VISION COUNTING UP TO 50 President's Report 2018 Chairman’s Message 4 President’s Message 5 Senior Administration 6 BGU by the Numbers 8 Building BGU 14 Innovation for the Startup Nation 16 New & Noteworthy 20 From BGU to the World 40 President's Report Alumni Community 42 2018 Campus Life 46 Community Outreach 52 Recognizing Our Friends 57 Honorary Degrees 88 Board of Governors 93 Associates Organizations 96 BGU Nation Celebrate BGU’s role in the Israeli miracle Nurturing the Negev 12 Forging the Hi-Tech Nation 18 A Passion for Research 24 Harnessing the Desert 30 Defending the Nation 36 The Beer-Sheva Spirit 44 Cultivating Israeli Society 50 Produced by the Department of Publications and Media Relations Osnat Eitan, Director In coordination with the Department of Donor and Associates Affairs Jill Ben-Dor, Director Editor Elana Chipman Editorial Staff Ehud Zion Waldoks, Jacqueline Watson-Alloun, Angie Zamir Production Noa Fisherman Photos Dani Machlis Concept and Design www.Image2u.co.il 4 President's Report 2018 Ben-Gurion University of the Negev - BGU Nation 5 From the From the Chairman President Israel’s first Prime Minister, David Ben–Gurion, said:“Only Apartments Program, it is worth noting that there are 73 This year we are celebrating Israel’s 70th anniversary and Program has been studied and reproduced around through a united effort by the State … by a people ready “Open Apartments” in Beer-Sheva’s neighborhoods, where acknowledging our contributions to the State of Israel, the the world and our students are an inspiration to their for a great voluntary effort, by a youth bold in spirit and students live and actively engage with the local community Negev, and the world, even as we count up to our own neighbors, encouraging them and helping them strive for a inspired by creative heroism, by scientists liberated from the through various cultural and educational activities. jubilee, just two years away now. We have much to be better future. It is an innovation that is as current now as it bonds of conventional thought and capable of probing deep proud of! was when it was launched forty years ago. Our numerous into the special problems of this country … we can succeed Beer-Sheva’s Advanced Technologies Park, established in programs expanding access to education have been highly in carrying out the great and fateful task of developing the partnership with the University, is home to international From a tiny institution housed in borrowed space, we have successful. Indeed, one of our major undertakings over the South and the Negev.” and Israeli hi-tech and cyber security companies for prospered and grown into an internationally renowned past year has been to ensure that the University complies which BGU provides the best and brightest employees. university with some 20,000 students and over a thousand with new accessibility legislation, making infrastructure As this year’s Board of Governor’s Meeting highlights The University played a major role in the IDF’s decision to academic faculty. We are busy preparing for another influx changes, expanding services at the Dean of Students and the State of Israel’s 70th anniversary, it affords us the move its technology intelligence units to the Negev and of students as the IDF’s major technology and intelligence completing a major overhaul of our websites and systems opportunity to reflect on what makes Ben-Gurion University build its Hi-Tech Center and Communications R&D facility units complete their move south. Work at the North so that even more people can study and grow here. of the Negev a Zionist enterprise and how we, its governors, adjacent to the ATP and the Marcus Family Campus. Campus site, which will nearly double the University’s can help advance and promote it around the world. footprint in Beer-Sheva, is continuing apace, to ensure that Being part of Ben-Gurion University’s continued prosperity I don’t know of any other research institution that is we have sufficient classrooms, dorms and laboratories to and growth is a calling, as well as an honor, that I answered Ben-Gurion University of the Negev was created 48 so well invested and so profoundly committed to the accommodate an expected 4,000 additional students. when I came to the University and the Negev over forty years ago by government decision, with the mandate prosperity and well-being of its surrounding population years ago. The University is at present searching for my of bringing development to the south. This founding as BGU has been under the management and leadership Ben-Gurion University of the Negev was charged with successor, and until I can pass on the torch, I remain principle, that a university will make a difference in of its President, Prof. Rivka Carmi. As Chairman of the the mission of