Here, the faculty also and “Post-Monotheism.”

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University Train Station and Mexico Bridge Dedicated

The Beer-Sheva North – Ben-Gurion The station was built through the through a donation by Larry University Train Station and the combined initiative of BGU, Israel Goodman of Chicago, IL. A long- Mexico Bridge were dedicated as Railways and the Beer-Sheva time member of the University’s part of the Ben-Gurion Day Foundation and was made possible Board of Governors and Chairman of the American Committee of the Beer-Sheva Foundation, Goodman – together with his wife Lillian – has previously built important projects in the city of Beer-Sheva and the University. The Mexico Bridge was built with the support of the Mexican Associates, led by their President, Ing. Pedro Dondisch, who has been vital in promoting the legacy of the first Prime Minister at the Ben- Gurion Research Institute for the Study of Israel and Zionism at BGU’s Sede Boqer campus.

Prof. Avishay Braverman with Ing. Pedro Dondisch at the entrance to the Mexico Bridge

celebrations in the presence of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, former Transportation Minister Ephraim Sneh, Beer-Sheva Mayor Yaacov Terner, Chairman of the Board of Israel Railways Moshe Leon, representatives of Israel Railways and University benefactors. Designed by architect Danny Lazar, the new station and bridge create a dramatic new gateway to the University and the city of Beer- Sheva. Lazar explained that the project offered him a unique opportunity “to transform the northern entrance to the city – to create symbolic structures that would carry Beer-Sheva into the future.” Larry Goodman addresses the audience

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Honors Bestowed

From left: Prof. Jehuda Reinharz, Menachem Perlmutter, Terry Meyerhoff Rubenstein, Yossi Banai , Eliyahu Levant, Jacob Türkel, Ralph I. Goldman

Honorary Doctoral Degrees and Distribution Committee (JDC), as promoting education and culture in Ben-Gurion Negev Awards were well as advisor on Diaspora Affairs Israel, particularly in the Negev. bestowed upon a group of to David Ben-Gurion – was Retiring Israeli Supreme Court committed and accomplished recognized for his efforts as a Justice Jacob Türkel was recognized individuals during the annual Ben- dedicated philanthropist who for his support of the University Gurion Day commemorations supports worthy causes in Israel and throughout the years as a member which began a year-long celebration the Diaspora and promotes Jewish of its Board of Governors and in honor of the 100th anniversary of education and leadership. Executive Committee and Chairman David Ben-Gurion’s aliyah. Vice Prof. Jehuda Reinharz, an of its Constitutional Committee, and Premier Shimon Peres was the guest internationally-renowned scholar of for dedicating “his time and energy of honor at the ceremony. Honorary Jewish and Israeli history, who has to promoting higher education in Doctoral degrees were conferred been serving as President of the Negev and molding the upon the following recipients: Brandeis University for the past character of BGU.” Prize-winning Israeli actor, singer, decade, was honored for his prowess Ben-Gurion Negev Awards were director and songwriter Yossi Banai as a teacher and researcher and for given to two citizens of the Negev: (who has since passed away) his dedication to strengthening Eliyahu Levant, the chess received the award for his multi- relations between Jewish grandmaster who came to Beer- faceted talents, including his ability communities and academic Sheva upon his immigration from as artist and performer “to institutions in the United States and the Former Soviet Union and single- illuminate the small miracles of Israel. handedly placed the city on the daily life and thus express his great Terry Meyerhoff Rubenstein of the world chess map; and Menachem love for his homeland and the United States, third-generational Perlmutter, a Holocaust survivor ordinary people who inhabit it.” leader and Executive Vice-President and longtime member of BGU’s Ralph I. Goldman of the United of the Joseph and Harvey Meyerhoff Board of Governors and Executive States – who has served as the Family Charitable Funds Committee, who has been active in Executive Vice-President and Foundation, was honored for her promoting settlement in the Negev Honorary Executive Vice-President leading role in the Jewish for over fifty years. of the American Jewish Joint philanthropic world and in

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Dr. Simone Moran Win Some, Lose Some

ot all negotiations end with among the issues, Moran suggests particularly averse to losing and thus Nclear cut winners and losers. In what she terms the Integrative incurring a loss on one issue is not fact, negotiations can often be Gambit Offer (IGO). easily compensated for by a parallel resolved to the joint satisfaction of Borrowed from chess, a gambit is gain on a different issue. Separate both parties: all involved can take an opening move in which a player issue processing combined with loss home a bigger prize. This view, sacrifices a particular piece in order aversion result in negotiators often which may be counter-intuitive to to achieve an overall advantage. missing the potential to create value; most of us, encapsulates the However, while a gambit in chess philosophy of Dr. Simone Moran of represents an attempt to gain the Department of Management. advantage at the opponent’s Steeped in a background of decision- expense, an IGO in negotiations does making and psychology, Moran not involve harming the other party. seeks to identify and define common Unlike typical concessions within errors of negotiators and to teach her negotiations, IGOs are not students how to overcome them. demanded or requested by the other “Laymen generally think of party, but are proposed by the negotiations as win-lose situations, negotiators themselves. as a sort of war over who will get In the case of negotiations over an more of the pie,” says Moran. There apartment rental for example, are two main approaches to Moran points to air conditioning, negotiations, she explains. When electrical appliances, date of creating value, negotiators seek a entrance and number of yearly way to expand the pie. When payments as issues that are likely to claiming value, negotiators assume have different priority for different that the pie is fixed and their primary negotiators. “To me, the entrance goal is to attain a greater portion of date may be the most crucial issue, that fixed pie for themselves. “This while for the other party the number second approach places parties on of payments may be of supreme both the defensive and offensive and importance,” says Moran. “The causes people to miss the point of wisdom lies in offering to give up creating a win-win situation. I want something that is not important to both parties to give and to take in a you in order to get something that they are reluctant to make proposals way that will benefit all. Of course, is more important.” In addition, that entail a loss on any issue, even in the real world it’s more IGOs can demonstrate good will and if such an offer could actually benefit complicated, but you can still end build trust. While this may seem like them. with a win-win situation.” logical, natural behavior, Moran In her research into IGOs, Moran, People hate to lose. That basic holds that people don’t often initiate along with Prof. Ilana Ritov of the element of human nature, according it. Why not? Quite simply, she says, Hebrew University, used 170 to Moran, works against us in because of the way we process management students who acted as negotiations. To negotiate effectively, information and make decisions. She buyers and sellers. The researchers we must sometimes give in a less explains that rather than looking at distributed negotiation scenarios to important area to gain in a more the whole picture and integrating the students and asked them to important area. In multi-issue the information about all the negotiate and write down all of their negotiations agendas, where several negotiating issues, people tend to offers and counter-offers. Then they subjects are under consideration and process the information of each issue checked to see if the students made parties have different priorities separately. Also, people are gambit offers or volunteered to give

