(l-r) Rector Gur Alroey, Prof. Bertil Andersson, President Ron Robin, Sami Sagol, and Dr. Susana Geifman Shochat. 

Professor Bertil Andersson was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Haifa in a ceremony held at Jönköping International Business School, Sweden. A world-renowned plant biochemist and an expert in photosynthesis research, Bertil Andersson served as president of two notable universities – Linköping University, Sweden (1999-2003) and Nanyang Technological University Singapore (2011). He was previously Chief Executive of the European Science Foundation in France, Rector of Linköping University in Sweden, former Chairman of the Nobel Committee for Chemistry and a Trustee of the Nobel Foundation.

University governor and longstanding supporter of the University, Sami Sagol, took part in the hooding ceremony, with Dr. Susana Geifman Shochat, Prof. Andersson's spouse. 

President Robin and Rector Alroey met with high-ranking officials, including Israeli Ambassador Ziv Nevo Kulman at the Israeli Embassy in Sweden. During the visit, they participated in an event commemorating Holocaust Martyrs' and Heroes' Remembrance Day (Yom Hashoah in Hebrew), dedicated to the memory of Swedish diplomat Raoul Wallenberg, a Righteous Among the Nations. The event was attended by his relative, Dr. Markus Wallenberg, the Swedish Minister of Education and Research, Dr. Mats Persson, Prof. Bertil Andersson, Prof. Astrid Söderbergh Widding (President of Stockholm University), Prof. Anders Söderholm (President of Kaunas University of Technology, and Prof. Ole Petter Ottersen (former President of Karolinska Institutet). Rector Alroey visited the Norrkoping campus of Linköping University and met with Prof. Per-Olof Brehmer, Vice Chancellor for Collaboration and Campus Development.

A three-day workshop exploring 'The Challenge of Creating a Diversity-Sensitive Society: Exchange of Ideas and Practices' was a major highlight of the events in Sweden, co-hosted with the Hamrin Foundation and Jönköping University. Dr. Yael Ganot-Bein, (Director, Social Engagement Unit) co-headed the workshop which featured speakers from the University of Haifa, Professors Avihu Shoshana (Head, Department of Leadership and Policy in Education), Meir Yaish, (Head, Haifa Center on the Politics of Inequality), Anat Nehemia Lavie, the CEO of the Edmond de Rothschild Partnerships, and academics from Ben Gurion University and Achva Academic College.

(l-r) Prof. Rear Admiral (Ret.) Shaul Chorev (Head, Maritime Policy & Strategy Research Center and the Ezri Center for Iran & Gulf States Research), Dr. Efrat Sopher (Co-Chair of University of Haifa UK), Minister of Intelligence Gila Gamliel, Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi and wife Yasmine Pahlavi, and Yoram Ezri, Chairman of Ezri Group.

Dozens of Iranians welcomed Reza Pahlavi, the eldest son of the deposed Shah of Iran to the Mt. Carmel campus, among them Dr. Efrat Sopher (Chair of the Board of Advisors at the Ezri Center for Iran and Gulf States Research and Executive Committee Member of the HMS Maritime Policy and Strategy Research Centre) with members of her family. Before introducing the Crown Prince, Prof. Shaul Chorev (Head, The Ezri Center for Iran & Gulf States Research) presented a geostrategic analysis of the current situation in Iran. In his speech, Prince Pahlavi laid out his vision for the future of a democratic Iran with amicable ties between the two nations. "I turn to you, citizens of Israel and citizens of the world, to stand with the Iranian people in solidarity. We need the support of your governments to continue our struggle and overthrow this evil regime."

His historic visit to Israel included attending Holocaust Memorial Day events with President Isaac Herzog and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, speaking of the hope he has for a democratic Iran and renewed relations with the Jewish state.

Michal Brener, founder of the Gan Hayeled Center, was honored with the University's Carmel Award of Merit. Mrs. Brener was recognized for her outstanding contributions to the State of Israel as a brave Palmach fighter, educator, and tireless advocate for children, youth, and children with special needs. She founded and directed the Gan Hayeled Center over 45 years ago, an organization offering social enrichment activities with an emphasis on social skills to promote community integration of children, youth, and youth with special needs. In partnership with the University of Haifa, she established a scholarship program promoting social sustainability, community service and the cultivation of tolerance and facilitation. | Michal Brener's certificate of merit (in Hebrew)

Gad Barzilai (1958-2023) was a brilliant professor of law, political science and international studies. He is well known for his work on the politics of law, comparative law and politics, human rights, and social movements. At the University of Haifa, he held several prominent positions, including Dean of the Faculty of Law (2012-2017), Vice-Rector and Head of the International School (2017-2019). Barzilai was also a Professor Emeritus at University of Washington. He was elected President of the Israel Political Science Association in 2022 and served as President of the Association for Israel Studies from 2011-2013. A large number of his publications appear in major academic refereed journals and publishing houses, including 18 books and 173 articles. He was the co-founder and co-chair of the Israeli Association of Law and Society, and was the first founding director (1999–2002) of the international Dan David Prize. His absence will leave a great void on our campus and collective hearts. | READ MORE 

Congratulations to Prof. Guy Bar-Oz (School of Archaeology and Maritime Cultures) on being awarded a prestigious European Research Council grant for his research which aims to regrow ancient varieties of fruit trees that once flourished in the Israeli desert. Ancient fruit trees are a living archaeological relic and store within them important information about traditional and sustainable horticulture that may be relevant to today's climate challenges. The project, "Bio-Archaeology of Heritage Trees and Traditional Dryland Farming Horticulture in the Desert Fringes," will combine several fields of research, including DNA testing, to better understand the ecology and evolution of the ancient orchard, as well as the main fruit trees cultivated in antiquity (olive, date and fig). The 3.5 million euro ERC grant is the third one given to Prof. Bar-Oz over the past decade.

Two female leaders and role models from the University of Haifa were featured in an Israel21c article marking Israel's 75th anniversary: marine geoscientist and National Geographic Explorer, Prof. Beverley Goodman-Tchernov (Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences) and technology entrepreneur and sea power pioneer, Inna Braverman (University of Haifa alumna and Honorary Fellow). They both appear in the "Earth" Category.

University of Haifa welcome a delegation of over 30 volunteer leaders from Haifa's sister city, Boston. The delegation learned about the University's various Shared Society initiatives from Prof. Batya Engel-Yeger (Dean of Students); listened intently as Prof. Mouna Maroun (Vice President and Dean of Research) and Maha Shehade Switat (PhD Candidate) told the audience about their personal academic journeys that showcase the University's commitment to fostering social mobility; heard about the Ruderman Program for American Jewish Studies from Dr. David Barak-Gorodetsky (Program Head); and asked our students questions about the situation in Israel and their hopes for the future. Before leaving the campus, delegation members met with either Prof. Smadar Ben Tabou de Leon (Department of Marine Biology) or Dr. Tamar Krugman (Lady Barbara Davis Wild Cereal Gene Bank) to get a taste of the groundbreaking research being conducted in our laboratories. Many thanks to Dr. Jennifer Lewin (Department of English Language and Literature) and Barry Schrage (American Society of the University of Haifa) for helping to arrange the visit.

At a Glance Archive