About Us
Founded in 1944, the American Committee for the Weizmann Institute of Science develops philanthropic support for the Weizmann Institute in Israel, and advances its mission of science for the future of humanity.
https://weizmann-usa.org/news-media/video-gallery/a-window-to-the-campus-3-under-the-surface/
Jul 14, 2020... This installment in the “Window to the Campus” series “navigates” through the Weizmann campus, where Prof. Nachum Ulanovsky’s “bat cave” sets the theme, as he uses the tiny mammals to study navigation and other brain processes.
https://weizmann-usa.org/news-media/feature-stories/maintaining-mental-well-being-during-a-crisis/
Jul 16, 2020...
Our mental health is always important, but more so than ever during these challenging times. Between the ongoing COVID pandemic, economic insecurity, social turmoil, and the like, rates of anxiety and depression are skyrocketing. How to cope? And why do we experience mental health issues in the first place?
As with the coronavirus, the answers are found in science.
The Weizmann Institute’s renowned neuroscientists do more than study the brain; they investigate how this most mysterious of organs responds to the world, processes our experiences, plays a role in emotional response, consolidates memories, becomes ill, and more. Our scientists also seek to develop effective medications and treatments. As Prof. Alon Chen – a renowned expert in neuropsychiatry and Weizmann Institute president – says, “I strongly believe that when we identify the mechanisms in the brain, we can use them to develop better ways to treat these conditions.”
Aug 13, 2020... Hosted by the Embassy of Israel to the United States, this engaging virtual dialogue features Weizmann Institute President Prof. Alon Chen in conversation with Tammy Ben Haim, Minister of Public Diplomacy. Prof. Chen and Minister Ben Haim discuss a wide array of topics, including the Weizmann Institute's rapid response to the coronavirus. Prof. Chen explains how Weizmann's collaborative, multidisciplinary approach and focus on fundamental, curiosity-driven research enabled its scientists to quickly mobilize to fight COVID-19.
Aug 17, 2020... In this installment of the “Window to the Campus” series, we learn about the vision of Dr. Chaim Weizmann to transform the sandy hills of Rehovot into a green campus that would rival the great universities of Europe and the United States.
May 27, 2020... Olfaction expert Prof. Noam Sobel takes us through his attempts to “train” an electronic nose to identify Covid. This may be possible because “every disease has an odor,” he says. “Diseases change metabolic processes, and metabolites have a smell.”
https://weizmann-usa.org/blog/before-coronavirus-crisis-response-at-the-weizmann-institute/
Sep 30, 2020...
The Weizmann Institute of Science is small but mighty, not weighed down by artificial demands and committed to giving its researchers the freedom to pursue their curiosity. Because of such flexibility, the Institute was able to immediately pivot to take on COVID-19, quickly transforming scientific labs and lines of research to focus on testing, treatment, and prevention.
But as with so much at Weizmann, it’s the people that made the difference: when the pandemic began, a single scientist, Dr. Ron Diskin, was studying corona and other viruses in his lab; today 66 out of 250 labs are doing so, meaning that over 25% of our scientists faced the crisis by doing what they do best: applying their formidable skills to tackling this strange virus.
Sep 30, 2020...
Modern-day sukkah builders may find it interesting that recently created 3D scans of ancient pottery could reveal the original dimensions of the tefah, a unit of biblical measurement based on the dimensions of a male hand.
The tefah was used primarily by ancient Israelites. It appears frequently in the Bible and is the basis for many Jewish laws. It is an especially important measurement at this time of year, as it is used by observant Jews to calculate the precise dimensions according to Jewish law for building a sukkah, the outdoor structure where the holiday of Sukkot, which begins on Friday, is celebrated.
Oct 15, 2020...
A new questionnaire by the Weizmann Institute of Science could tell you what your chances of having COVID-19 are and help countries decide who to prioritize for testing as testing materials remain hard to get.
The survey was built based on a model detailed in a paper published by researchers from the Weizmann Institute, Rambam Medical Center, Maccabi and Clalit Healthcare Services, King’s College London and Tel Aviv University, among others.
Oct 15, 2020...
If one were to objectively examine the topics being discussed in their social media feeds, that person might reach he conclusion that COVID-19 is all that’s going on in this world. It’s all anyone is talking about, and rightfully so. The effects of this pandemic on the human species will be discussed and analyzed for many years to come.
What is not being discussed enough, however, are the effects COVID is having on our mental health. Loneliness, anxiety, depression, hopelessness; these are just some of the emotions a global pandemic can, and are causing – and it’s important that we acknowledge it.
Oct 15, 2020... This crisis has shown me just how fragile our social systems are — from the ways we do business to the ways we interact with family and friends. We’ve seen our world change at a pace we couldn’t have envisioned before this pandemic struck. As a result, I’m more sensitive to how quickly the fabric of our lives can be disrupted. And I’m more keenly aware of how important it is to find solutions before the next major disruption happens. Whether we’re attempting to address climate change, the global energy crisis, or another emerging virus, scientists will, once again, be instrumental in charting the path forward.