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Apparently, when you envy someone, you do a up anything. Finally, they examined negotiations successfully that cost-benefit analysis. the optimal outcome, the maximal involve strategies for enlarging the win-win situation that would pie and creating value,” she says, You adopt unacceptable increase the pie for all. Their adding that a key challenge is to behavior at a low findings: at a given stage of teach these principles in a way that negotiations, an IGO proposal makes them easily transferred from psychological cost enhances the chance of reaching an the classroom to real life situations. Moran graduated with to induce envy or had participants a Ph.D. with honors read outstanding resumés of other from BGU, where she individuals. In one experiment, teaches courses on students were given fictional negotiations, judgment resumés about other students and and decision making were pitted against them in and organizational negotiations. The results here were behavior. absolute: in negotiations with Among her other someone who had the so-called numerous research ‘ideal resumé’ – service in an elite projects, Moran has army unit, top grades, vacations to explored the effect of exotic spots etc. – students lied more emotions on than when they didn’t envy their negotiations, rivals. specifically how envy “Apparently, when you envy influences deception. someone, you do a cost-benefit “Part of our non- analysis,” says Moran. “You adopt rational behavior in unacceptable behavior at a low negotiations comes psychological cost.” In other words, from our emotions. when we envy people, we can Our feelings can limit belittle them without compunction our ability to negotiate because we feel justified. We assume rationally,” she says. the objects of our envy are arrogant But how does emotion and vain, indulged and smooth- agreement. “A possible explanation cause us to deceive or to be truthful? talking. is that in proposing IGOs, parties While the literature of decision- The element of shadenfreude, of send the message that they are making explored ethics and deriving pleasure from the troubles willing to be flexible towards the deception – when do we show all of others, also plays a part here. other side, which might create an our cards and when don’t we? When There’s little price to pay and atmosphere of camaraderie and may do we make promises we don’t immense satisfaction in deceiving lay the basis for trust and intend to keep? – it hadn’t the objects of our envy, or in the reciprocation, or mere imitation,” previously covered the widespread accepted jargon, greater benefit at says Moran. Unfortunately, emotion of envy. lower cost. Translating this into although these offers improved the Moran checked subjects’ organizational behavior, Moran outcome for all, participants did not willingness to deceive the objects of explains that while we think we use them enough. their envy. In a study carried out must market ourselves or flaunt our Moran is anxious for others to with Maurice Schweitzer from the achievements in interviews and benefit from her findings. “I teach University of Pennsylvania, they meetings, blowing our own horns important concepts about managing created a competitive work scenario has its own dangers too.

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Dr. Roni Kasher Peptides & Polymers

he Land of Israel claims the University of Jerusalem; for post- water treatment.” T world’s first water purification doctoral work, he opted for the Reverse osmosis had its origins scheme: after our ancestors fled laboratory of the former President in Florida in the 1950s, when a Egypt, they were thirsty, but found of Israel, Prof. Ephraim Katzir, a process called “surface skimming” the water at Mara too bitter to drink. pioneer in proteins and bio- was developed. Salt water was According to the Bible, Moses solved polymers. Back in 1948, Katzir passed over a membrane – a plastic the problem by throwing a tree into established one of the first research divider – and fresh water would fall the water, which instantly made it facilities in the world in this field at through, leaving the salts behind. In sweet. the Weizmann Institute of Science. the 1960s, the term “reverse The process of creating potable After his time at the Weizmann osmosis” was coined when the water has never been so simple or Institute, Kasher spent three years process was enhanced by using a so cheap. working on projects designed to pump to apply pressure to the salt The good news is that relief is on eradicate organic pollutants in water to force it through the the horizon: Dr. Roni Kasher, who Israel’s coastal aquifer. membrane.Normally, if salt and recently joined BGU, will open a Through it all, Kasher’s focus has fresh water exist on two sides of a new laboratory in the Department involved peptides – what they are, membrane, the fresh water will filter of Water Desalination and Treatment how they work and what they can into the salt side. By applying at the Zuckerberg Institute for Water be designed to do. pressure to force the flow to run in Research of the Jacob Blaustein “Peptides are small fragments of the opposite direction, reverse Institutes for Desert Research in Sede proteins,” Kasher explains. “They osmosis occurs. Fresh water is Boqer. His plan? To design a new are composed of the same building extracted from salt water. water purification membrane, an blocks as proteins – the amino acids “Israel is chronically short of innovation that will benefit not only – but peptides sometimes have sweet water,” Kasher says. “We need Israel, but also countries facing acute biological functions that are very to be able to purify our resources in water shortages around the world. different. They can be either natural both our underground aquifers and If ever a man came tailor-made or synthetic, and because of their the Mediterranean. If we can for the job, Kasher is it. Born 42 years unique properties, they may hold desalinate, we’ll have an abundant ago in Hawaii to Israeli parents, he the key to creating more efficient supply. In Israel, we understand has spent the last 15 years water treatment options than are how serious a shortage of drinking researching and working in organic now available. Today, removing water would be.” Internationally, Israel has led the way in water treatment programs. A specifically designed anti-microbial In the 1980s, in Eilat, a commercial RO plant was established to peptide, which could bind with the thin film, desalinate brackish groundwater. In would represent a serious breakthrough August 2005, a new state-of-the-art RO plant opened in Ashkelon, representing the first of several chemistry, specifically with peptides salt from either seawater or large-scale seawater desalination and polymers, substances likely to groundwater is accomplished by facilities in some stage of figure in tomorrow’s more efficient reverse osmosis (RO), which utilizes development.When fully water facilities. In every previous synthetic polymer membranes as a operational, the Ashkelon plant will field of endeavor, Kasher focused kind of filter. Since polymers are provide about 15 percent of Israel’s on some aspect of peptide design related to peptides and proteins, a domestic water. and operation: he has a Ph.D. in more creative use of peptides might Kasher’s commitment is to organic chemistry from the Hebrew well represent a breakthrough in enhance and improve the efficiency

