Lily Safra presents Scopus Award to Ruth Rappaport at Swiss Friends’ Geneva gala

Some 350 people attended the Swiss Friends’ Gala in Geneva at which guest of honor Lily Safra presented the Scopus Award to honoree Ruth Rappaport.  Proceeds from the event, which included a performance by the Béjart Ballet Lausanne and a presentation by the Hebrew University’s Dr. Amir Amedi, went towards the new Swiss Laboratory for Neuro-Vision at the University’s Edmond and Lily Safra Center for Brain Sciences.

Hebrew University launches Einstein Archives website

The Hebrew University has launched the updated and expanded Einstein Archives website containing a complete catalogue of more than 80,000 documents in the University’s Einstein Archives. Albert Einstein was a founder of the University and one of its most loyal supporters. He bequeathed all of his writings and intellectual heritage to the Hebrew University, including the rights to the use of his image.

Foreign diplomats visit Hebrew University to discuss academic cooperation

Ambassadors and representatives of a dozen foreign embassies visit the Hebrew University’s Mount Scopus campus to hear about the University’s research and its focus on international cooperation through joint research and student exchange programs. “The Hebrew University is the start-up of the start-up nation,” University President Prof. Menahem Ben-Sasson told them, noting that one-third of all academic scientific research in Israel takes place there.

Alpha Omega’s highest honor to Faculty of Dental Medicine Dean Prof. Adam Stabholz

Faculty of Dental Medicine Dean Prof. Adam Stabholz has been awarded the 2012 Outstanding Achievement Award by the Alpha Omega International Dental Fraternity in recognition of his impact on dental education in Israel and the Middle East.

Melbourne University hosts Hebrew U. delegation of 11 scholars for week of academic partnership, public outreach

A busy schedule for an 11-person delegation of Hebrew University researchers that is in Melbourne to meet with University of Melbourne colleagues and participate in a public panel hosted by the Australian Friends of Hebrew University’s Victorian Division, Hadassah Australia and the Zionist Council of Victoria.

Israel Prize to two pioneering Hebrew University musicologists

Ethnomusicologists who have researched the music of Israel for over 50 years, Prof. Dalia Cohen and Prof. Ruth Katz of the Hebrew University, are to be awarded the Israel Prize in musicology, culture and art for 2012.

Sound rather than sight can activate ‘seeing' for the blind, say Hebrew U. researchers

Using sensory substitution devices (SSDs) that provide information to the brain, visually impaired people gained the ability to ‘see’ in a research protocol conducted in the lab of Dr. Amir Amedi of the Edmond and Lily Safra Center for Brain Sciences (ELSC) and the Institute for Medical Research Israel-Canada (IMRIC). Beyond its clinical implications, the team’s research has elucidated the development of the brain’s visual system and its response to sensory input.

Israel Prize for mathematics and computer science for 2012 to Prof. David Kazhdan

The 2012 Israel Prize for Mathematics and Computer Science will go to Prof. David Kazhdan of the Hebrew University's Einstein Institute of Mathematics in recognition of his important contributions to group theory research. Head of the awards committee, computer scientist and Israel Prize laureate Prof. Michael Rabin described Prof. Kazhdan as "one of the world's leading mathematicians in recent decades”.

Israel Friends host Shakespeare in Jerusalem, raise funds for scholarships in theater studies and English

Renowned British actor David Weston discussed Shakespeare and performed excerpts from his plays at a Friday-morning event hosted by the Hebrew University’s Israel Friends association that enthralled the full-house audience.



Want to win over your opponents? Put on your baby face

In the first study that systematically examines the impact of facial features of politicians from the opposing side in a conflict, the Hebrew University’s Prof. Ifat Maoz shows that subtle changes in appearance affect the chances that an enemy's peace offer will be accepted.

Attorney Daniel Jacobson awards first scholarships of new one million shekel fund in Hebrew literature

In his creation of a new scholarship fund, longtime Hebrew University supporter Daniel Jacobson aims to encourage young people to pursue studies in Hebrew literature

Prof. Jacob Bekenstein wins 2012 Wolf Prize in physics

Theoretical physicist Jacob Bekenstein of the Hebrew University's Racah Institute of Physics — and a world leader in gravitation physics whose theory about black holes won over a skeptical Stephen Hawking — is to be awarded a prestigious 2012 Wolf Prize in recognition of his fundamental contributions to black hole thermodynamics.

Kaylie Family honored for support of innovative program for students from Israeli-Ethiopian community

Harvey and Gloria Kaylie of New York were honored at a recent ceremony marking their support for 19 first-year Hebrew University students from the Israeli-Ethiopian community who are participating in a pilot program being conducted jointly by the Hebrew University and the Feuerstein Institute in conjunction with the Ministry of Immigrant Absorption.  

Dead Sea was nearly dry generations ago, drilling project shows

About 125,000 years ago, the Dead Sea had dried up almost completely as a result of climate change, according to a study in which researchers from the Hebrew University’s Fredy and Nadine Herrmann Institute of Earth Sciences participated. The international drilling project, which involved bringing a special rig to Israel, opens a window into the climatic and seismic history of the Dead Sea over hundreds of thousands of years.

