The University of Haifa community proudly congratulates the recipients of the Presidential Award for Excellence and Innovation in Science awarded by President Isaac Herzog at a festive ceremony at the President's Residence. The four recipients are the largest group of recipients from one Israeli research university. >READ MORE (in Hebrew)

(left) University of Haifa's President Ron Robin and Rector Gur Alroey join university heads from Bar Ilan, Hebrew University, TAU, Technion, and Weizmann at a massive demonstration in Jerusalem; their sign states, "Without democracy there is no academia". | Credit: University of Haifa Archives

Their joint statement (in Hebrew) can be read HERE.

President Ron Robin delivers a brief speech: LINK TO RECORDING (in Hebrew)

Prof. Mouna Maroun, Vice President of Research & Development: Speech Excerpts

"I am not a politician, I am a scientist, a researcher, and my top priority is my personal mission of integrating Arab society into the higher education system. I strongly believe that our success stems from our integration in Israeli society while still maintaining our unique identity.

I am here because I believe that the higher education system has given me a fair chance, and will continue to give the same fair chance to many young women and men who are first generation to higher education." >> READ FULL SPEECH

University of Haifa President Ron Robin met with friends, supporters and potential donors at events and meetings organized by the American Friends of the University of Haifa. During his stay in Boston, he attended an event hosted by Lisa and Neil Wallack on Shared Society: Israel through the Lens of University of Haifa.  During an intimate gathering at Jeffrey and Joanne Robbins' home in the Berkshires, participants discussed the role of University of Haifa as a catalyst for Arab-Jewish coexistence in Israel.  At both events, guests were impressed by the University's extensive social leadership programs and its campus-wide initiatives that foster tolerance and inclusion.

Dr. Dan Schueftan (School of Political Sciences) led a delegation of current and former students from the International MA Program in National Security to NATO headquarters for a week-long study tour. As part of the study tour, members of the delegation met with representatives from various NATO departments and organizations, and participated in a guided tour of the European Parliament. The group also visited European Union Headquarters and the German Embassy in Belgium. This was the first such study tour to take place since the COVID-19 pandemic.   

University of Haifa recipients of Daughters for Life Awards with Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish and Dean of Students, Prof. Batya Engel-Yeger (center).

Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish, founder of the Daughters for Life (DFL) Foundation, recently attended a moving awards ceremony at the Mt. Carmel Campus. The nine UofH awardees are straight-A students who come from diverse backgrounds and fields of study – from the social sciences and nursing to education and communication sciences disorders (more about each of the recipients below). This is the sixth year DFL awards have been granted to UofH students. READ MORE ABOUT UofH RECIPIENTS

"The spirit of my daughters Bessan, Mayar, and Aya, their love of life and learning and their hopes and dreams for a better-educated world, live on in these deserving young women who despite the odds are working hard to achieve their professional goals." - Dr. Abuelaish  founded the DFL Foundation in memory of his three young daughters, who were killed in the Gaza Strip in 2009.

Tel Shikmona site. | Credit: Michael Eisenberg

Recent discoveries shed new light on the significance of Tel Shikmona as a source of crimson products throughout the Mediterranean under ancient Israel's control from 9th to 8th century BCE. The study was published by Prof. Ayelet Gilboa (School of Archaeology and Maritime Cultures) and Dr. Golan Shalvi, a postdoctoral researcher at Ben-Gurion (formerly from University of Haifa) in the Journal of the Institute of Archaeology of Tel Aviv University. Tel Shikmona site excavations, originally led by Prof. Gilboa, are now being supervised by Prof. Adi Erlich. According to the researchers, "Its close proximity to Jerusalem, and the fact that it was the only known factory of its kind from that era, strongly suggests that the factory played a significant role in supplying the Temple of Solomon in Jerusalem with esteemed crimson-dyed pale blue- and crimson-dyed fabrics." FURTHER READING: Extensive media coverage in the Jerusalem Post and Haaretz.

In a study led by Prof. Beverly Goodman-Tchernov (Department of Marine Geosciences) and MSc graduate Charles Everhardt, tsunami deposits were discovered for the first time on land associated with the destruction of Caesarea in 749 CE. "Using the remains of past disasters can help us understand where the risk zones are along the coast and prepare for future tsunamis,” explains Prof. Goodman-Tchernov. The findings also shed light on the human response to natural disasters, as demonstrated by the reconstruction of Caesarea following the disaster several decades later. The study, conducted in collaboration with the Israel Antiquities Authority, was published in Geosciences Journal. FURTHER READING: Extensive media coverage in the Jerusalem Post and Ynetnews.

Up-to-the-minute jellyfish map tracker and forecaster developed by Prof. Dror Angel. 

Researchers from the Department of Maritime Civilizations cautiously predict that Israeli beaches will be jellyfish-free this summer, in contrast to previous years. Marine ecologist and lecturer Dr. Dor Edelist and his Department colleague Prof. Dror Angel, who founded the website “Jellyfish Among the People” (Meduzot Ba’am - www.meduzot.co.il) suggests that their absence may be connected to changes in ocean currents and climate change which impacts seawater warming. "A summer without jellyfish is great news for bathers, but we don't believe we've seen the end of them. This year's phenomenon does not reflect jellyfish populations that sit on the seabed when they are still in the polyp stage. Most likely, polyp colonies still exist and are waiting for the right conditions to hatch and release mature jellyfish into the sea."  READ MORE

University of Haifa's iPain Lab has launched PainStory, a safe and secure platform for individuals to share their experiences with chronic pain. Chronic pain, which affects about 20% of the world's population, can contribute to depression, anxiety, substance abuse disorders, and an increased risk of suicide. According to Dr. Pavel Goldstein (Director of the iPain Lab at the School of Public Health), the new platform could help break the stigma associated with chronic pain while opening up new avenues for research.  READ MORE

At a Glance Archive