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of the basic element in water membrane as a three-layer ply: the so it has to be replaced. Beyond all treatment – the membranes that do working component is the “thin that, labor costs are considerable. the actual work in filtering out film” which lies next to the salt “A specifically designed anti- impurities. water; under that is a thicker layer microbial peptide, which could bind “The membranes we use now are of porous material, then a stiff layer with the thin film, would represent far more efficient than earlier for stability. “If we understood the a serious breakthrough. What if versions,” Kasher says. “They have chemistry of the process, we could peptides could modify the surface good flux – water flows through design more efficient membranes,” of the membrane so that it would – while salt doesn’t.We’ve also made he explains. by itself – prevent the growth of great strides in the engineering One current problem is with bacteria? If an anti-microbial peptide aspects of reverse osmosis – how bacteria.”Bacteria collect on the could target and kill the bacteria much pressure to apply, how much surface of the thin membrane,” before they built up, that would efficiency to expect. But up to now, Kasher says. “As the bacteria layer represent a significant advance in we’ve neglected the chemistry. We builds up, it clogs the membrane, cost control.” don’t really understand how the so gradually the membrane All of Kasher’s previous work membrane itself works. Of course, becomes less permeable. Removing with peptides will come into play over the years, many different kinds the bacteria is costly, for several on this new project, in which he and of membranes have been tested and reasons. First, the unit is taken out a team of experienced researchers some are better than others.But we of operation; second, it’s treated will work on developing more haven’t studied how they work. with a chemical, often chlorine, efficient membranes. “This is an More importantly, we haven’t which might pose problems of its opportunity to take a big leap studied how they could be own, such as generation of forward in desalination technology,” chemically designed to make them carcinogenic agents from organic he says. “It’s an exciting project – better.” substances. Repeated cleaning also not just for Israel, but for every Kasher describes the RO shortens the life of the membrane, thirsty country in the world.”

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Dr. Ruth Birk Food For Thought

ood fuels all human beings. importance of molecular research, depends on its digestion. Prior to its F Types of food, their function which can illuminate obesity’s absorption, fat must be broken and influence on the body are vastly underlying mechanisms at the most down into fatty acids by digestive different, though, and can make or basic level and generate proteins (enzymes) produced break an individual’s health. In her biotechnological solutions such as primarily by the exocrine pancreas. field of molecular nutrition – what specially designed functional foods The digestive enzymes are the major is known as nutrigenomics – and pharmaceutical compounds “portal” of nutrients into the body. Dr. Ruth Birk, a member of the that may alleviate the problem. The interactions of nutrients, Faculties of Health Sciences and In her research, Birk, who hormonal and neural factors in the Engineering Sciences and the completed all her studies at the regulation of the pancreas are not National Institute for Biotechnology Hebrew University’s Faculty of fully understood. This regulation in the Negev, uses the tools of Agriculture in Rehovot and worked can work both ways – on one hand, molecular biology to investigate at the Weizmann Institute of Science it is important as a means to enable how nutrition affects people’s health before joining BGU five years ago, digestion of fat, thereby facilitating at a cellular level. Her research hopes examines fat from two viewpoints entry of essential specific fatty acids to lay the foundation for future – digestion and storage. Fats are an into the body; on the other hand, solutions, in the form of special diets, essential part of our diet: they are a inhibitory regulation can act in drugs or other therapies for specific key factor in normal function and preventing overflow of fat into the illnesses. development throughout life, body, abrogating development of What we eat, holds Birk, has a chronic diseases. It is noteworthy fundamental effect on our wellness that many of the new developments or on the development of chronic What we eat in weight-control drugs are based diseases such as diabetes, heart on inhibition of exocrine pancreas disease and some forms of cancer. has a fundamental lipase (fat digesting enzyme). She points to obesity as a current effect on our In this field, Birk works on phenomenon that has reached optimizing the digestion of different epidemic proportions. According to wellness or on the types of fats by pancreatic enzymes the formula of Body Mass Index development of in neonates. Dietary fat, both in (BMI – a computation that divides breast milk and in formulas, weight in kilograms by height in chronic diseases provides the major source of energy meters squared and a value of over during infancy. She focused on 30 is considered obese) one quarter such as diabetes special fat groups such as long chain of Western society is considered polyunsaturated fatty acids, which obese. Furthermore, about 15 especially in infancy; however, they play a key role in brain and normal percent of the world’s school-aged also act as facilitators of major retinal development during infancy, children are estimated to be carrying chronic diseases such as and on medium chain fatty acids, excess body fat, with an increased arteriosclerosis, diabetes and which are given as supplements risk for developing chronic disease. obesity. Fat should not be facilitating growth of under-weight “We’re talking about a serious considered as one homogenous preterm babies. Among other problem from several aspects – with group. “The fundamental building findings, she demonstrated that fat economic implications and major blocks of dietary fat (triglycerides) fortification of neonate’s diet beyond effects on health, quality of life and are fatty acids. Each fatty acid has a certain threshold diminishes the longevity,” states Birk, who is a firm different effects on body metabolism generation of pancreatic enzymes, proponent of preventive medicine and behavior,” she says. leading to less, rather than and nutritional education. At the Absorption into the body of food enhanced, absorption of fat. Another same time, she believes in the in general and fat in particular, study in her lab showed that

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“This has opened a new world of research on adipose tissue, not only as a storage place, but as a metabolically active tissue that plays a critical role in the regulation of satiety and hunger,” notes Birk. Adipose tissue develops from “innocent” pre-adipocytes into fully differentiated storage cells that have the metabolic capability of efficiently storing fat. In this process, several genes are “turned on” one after the other in a known sequence. Birk’s lab is studying a set of new genes that play an important role in this process. “We still need to learn the complete sequence of genes involved, which will enable us to manipulate the formation or lack of formation of adipose tissue. We also study how this sequence is regulated by specific fats and specific metabolic states, such as diabetes and obesity” says Birk.“ On one hand, fatty acids act in enhancing the formation of fully differentiated fat-storing adipose cells. On the other hand, some of these fatty acids overconsumption of saturated fatty inhibition of digestive enzymes. inhibit their formation.” Special fatty acids, which are consumed Modifications of these signals acids also show promising results extensively in a Western diet, causes might serve as pharmaceutical when they are incorporated into intracellular accumulation of fat in compounds that reduce digestion diets designed for people who want exocrine pancreas tissue and is and absorption of dietary fats. to lose or gain weight. This research associated with cellular dysfunction Birk is also researching fat storage. is of interest not only in terms of and cell death, ultimately Overflow of fat into the body is basic science; it is also a first step in contributing to the pathogenesis of directed to storage at the most finding new strategies that could pancreatic diseases. efficient fat storage place – the fat facilitate or inhibit development of Another aspect of Birk’s research cell or adipocyte. Until some ten adipose tissue. deals with the biological signals that years ago, it was thought that With regard to Birk herself, does control satiety and hunger and the adipose tissue was physiologically she follow a strict dietary regime? mechanisms through which they inactive, designed mainly for “I eat a balanced diet. I am not a regulate the synthesis and secretion storage. Following the discovery fanatic – we should never forget the of digestive enzymes by the exocrine that it secretes many proteins that quality of life aspect,” she answers. pancreas. She proved that some of signal the brain regarding the “We should always, though, be the signals that regulate satiety and amount of fat stored in adipose aware of what we put in our hunger also regulate the release or tissue, the view has changed. bodies.”

