The University of Haifa is proud to share the recent achievements of faculty members 

Prof. Emeritus Eviatar Nevo, world-renowned evolutionary biologist from the Institute of Evolution, was named Honorary President of the Asia Association of Plant Scientists (2020). Prof. Nevo, an Israel Prize laureate (2016), is considered a pioneering leader of evolutionary biology, and among the founders of modern evolutionary theory. He established and directed the Institute of Evolution (1973-2008) and the International Graduate Center of Evolution (2004-2008) at the University of Haifa. Over the course of his long and prolific career, he authored over 30 books and published more than 1,000 scientific papers, and is among the top cited researchers in the world. 

Congratulations to Rabbi Dr. Samuel Lebens on being selected for The Algemeiner J100 List - The Top 100 People Positively Influencing Jewish Life in 2020. Dr. Lebens, a research fellow at the Department of Philosophy, is a highly regarded Jewish philosopher and educator. He is being recognized for his ground-breaking work The Principles of Judaism, which presents the basic axioms of the Jewish faith in the language of 21st century analytical philosophy. 

The University of Haifa community mourns the loss of Dr. Joseph (Yossi) Bachar who passed away at age 65. Dr. Bachar  is the former Discount Bank Chairman and has been a longstanding friend of the University. He served as the Chairman of the University of Haifa’s Executive Committee and as a member of the Board of Governors, and worked tirelessly to promote its advancement. May his memory be a blessing.

Prof. Assaf Distelfeld, Director of the Institute of Evolution, took part in a major international study that set out to decipher the complex genetic code of 15 bread wheat varieties from around the world. The ultimate goal of the project is to equip researchers and breeders with the tools needed to improve bread wheat and meet future food demands. The researchers used the groundbreaking technology of NRGene, an Israeli company, developed in collaboration with Prof. Distelfeld. A summary of the findings was published in Nature.

The Clinic for Law and Educational Policy recently reached an agreement with the Petah Tikva Municipality that will allow asylum seekers to register their children for kindergartens in the local school system. As part of the settlement, the children’s parents must show proof of residence. The city also agreed to discontinue its practice of segregating children of asylum seekers into separate kindergarten classes. Attorney Haran Reichman who heads the Clinic for Law and Educational Policy, explains that the Clinic’s outreach efforts are aimed at representing groups who suffer from systematic educational disadvantages and who lack sufficient access to legal representation, such as asylum seekers, Arab society, the Ultra-orthodox community, and students from peripheral regions. READ FULL STORY HERE

Congratulations to the Clinic for Legal Feminism for drafting the digitized resource center for victims of sexual assault. The resource details what rights they are eligible for as well as how to submit a claim online to the National Insurance Institute of Israel (Bituah Leumi) for a disability allowance. Law students associated with the Clinic participated in drafting the materials, and worked closely with the spokeswoman of Bituah Leumi over a two-year period. According to Advocate Vardit Avidan who heads the Clinic, COVID-19 has only exacerbated domestic violence in Israeli society. “The country must do its part in recognizing that violence against women is a systemic problem which calls for a complete overhaul of how domestic violence and its survivors are treated." READ MORE in The Times of Israel

Prof. Rear Admiral (Ret.) Shaul Chorev, Head of the Maritime Policy & Strategy Research Center and The Ezri Center for Iran & Persian Gulf Studies, was recently featured in a Washington based think tank’s magazine The National Interest, where he shared his optimistic take on the renewed maritime border talks between Lebanon and Israel. “From a diplomatic standpoint, an agreement could demonstrate to Israel’s new friends in the region—the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Sudan—that it is acting in good faith by speaking with its neighbors,” explains Prof. Chorev. “And improved relations with Sudan can positively influence Israel’s other maritime border along the Red Sea; roughly one-third of Israeli trade goes through the Bab al-Mandab Strait which is a hotbed for terrorist activity.” READ FULL ARTICLE HERE

Credit: Jonathan Orlin / Israel Nature and Parks Authority

A recent discovery of a pagan altar incorporated into the walls of an ancient Byzantine church dating to 400 CE is raising questions about the intertwined nature of early Christianity and pagan beliefs. The excavation project at the Banias Nature Reserve in northern Israel, co-led by Prof. Adi Erlich of the Zinman Institute of Archaeology, is now focusing on deciphering the inscription found on the altar, which suggests pilgrims traveled great distances to reach the religious site. Prof. Erlich points out that the altar’s repurposing as part of a wall may have been a deliberate insult to local worshippers of the “old” gods. READ MORE

This year’s European Research Night was held online for the first time. The UofH virtual booth showcased a broad mix of research topics through open lectures, online activities for children, virtual tours and prerecorded interviews from marine predators to the phenomenon of fake news, the theoretical framework of decision making in sports, food and nutrition tips in Corona time, and more.

Among the highlights of the evening was a lively online roundtable discussion with the participation of President Ron Robin titled "Wuzzap? Talking with young Khaleejis". Dr. Moran Zaga, a researcher of the Arab Gulf at the University of Haifa, and Hila Elroy, Director of Government Relations spoke with the young professionals from the UAE about hovering taxis, popular fields of study and the Abraham Accords with Israel. “Sadat was ahead of his time,” commented Dr. Majid al-Sarrah, an expert in public policy and international affairs, “people want peace and therefore we must understand the full picture and the right for Jewish people to live in Israel.” A RECORDING OF THE EVENT IS AVAILABLE HERE