developing the Negev, and we have done committed to nurturing this flourishing oasis of learning the community, has defined and shaped BGU since Board of Governors it has been my privilege to work side just that! The University has played a major role in the and increasing our forward momentum into a very bright its inception. Today the University is a catalyst for by side with her and I want to thank her heartily for her exponential growth and flourishing of the city of Beer- future. unprecedented innovation and growth and plays a central hard work and dedication to the realization of David Ben- Sheva, while at the same time pursuing innovative research role in the development of industry, agriculture and Gurion’s vision. Rivka Carmi is the epitome of modern of the highest caliber. In particular, BGU and its world- This year’s President’s Report, like the Board of Governors education in the Negev. Zionism and an example to us all. class faculty have been the catalyst driving the recent tech Meeting, celebrates our achievements and contributions in boom in Israel’s south. Thanks to the innovation ecosystem research and beyond. I know they will fill your hearts with Ben-Gurion University conducts groundbreaking research As Governors of this University, our major roles are we have created around us, there are thousands more pride and I encourage you to share that pride with your in fields that include desert and water research, bio- the promotion of the achievements of this outstanding jobs and opportunities available for both our graduates friends as you regale them with tales of the University in and nanotechnology, robotics, neuroscience, medical institution in our respective countries and raising the and neighbors, thus contributing to making the Negev’s which you play such an essential part. research, cyber security, quantum research, Israel funds to support its research activities. Leading up to our population more prosperous and resilient than ever before. studies, Jewish thought, Hebrew literature and more. BGU 50th anniversary, I kindly ask you to intensify your efforts That growth will continue as the Advanced Technologies Thank you for your continued friendship and support. researchers are making an impact on people’s lives in the to raise awareness of the University and to ensure the Park continues to expand. Indeed, a recent study by Without you, we could never have realized Ben-Gurion’s Negev, throughout Israel and around the world. continued success of our beloved BGU by enlarging our Columbia University’s School of International and Public vision. circle of worldwide donors and raising the funds necessary Affairs has cited the “cyber cluster” surrounding BGU as one However, it is not only the research and scholarly for the development of the North Campus. of three successful case studies worldwide from which to achievements of our students and faculty that contribute learn about “Cybersecurity as an Engine for Growth.” to the advancement of the Negev. More than 6,000 students are involved in a wide variety of community One of our greatest achievements is the innovation in and social projects in the region. As we celebrate the community outreach, which began almost from the very 40th Anniversary of the Lillian and Larry Goodman Open Alexander M. Goren start. The Lillian and Larry Goodman Open Apartments Prof. Rivka Carmi 6 President's Report 2018 Ben-Gurion University of the Negev - BGU Nation 7 Senior Administration Prof. Amos Katz Prof. Michal Shapira Prof. Avi Levy Prof. Chaim Dean - Faculty of Dean - Faculty of Dean - Faculty of (Harvey) Hames Health Sciences Natural Sciences Engineering Sciences Dean - Pinchas Sapir Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences Alexander M. Goren Roy J. Zuckerberg Robert H. Arnow Prof. Oded Lowengart Prof. Boris Zaltzman Prof. Yaniv Poria Prof. Dudi Bar-Zvi Chairman of the Chairman Emeritus Chairman Emeritus Dean - Guilford Glazer Director - Jacob Blaustein Acting Director Dean - Kreitman Board of Governors of the Board of of the Board of Faculty of Business and Institutes for Desert Eilat Campus School of Advanced Governors Governors Management Research Graduate Studies Adv. Asher Heled Prof. Rivka Carmi Prof. Zvi HaCohen Dr. Osnat Ohne Prof. Yuval Golan Dr. Paula Kabalo Prof. Iris Shai Chairman of the President Rector CEO - National Institute for Director - Ilse Katz Director - Ben-Gurion Presidential Adviser on Executive Committee Biotechnology in the Negev Institute for Nanoscale Research Institute for the the Advancement of Science and Technology Study of Israel & Zionism Women in Academia Prof. Dan Blumberg David Bareket Prof. Steve Rosen Prof. Avishay Goldberg Prof. Limor Prof. Gad Rabinovich Prof. Angel Porgador Prof. Moshe Kaspi Vice-President and