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Dr. David Brock Going Global

r. David Brock speaks English Brock explains the development D with a fascinating mix of of global law firms as a natural accents, and it’s no wonder: born in outgrowth of this process. “Large Cape Town, South Africa, he companies such as General Motors received his doctorate in Education and Wal-Mart don’t want to have to in the United States and taught for start looking for a local attorney in nine years at the University of every new country they penetrate; Auckland, New Zealand before they would rather have one law firm settling in Israel. It was in 1997, that takes care of all their needs. during a sabbatical year, that he came Also, since other service providers to Israel for five weeks and met his such as accounting have gone future wife, Shlomit. He went back global, law companies face pressure to New Zealand before ultimately to follow suit.” deciding to return to Israel. Today, When one company exports to a he teaches International number of different countries, there Management and Strategy in the are two opposing points of view: Department of Business multi-domestic and global. The Administration at the School of Management. “When I made aliyah,” explains Brock, “my Hebrew Internationalization, like any new was not very fluent. I taught my classes in English during my first phenomenon or new technology, has a year, but every semester thereafter, learning curve. Eventually, it has a chance I added more and more Hebrew and now I speak mainly Hebrew, with a to become profitable few English words thrown in.” Brock’s fields of expertise and multi-domestic approach views But there is a catch: it is not at all research are global law firms, each country as a separate market, clear whether internationalization multinational corporations and while the global strategy is, well, pays off. “Our research,” says Brock, planning in these companies and more global. “Take McDonald’s, for “shows that internationalization, or their subsidiaries. “For many years, example,” says Brock. “Every leaving one’s home country to it was a given that law could not be McDonald’s tries to maintain the market goods elsewhere, has its global because each country has its same style of service, the same drawbacks. The firm often goes from own legal system,” explains Brock. Golden Arches ambience, the same a more profitable market to a less “However, that started to change in Egg McMuffin. You can pick out a profitable one, causing a loss in the 1990s. Governments deregulated McDonald’s in every Main Street revenue; and it loses its hard-earned professional services and new all over the world. The fries are home reputation in an unfamiliar technologies emerged that facilitated always the same, as are the Idaho new market. This impinges on rate internationalization. International potatoes. True, there are differences: of development, on reputation and professional service providers also Israel has the only kosher on wealth.” emerged, such as the firms KPMG McDonald’s, New Zealand has So why do firms internationalize, and Price Waterhouse Coopers of the Kiwi-burgers and each country has despite the pitfalls? Why don't they ‘Big Four’; these service providers its own local regulations. You could stop when it becomes less profitable? typically supply accounting, say that McDonald’s is 90 percent “The customers demand global,” consulting and often legal services global and only 10 percent multi- explains Brock. “A customer gets on an international scale.” domestic.” used to Hertz or Avis rental cars and

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comes to expect them not just in the succeed as well. “In our research,” “For example,” says Brock, “The big markets but in smaller places notes Brock, “we discovered that global IT system for BMW has a too. The companies have to maintain there are phases of negative returns huge, expensive computerized branches in less profitable places as in internationalization, phases when spare-part inventory system. The well to satisfy the customers, even the companies lose money. But New Zealand BMW subsidiary if they don't make a lot of money in internationalization, like any new developed a local, more manageable doing so.” phenomenon or new technology, system for their limited selection of Brock does not see international- has a learning curve. Eventually, it BMWs. In this way, the parent ization as a passing fad. “I believe has a chance to become profitable. German BMW Company allowed that the world will continue to For example, we studied the for flexibility on the part of its internationalize until the entire mechanism of creating profitability. subsidiary. However, the Japanese marketplace is truly global. Of The major key is to use leverage. carmaker Nissan insisted that course, there will always remain The law firm must delegate and Nissan New Zealand follow the pockets of resistance or localization. farm out work to junior lawyers, Japanese model. For example, just like some Israelis maintain as few partners as possible “When to adopt local preferences want only Israeli products, other and a low ratio of senior-junior is not a simple question. It depends countries have this phenomenon as lawyers. This can be very on interaction between the cultures well. But they are in the minority. challenging in foreign markets with of the two countries, and we use The world is going the way of Wal- unfamiliar cultural, language and measures of national culture. In our Mart: although Wal-Mart is officially legal systems.” research, we have developed a an American company, it imports its Another important field is that of ‘predictive model’ that we hope will items from wherever in the world planning in the subsidiaries of enhance profitability. International the products can be obtained for the multinational corporations. Should business can clearly be very lowest prices. Even when they the planning be determined only by profitable – firms just need to avoid market in the United States, their the parent company in the country the pitfalls, find the correct products are mainly imported.” of origin, or by the country in which localization-globalization balance But global firms can ultimately the subsidiary is based? and above all, keep learning.”

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Dr. Nadya Gurevich Fitting The Pieces Together