Prof. Orit Kedar awarded 2011 President’s Prize for Outstanding Young Researcher

Prof. Orit Kedar, winner of the 2011 President’s Prize for Outstanding Young Researcher, joined the Hebrew University’s Department of Political Science in 2009. In 2010, she was awarded a prestigious ERC grant for her project to analyze the effect of alternative partitions into districts on representation and party systems.

Dean Leitersdorf guest of honor at Kathmandu University graduation, meets with Nepalese president

During his recent visit to Nepal, Faculty of Medicine Dead Prof. Eran Leitersdorf strengthened the already-close ties between the Hebrew University and Kathmandu University when he gave the keynote address at the graduation ceremony for students in the medical sciences. During an in-depth meeting with the dean, Nepalese president Dr. Ram Baran Yadav expressed his desire to expand relations between the two universities.

Susceptibility to type 2 diabetes successfully mapped by IMRIC-led research team in innovative approach

In an innovative research approach to understanding risk factors for type 2 diabetes, a research team led by the Hebrew University’s Institute for Medical Research Israel-Canada (IMRIC) mapped DNA methylation variations rather than the traditional DNA sequence variations. The results revealed an early-warning signal that could lead to new therapeutic approaches for this and other human diseases.

In memoriam: Sir Zelman Cowen, former governor-general of Australia, longtime friend of Hebrew University

In a tribute to Sir Zelman Cowen, who passed away on December 8, former Hebrew University president Prof. Hanoch Gutfreund recalls an intellectual mentor and source of inspiration who was an outstanding advocate of higher education.

Latin American journalists attend fourth annual Middle East seminar

For the fourth year running, the Hebrew University and its Harry S. Truman Research Institute for the Advancement of Peace hosted a group of Latin American journalists at a 10-day seminar focusing on Israel and the Middle East.

Heads up Kobe Bryant! Researchers discover that trying for another 3-pointer is a mistake

Learning from reinforcement can actually impair our decision-making process, shows a new study by Hebrew University researchers at the Edmond and Lily Safra Center for Brain Sciences. The report raises doubts about the ability of athletes in particular, and people in general, to predict future success based on past performance.

Israel, Provence, archaeology, politics and the arts for Canadian Friends’ 2011 Live & Learn mission

The Canadian Friends’ annual 2011 Live and Learn mission saw its participants travelling to both Israel and France for 10 days of non-stop activities which bought them in contact with modern and ancient Israel and the Jewish heritage of Provence.

Four of five 2012 Rothschild Awards to Hebrew U. researchers

Four out of five Rothschild Prizes for academic excellence for 2012 are to be awarded to Hebrew University researchers. Profs. Gil Kalai, Raphael Mechoulam, Howard Cedar and Moshe Idel will receive their awards at a ceremony that will take place at the Knesset in the presence of Lord Jacob Rothschild in March 2012.

Lord Chief Justice England & Wales, special guest at British Friends’ annual legal dinner

The annual legal dinner of the British Friends of the Hebrew University attracted over 200 guests who met with 10 Hebrew University law students and heard the Lord Chief Justice talk about his recent visit to Jerusalem where he gave the Lionel Cohen Lecture.

Sir Sigmund Sternberg conferred honorary fellowship in recognition of humanitarian efforts, contribution to interfaith dialogue

“To have been associated so closely and personally with one of the greatest creations of the Jewish People is a distinction beyond parallel,” said Sir Sigmund Sternberg on being conferred an honorary fellowship by the Hebrew University in recognition of his role as an outstanding humanitarian and his contribution to interfaith dialogue and tolerance.

Dr. Yaacov Cohen of Hebrew U., first Israeli scholar to receive Republic of Korea honor

Breakthrough study reveals molecular machinery responsible for production of proteins involved in bacterial cell death

The stress-induced machinery of protein synthesis involved in bringing about cell death in bacteria has been revealed in a breakthrough joint study between researchers at the Hebrew University and the University of Vienna.

Winning team of Hebrew U. students to represent Israel in international humanitarian law competition

For the second year running, a team of Faculty of Law students has won first place in Israel’s annual National Competition on International Humanitarian Law, which is organized by the International Committee of the Red Cross and Israeli academic institutions and law faculties. The winning team will represent Israel in the Jean-Pictet Competition on International Humanitarian Law.

Osteoarthritis onset study offers promise of combined diagnosis and treatment strategy

In a joint study of the biological mechanism involved in the onset of osteoarthritis, Hebrew University researcher Dr. Mona Dvir-Ginzberg and colleagues at the US National Institutes of Health have identified a nuclear enzyme that plays a crucial role. Knowledge of this enzyme and its function will aid the design of potential therapies.

Sir Zelman Cowen inaugural Blue Sky Research Grants to two Hebrew U. scientists

Hebrew University researchers Prof. Yehudit Bergmann and Prof. Dan Gazit, both of whom work with colleagues at the University of Sydney, are among the winners of the Blue Sky Research Grants awarded by the Sir Zelman Cowen Universities Fund.

Near-top ranking for Hebrew U. researchers winning EU starting grants

Eight young Hebrew University researchers have been awarded a total of €12 million in competitive starting research grants by the European Research Council (ERC) of the European Union this year. Only Oxford and Cambridge universities exceed the 29 such grants awarded to Hebrew University young scientists since the program began in 2007.