f all the things you might not in mathematics summa cum laude a new way – it was a delight.” O expect to see in a Russian-born from Tel Aviv University, she went Finding a way to explain what Israeli mathematician’s office is on to receive her Ph.D. from the Gurevich actually does isn’t easy for commentary from Calvin & Hobbs, Weizmann Institute of Science, those whose math skills stop at the but there it is: an American cartoon, winning grants and prizes for basics. Gurevich’s specialty lies in featuring the tousle-headed kid excellence all along the way, “automorphic forms,” which was engaged in a philosophical debate including most recently a sizeable invented to solve problems in with his father, exploring the balance grant from the Israel Science number theory, one of the oldest in between teamwork and Foundation. mathematics. Work in automorphic individuality. From 2000-2003, Gurevich was a forms combines ideas from algebra, Mathematical theorists like Veblen Research Instructor at geometry and analysis, which is why Dr. Nadya Gurevich of the Princeton University and the Gurevich says it’s so powerful. Department of Mathematics – who Institute of Advanced Studies. “I was Success in her field results from a is already a rising star in the field of determined to come back to Israel,” combination of both individual and automorphic forms – seek balance. she says. “But I enjoyed the work team work, Gurevich says. One of Individually, they are a small, lofty that I did at Princeton. I was invited her early successes was in a group of individuals around the to BGU to give a talk and was really collaborative effort where she and world who frequently work alone, impressed by the opportunities I two colleagues explored a piece of laboring over problems most of the saw. When I was offered a position mathematical “folklore.” “‘Folklore’ rest of us didn’t know existed, yet at BGU, I accepted. I didn’t really is something that is thought to be find satisfaction in sharing both think about any other place.” true,” she says, “not because anyone projects and results. Gurevich’s fascination with math has actually studied it or proved it, “What fascinates me in math is began when she joined a Math Circle but just because it’s commonly exploring the relationship between – an extra-curricular math club – accepted. things,” Gurevich says with a when she was about 11 years old. “I “We were working on one of those twinkle, “when things from two liked the math,” she says, “but the common assumptions. It wasn’t a different fields meet and I find that way the teachers presented it was a huge, earthshaking thing, but when a method I used in one problem also works in another.” If that sounds terribly abstract, it We seek out the unknown. We try to establish is. The pursuit of pure math – applying theoretical concepts to the relationships between things. We strive to abstract problems, searching for pin down knowledge no one had before answers that may not have any immediate practical application at all – isn’t for everyone. But for large part of the attraction. They we disproved it, it surprised even Gurevich, the hours spent pouring didn’t stuff us with facts; instead, us; it was very satisfying. Of course, over problems so complex that they they found ways to give us we checked it over and over and can’t even be explained to math interesting problems, to inspire us then we asked others to check it as amateurs, the process is satisfying. to find non-standard solutions. I was well. There was general agreement Every now and then she sees results fascinated. In my other classes, it that we were right.” and that makes all the effort was very rare that something would Gurevich presented their work at worthwhile. make me say ‘Wow!’ But in Math a conference in Israel in 2001. “There Born in Russia in 1974, Gurevich Circle, there were lots of ‘wow’ were several responses and made aliyah when she was 15 years experiences. I’d see how some piece ultimately, general assent that we old. With an undergraduate degree of information fit into a problem in were right, so we sent it on to more

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senior people and it was generally picture. What I do is like that. information.” accepted. When that happens, it’s Making it possible to see how things Whether any aspect of pure math exciting.” connect, so we reveal a reality we has any practical utility is beyond It’s not only her own success that haven’t seen before.” what Gurevich does. “I don’t know pleases Gurevich. “What delights It’s in that sense that making a about practical aspects,” she says. me is seeing good results – it doesn’t mistake isn’t a disaster. “What “I’m a theorist. Other people work have to be me who finds it. I just frustrates me is when something I'm on practical applications. But of love seeing new ways of looking at focusing on doesn’t work, when the course, they do occur – some pure a problem.” pieces of information I have don’t math concepts are useful in code Pure math includes a sense of fit together. There are no theory, cryptography. artistry, a sort of revelation in contradictions in math, so that “In my field, we seek out the uncovering a truth that has always means I’ve made a mistake unknown. We try to establish the existed but hasn’t been known somewhere. relationships between things. We before. “But that’s not all bad. Mistakes strive to pin down knowledge no “Think of a very large picture,” can be good. When the pieces don’t one had before. In a sense, it’s a she says. “At the moment, you only fit, I go back and find the error. So search for truth. see small parts of it, but then you then, again, I’ve learned something “What we’re looking for is out suddenly see that pieces connect. I didn’t know before and that’s very there. It exists. We just work to reveal Now you see more of the whole pleasing: to find a new piece of it.”

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Dr. Ohad Medalia Into Unchartered Territory

r. Ohad Medalia, a structural method of arresting cellular observation of the activity of whole D biologist, has a whole new way elements as they function. A highly cells at a resolution of only a few of looking at cells. The 36-year old advanced form of microscopy, nanometers. For this purpose, BGU scientist’s special approach has electron tomography (ET), is the purchased a Helium-cooled 300kV already won him numerous prizes answer, according to Medalia. “With microscope, the only one of its kind and a great deal of professional its unique potential for 3D in Israel. Medalia uses this device recognition. Though he had offers visualization of large structures that for his own projects and for from the European Molecular have the ability to change shape, cooperative efforts with researchers Biology Laboratories at Heidelberg such as intact cells, ET has at the Weizmann and Max Planck University, the Weizmann Institute revolutionized the way cells are Institutes. and the Hebrew University, Medalia viewed,” he says. Medalia first became acquainted opted for BGU and – in particular – This precise visualization can with the prestigious German the National Institute for yield an understanding of how cells institute when he was a post- Biotechnology in the Negev (NIBN). build medicines, detergents and doctoral fellow at the Structural “BGU is the most dynamic other chemicals. Until now, scientists Biology Department in the Max- university and only academic had to rely on viewing “artifacts” of Planck-Institute for Biochemistry in institution in Israel that is clearly cellular activity, which were not Martinsried, Germany from 2001 to climbing and developing. At BGU, exact. 2005. During the previous five years, I was able to assume the challenge “To create many medicines today, he attended the direct Ph.D. of establishing an electron scientists try to take the structure of program in Organic Chemistry of microscopy facility that is able to ribosomes, the small structures the Feinberg Graduate School of the compete with other electron responsible for assembling proteins Weizmann Institute of Science. He microscopy laboratories around the into chains using amino acids, and holds a B.Sc. degree with honors in world,” he enthuses. check where to build synthetically Chemistry from Tel Aviv University. Using a unique variation of and to place inhibitors,” explains Meanwhile, according to Medalia, electron microscopy, Medalia is able to view the three-dimensional organization of a eukaryotic cell With its unique potential for 3D visualization without damaging the cell or of large structures that have the ability to treating it with chemicals. This means that he can image dynamic change shape, electron tomography has structures and view their interaction with different proteins, medicines revolutionized the way cells are viewed and chemicals at a molecular level, in a natural state. Medalia. “To do this, the first everything is going according to Eukaryotic cells are single- or prerequisite is doing an extraction plan. He is engaged in several long- multi-cellular organisms which of the complex, which is term projects, some of which will contain a distinct membrane-bound problematic. There are structures in extend at least five years. nucleus. To observe different aspects the cell that can’t undergo In his laboratory, Medalia applies of these cells, like dynamic purification, that can’t be treated.” cryo-electron tomography to intact organelles, cytoskeletal structure Medalia solves this problem by cells to explore the reconstruction of and protein complexes – in their practicing structural biology in situ. the eukaryotic cytoskeleton in 3D. native context – scientists need To do this, he needs to see the The ability of a cell to move relies special tools. They must employ a structure at a very high resolution. on fast and regulated non-invasive imaging technique of Electron tomography is the only polymerization/depolymerization high resolution, combined with a method existing that enables of filaments of the protein, actin, that

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my lab involves acquiring a high resolution image of the structure of these complexes,” he says. How bacteria carry out photosynthesis constitutes a third major research area. Medalia is collaborating with Dr. Avi Minski from the Weizmann Institute of Science on this project, which is still in the data acquisition stage. Work on this important project is being conducted with a team of five: a post doctoral student, two doctoral students, a graduate student and a technician. Medalia modestly belies the fact that he has received a prestigious prize for his research on almost a yearly basis. He was awarded an Alon Fellowship for 2004, the 2003 MPIB Junior Research Award, the push the plasma membrane. Another of Medalia’s main Elchanan E. Bondi Memorial Prize Polymerization/depolymerization research efforts concentrates on the for Ph.D. students in 2001, the refers to the chemical process that structural analysis of the nuclear Rothschild Fellowship in 2001, the combines or separates several periphery, the nuclear pore European Commission Individual monomers – simple compounds complex and the nuclear lamina. Fellowship in 2001, the Lev Margulis that can join together – to form or to The cell nucleus is an extremely Young Investigators Award of Merit break down polymers. complex compartment that is in 2000 and the Wolf Foundation Using live cell imaging responsible for many processes in Fellowship for Excellent Ph.D. techniques, it is possible to reveal a living cell. However, its students in 1998. many of the factors contributing to organization at the nanometer scale Medalia was a key speaker at a this dynamic process. However, still represents what Medalia terms conference celebrating the first explains Medalia, due to the “uncharted territory.” And while anniversary of Israel’s first Nobel dimension of actin filaments and the much has been learned in recent Prize in Chemistry, awarded to “crowdedness” of the filamentous years about the movement of Professors Avram Hershko and network, electron microscopy has soluble transport factors across the Aaron Ciechanover. At the been an important tool for analyzing nuclear pore complex (NPC), high gathering, entitled “The Science of the actin content at cellular resolution images of the structure Ubiquitin and Proteasome,” he protrusions. “Only a 3D view of this of this large macro-molecular spoke on “The structural analysis of network in an unperturbed state machine are still not available. macromolecules in eukaryotic cells could shed light on the secret of cell “Since a clear picture of the revealed by cryo-electron movement,” he says, adding that a molecular organization and tomography.” In addition, Medalia major project in his lab focuses on dynamics of the NPC are basic regularly delivers lectures at elucidating another aspect of cell requirements for resolving the structural biology-related motility: the 3D structure of the workings of the transport conferences in Israel and around the adhesion machinery of cells. mechanism, a major project in world.

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Sarit Kedem-Yemini A Kreitman Fellow

ndustrial Engineering and I Management sounds like a weighty field to the uninitiated, but when discussed by the ebullient young Kreitman Fellow, Sagit Kedem-Yemini, it appears to be a creative and intriguing art. The field of industrial engineering is dedicated to the improvement of business processes, inclusive of both machines and human personnel in the rapidly changing modern environment. Quantitative and qualitative approaches to the industry’s future comprise Kedem-Yemini’s area of research. Case studies presently under her supervision encompass even the military industry. “We are focusing now on the structure of businesses as a whole, rather than as a fragmentation of different departments,” states Kedem-Yemini. Her projects comprise investigation of the term to-day inside work,” she says. BGU,” Sagit confides. Though her “modularity” – thus far never A native of Beer-Sheva, Kedem- exceptional achievements, both in applied in this particular context. To Yemini left the challenges and industrial experience and academic define the role, characterize the rewards of her high-powered performance, ensured her influencing factors on it and provide industrial engineering position to acceptance in the Kreitman recommendations to businesses on pursue her doctorate degree at BGU. program, she attributes much credit achieving the desired level of Her years in the industry ran the to her mentors and to the other modularity in their departments is gamut from construction of the Intel Fellows. Twice-monthly meetings her specialty. plant in Kiryat Gat and Tower and lectures provide her with Kedem-Yemini offers the Semiconductors to co-manager of increased support and direction. advantage of a keen insider’s views purchasing, logistics, warehouse and While the Kreitman Foundation after several years of working in ERP system management to Fellowship’s standards are industry. Her experience as a project Information Technology Manager. demanding and rigorous, Kedem- manager in semiconductors, coupled But her background of outstanding Yemini’s unique situation renders with a constant interest in achievement and high honors in the schedule more challenging yet. streamlining and software pursuing her undergraduate and Unlike most, she balances her organization, rendered her an graduate degrees at BGU kept her classes, research and study with outstanding applicant for the mentors not merely interested in her a full family life: four children under Kreitman Foundation Fellowship post-graduate career, but active in the age of ten, the youngest a baby, program. “I believe that I am now encouraging her to return for her and a husband who has also opted better able to serve industry from doctorate degree. to change careers. His decision the research end, rather than the day “I have found a warm home at to enter law school after years in

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Prof. Ya’akov Blidstein Wins Israel Prize in Jewish Thought economics has been as dramatic – but happily as successful – as hers Prof. Ya’akov (Gerald) Blidstein of the Goldstein-Goren International from industry to academia. the Goldstein-Goren Department Center for Jewish Thought. A The time devoted to her work, of Jewish Thought was awarded member of the European Academy research and family preclude much the 2006 Israel Prize in Jewish of Sciences and Arts, Blidsteinis an opportunity to pursue many Thought. internationally-renowned scholar in extracurricular interests. The prize, Israel’s highest honor, Maimonides’ Halachic law and Nevertheless, Kedem-Yemini was presented in a special philosophy, with a special emphasis always volunteers two hours a week for Ilan – the Israel Foundation for Handicapped Children – teaching the youngsters there computer applications. It is, she says, her way of returning a measure of the encouragement and support which she herself has received. How does she manage everything – the hours, preparation for classes, her open door for consultation with students and peers, the demands of research, her family life? “It is not easy,” she admits with a smile,

I believe that I am now better able to serve industry from the research end Prof. Ya'akov Blidstein “but it is a help that my husband and I support one another fully. Our Independence Day ceremony. on political philosophy. His work in respective happiness within our Incumbent of the Miriam Jewish law focuses on Jewish public chosen fields makes it easier. He is Martha Hubert Chair in Jewish law and the interface of law and so delighted with his career-change, Law, Blidstein immigrated to social ethics. and I with mine.” Israel from the United States with The citation issued by the Ministry Industry may have lost a dynamic a Ph.D. from Yeshiva University of Education, Culture and Sport, insider, but the field of Industrial and joined the BGU faculty in noted that “Prof. Ya’akov Blidstein Engineering and Management itself 1972. Over the years, he has is the outstanding researcher of and BGU together stand much to served in a number of senior rabbinic thought from the medieval gain by the efforts of this enthusiastic positions, including Dean of the and modern period. His research Fellow. And one has to envy her Faculty of Humanities and Social into the relationship between students for the energy, vision and Sciences, Chairman of the democracy and halacha has had a dedication she brings to the Goldstein-Goren Department of major impact beyond academe, in classroom. Jewish Thought and Chairman of Israel and around the world.”

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Excellence Recognized

Prof. Herzl Aharoni from the Department Dr. Gonen Ashkenasy of the Department Dr. Edna Monselise Ben-Izhak of the of Electrical and of Chemistry has Department of Computer received the Chemistry has Engineering has prestigious Career received the been nominated Development Recanati-Chais- as a Fellow of Award of the Rashi Award for the Institute of Human Frontier the Entrepreneur Physics. The Science Program Teacher in Institute is one of (HFSP). recognition of her the largest international organizations Ashkenasy did his post-doctoral training contribution to the advancement of in this field, with 37,000 members at the Scripps Research Institute in special needs children. The award is worldwide. It is devoted to increasing California, working with novel given to those teachers whose work the understanding and application of assemblies of peptides. His research reflects ability and achievement over physics. It believes in and promotes concentrates on de novo functional and above dedication and competent ethical integrity in all scientific activity, peptides and proteins. The HFSP performance of the standard curriculum including education, research, supports novel, innovative and and who have succeeded in developing publication and the exploitation of interdisciplinary basic research focused unique initiatives which apply effective knowledge. Prof. Aharoni was on the complex mechanisms of living responses to the problems and recognized for his achievements over organisms. It encourages novel challenges arising from the complex and 40 years in the fields of physics and collaborations that bring biologists ever-changing reality of today’s schools. technology. He specializes in together with scientists from fields such Dr. Ben-Izhak initiated the “green microelectronics and new process as physics, mathematics, chemistry and classroom” for her pupils, instilling in development of semiconductor computer and engineering sciences to them the principles of ecology and electronic materials and devices. focus on problems at the frontier of the environmental sciences which has life sciences. enhanced the quality of life in their Aharon Appelfeld, professor emeritus community. of the Department Prof. Dan Bar-On from the Department of Hebrew of Behavioral Prof. Sammy Boussiba, head of the Literature, was Sciences, Microaalgal awarded the together with his Biotechnology prestigious Nelly research partner Laboratory at the Sachs Prize in Prof. Sami Adwan Jacob Blaustein Dortmund, from Bethlehem Institutes for Germany. The University, was Desert Research prize is named after the Jewish author recognized by the and incumbent of Nelly Sachs, who was awarded the European Association for the Education the Miles and Nobel Prize in Literature in 1966 with of Adults (EAEA) with a special Grundtvig Lillian Cahn Chair in Economic Botany S.Y. Agnon. The citation lauded Appelfeld Award for “active citizenship for a in Arid Zones, was appointed President for his literary efforts toward inter- democratic society.” The EAEA is a of the International Society of Applied national understanding. The judges European NGO with 115 member Phycology (ISAP), a nonprofit organ- noted that Appelfeld’s wide literary organizations from 40 countries working ization that aims to promote research, works “advance spiritual tolerance and in the field of adult learning and preservation of algal genotypes and appeasement as the principles of representing more than 50 million dissemination of knowledge concerning peaceful co-existence.” This year, learners Europe-wide. According to the the utilization of algae. A member of the Prof. Appelfeld also received the insignia EAEA, their project “proves that in spite Albert Katz Department of Dryland of Commander in the Order of Arts and of the ongoing violent conflict and the Biotechnologies, Boussiba focuses on Letters from the French Republic, tremendous obstacles, the sides the mass production of microalgae for established in 1957 by the French involved can develop enough trust and various commercial purposes, utilizing Minister of Culture in recognition of hope to co-operate and jointly create a the high temperature, brackish or sea outstanding achievement in the arts and product that may promote peaceful co- water and solar irradiance that abound literature. existence between the sides.” year round in the desert.

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Prof. Abe M. Baruchin of the Faculty of brain development. First, she received are research psychologists. The organ- Health Sciences the Bergman Bi-national Science ization promotes development of new and Chief of the Foundation Award – in addition to a medications for the treatment of mental Aesthetic & Laser regular BSF grant. The award is granted and emotional disorders and scientific Surgery Unit at to young researchers “whose proposals evaluation of existing treatments. The Barzilai Medical are judged to be of exceptional merit” CINP consults with the World Health Center in by the BSF. She has also received two Organization in setting goals and Ashkelon, has major grants from the Israel Science standards for medication treatment of been chosen Foundation – one for research and emotional and behavioral disorders. President-elect of The International another for equipment, as well as a grant There are 16 members in Israel. Society for Laser Surgery and Medicine from the National Institute for (ISLSM) and re-elected as Secretary- Psychobiology in Israel, an organization Prof. Joseph Kost from the Department General for two additional years. The with the goal of “identifying workers of Chemical ISLSM was founded in Tel Aviv in 1975 engaged in promising research in Engineering has and was the first society of its kind. psychobiology in Israel.” received an Since then, many medical laser societies award from the have been formed. The ISLSM holds its Prof. Aharon Galil, Director of the Jacqueline meetings every two years, each time in Zusman Child Seroussi a different country. Developmental Foundation for his Center at the innovative Dr. Yoram Etzion of the Faculty of Health Faculty of Health research on a new method for treating Sciences and the Sciences, has breast cancer. His research focuses on Department of been honored by developing gene-based treatments of Internal Medicine the Keren Shalem cancerous growths. The Jacqueline at the Soroka Fund for his Seroussi Memorial Foundation for University Medical original program that helps medical Cancer Research is a non-profit entity, Center and students learn to work with special established in Israel by the AJAX Trust Director of the needs patients. The Fund’s annual award to encourage, on an international level, Cardiac Arrythmia is given to honor contributions to laboratory and clinical investigators Research Laboratory, received the 2006 services for the developmentally whose research efforts are directed to Neufield Award of the Israel Cardiology disabled in communities across Israel. that of malignant disease. Society for work on understanding the Created ten years ago, the week-long mechanisms that change the electrical course helps students at the Joyce and Prof. Yigal Ronen, Dean of the Faculty function of the diseased heart that may Irving Goldman Medical School of Engineering lead to the development of cardiac understand the sensitivities of special Sciences and a arrythmias. The prize is given each year needs patients. member of the to a physician for innovative research Department of in the field of cardiology. Prof. Haim Belmaker from the Faculty Nuclear of Health Sciences Engineering, has Dr. Michal Hershfinkel of the Depart- and incumbent of been selected as ment of Morpho- the Hoffer/Vickar a foreign member logy in the Faculty Chair in Psych- of the prestigious Russian Academy of of Health Sciences iatry, was elected Engineering. Ronen serves as the Vice- and the Zlotowski President of the President of the International Euroasian Center for Neuro- International Academy of Science and President of science and College of Neuro- the Israel Nuclear Society. His research incumbent of the psychopharmacology, an association of interests include theory and concepts Ilse Katz Career around 1000 members from 57 countries. of nuclear reactors and transport theory. Development Chair in Health Sciences About one-third of the members are At BGU, he has served as Dean of the Research, has received research grants psychiatrists, a third are laboratory Kreitman School of Advanced Graduate for her work in zinc homeostasis and researchers of drug effects and a third Studies and as Vice-Rector.

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Summer Celebrations

The largest graduating ceremonies Health Sciences, 510; School of degrees were conferred as 208 in the University’s history took place Management, 864; and 35 graduates graduates received their Ph.D.s from as 5278 new graduates received their who received their Masters degrees the Kreitman School of Advanced Bachelors and Masters degrees. The from the Albert Katz International Graduate Studies. The degree breakdown by Faculty is as follows: School for Desert Studies at the recipients included 73 from the Humanities and Social Sciences, Blaustein Institutes for Desert Faculty of Humanities and Social 2151; Natural Sciences, 480; Research. Sciences; 45 from the Faculty of Engineering Sciences, 1238; A record number of Doctoral Natural Sciences; 40 from the Faculty of Engineering Sciences; 37 from the Faculty of Health Sciences; 6 from the School of Management; and 7 from the Interdisciplinary Studies program. At the ceremony of the Joyce and Irving Goldman Medical School, 59 new doctors from the 24th graduating class received their M.D.s, including Dr. Rania Okabi, who is the first female Bedouin to become a medical doctor. At the same ceremony, 70 students of the 32nd incoming class took the Physician’s Oath. Twenty students graduated from the Faculty of Health Science’s Medical School for International Health (MSIH) in collaboration with Columbia University Medical Center. The MSIH is a unique collaborative medical degree program designed to train doctors Graduates of the Medical School for International Health for the practice of global health.

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Honorary Dalai Lama Honorary Doctorate Receives Professorship for Claude Ben-Gurion for Prof. Lelouch Negev Award Broelsch

The renowned French film producer An Honorary Professorship in the and director Claude Lelouch was Faculty of Health Sciences was awarded an Honorary Doctoral presented to Prof. Dr. med. Degree at a ceremony that took place Christoph E. Broelsch, FACS, as part of the “Jewish Eye” World Chairman of the Department of Jewish Film Festival held in Beer- General, Visceral and Sheva for the first time. Transplantation Surgery at the Lelouch, winner of a prestigious University Hospital of the Palm d’Or and a Grand Prix Award University of Duisberg-Essen in at the Cannes Film Festival and two Germany. Prof. Broelsch is one of Academy Awards for Best Original the pioneers in the field of living- Screenplay and Best Foreign Film donor transplantation procedures, especially of the liver. During his

The 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet

His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet, Tenzin Gyatso, the exiled Buddhist leader and Nobel laureate, visited BGU in February. He was presented with the Ben-Gurion Claude Lelouch Negev Award as a symbol of his for A Man and a Woman, has figured pioneering spirit like that of David prominently as one of the most Ben-Gurion. The Dalai Lama was popular and influential filmmakers recognized as: “an exemplary in Europe. individual who has remained Over the years, he has returned steadfast as a guardian of ancient repeatedly to Israel, where he also traditions and heritage and a symbol filmed scenes for two of his films. of hope and faith; and in acknow- Prof. Christoph E. Broelsch The University recognized his ledgement of the laureate of the visit to the Faculty, Prof. Broelsch cinematic achievements and Nobel Peace Prize in 1989, who has delivered the keynote lecture at the acknowledged the “son of Jewish led the people of Tibet for more than conferment ceremony of M.D. immigrants to France, who retains half a century in the quest for degrees on the subject of “The a special affinity to Israeli cinema, universal responsibility, solidarity, Development of Living-related to Israel in general and the Negev tolerance and mutual understanding Liver Transplantation Procedures – in particular.” and respect.” The First Two Decades.”

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Alumni In Action

Alumni of the Department of Industrial Engineering and Management at the reunion

Nostalgia was in the air at the first administrative staff who came to engineering and managerial comprehensive reunion of the honor the gathering. Prof. Nachum resources and many graduates alumni of the Department of Finger, a former chairman of the already hold important leadership Industrial Engineering and Department, and former BGU roles in the country’s economy. Management, organized by the Rector, welcomed the participants, Rector Prof. Jimmy Weinblatt Department together with the BGU being the link between the first lauded the quality of the Alumni Association. The gathering graduating class – when there were Department and its role in the included the alumni of every 23 graduates – and the most current development of the University, graduating class since the one, with approximately 230 being an important incubator of the Department’s founding in 1973. graduates. He presented an disciplines of Hotel and Tourism From the earliest graduates to those overview of the development of the Management, the School of who only recently left campus, the Department since its establishment Management and the Departments visitors enjoyed a tour of the Marcus in 1969. BGU Deputy-Rector, Prof. of Communication Systems Family Campus and the Yael Edan, a former chairperson of Engineering and Information Department’s impressive new the Department, reviewed together Systems Engineering. An laboratory and research facilities. with Prof. Gad Rabinowitz the international evaluations committee The alumni were keen to learn academic development of the recently placed the Department about developments at the discipline and its impact on the among the top Industrial Department and the University, but curriculum, noting the important Engineering departments in the first and foremost, they wanted to part played by the graduates in the world. chat with classmates and teachers. development of the hi-tech industry Entertainment at the event Much attention was drawn by the in Israel. The 4,000 graduates of the included music provided by an all- Class Photos and by the several Department are a significant alumni band and concluded with a retired faculty members and component of Israel’s highly skilled karaoke competition.

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