Weizmann Institute of Science: Latest in the ForeFront of Science
When the Body Remembers the Tumor
Life Sciences
Weizmann Institute researchers discover immune memory cells capable of producing antibodies against cancer – a finding that opens new avenues for future cancer vaccines
A Glimpse at the Origins of Life Through a Deceptive Mirror
Chemistry
Scientists may have solved a 150-year-old puzzle about why life favors one mirror-image molecule over another
Facing Danger with Maturity
Life Sciences
Weizmann Institute and Hebrew University scientists have discovered that stem cell maturation can also serve as an immune defense mechanism
Novel Molecular Marker May Improve Prostate Cancer Treatment
Life Sciences
Weizmann-led international team uncovers a key mechanism of treatment resistance and points to a potential combination therapy
ON CAMPUSWhat do groundbreaking research, the fight for equality, and the ability to imagine a different reality have in common?This month, we hosted the 5th International Day of Women in Science at the Weizmann Institute of Science, led by the Office for the Advancement of Women in Science and Gender Equality. The event was organized by a steering committee of students at the Institute and opened by Prof. Idit Shachar, Head of the Office, together with Prof. Maya Schuldiner, Dean of the Weizmann School of Science.
Throughout the day, we heard a series of TED-style talks by students and researchers from the Institute, who shared insights about their research across a wide range of fields – from forecasting Mediterranean cyclones to space research, immunology, mathematics and AI. The talks made complex research feel accessible and sparked conversations between researchers from different disciplines. As part of the program, the speakers received personal mentoring and presentation training ahead of the conference.
Later in the day, we were honored to hear from Alice Miller, whose landmark legal battle paved the way for women to apply to the Israeli Air Force flight academy.
We are proud to be part of a place where women in science are researching, leading and shaping the future.
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We are proud to be part of TWIN-Q, Israel’s new national center for quantum computing based on atomic qubits.
Researchers from the Weizmann Institute of Science, together with partners from Tel Aviv University, the Technion, and the Hebrew University, are joining forces to advance quantum computing research, strengthen Israel’s quantum ecosystem, and help train the next generation of quantum scientists and engineers.
The center unites leading research groups from Weizmann’s Faculty of Physics, including the groups of Profs. Roee Ozeri, Nir Davidson, Ofer Firstenberg, and Ady Stern, along with the groups of Drs. Tom Manovitz and Ziv Meir.
The collaboration’s joint meetings have already connected researchers, students, and engineers for discussions on scientific challenges, emerging technologies, and future collaboration across the TWIN-Q community. Looking forward to the discoveries, collaborations, and breakthroughs ahead.
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Just as in the laboratory, close observation of Osnat Ben Dov’s new photography exhibition reveals entire worlds within the smallest details.
“Through the Window,” curated by Weizmann Institute’s Yivsam Azgad, opened on the ground floor of the Stone Administration Building. In the exhibition, Ben Dov explores the interplay of light, matter and time through photographs that appear almost painterly.
“People ask me whether my photographs are oil paintings. I tell them they are sun paintings. I do not use artificial lighting. Sunlight enters through the window, dynamic in nature, revealing something different each time about the objects it touches,” Ben Dov said at the opening, speaking with attendees about her work and creative process.
The program also featured an original poem by Dr. Hagai Cohen from the Department of Chemical Research Support, adding another layer of reflection and connection between science, light and art.
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How do you teach AI to a generation already growing up alongside it?
The annual conference for students in ORT’s Scientific Excellence Program, “Humans, AI and Machines,” took place at the Weizmann Institute of Science, led by the Department of Science Teaching.
The conference marked the culmination of a year of in-depth learning about artificial intelligence, combining scientific foundations, ethical questions, practical skills, and critical thinking around the use of AI tools. Around 130 students from across Israel took part in the event, participating in scientific activities across campus and presenting projects they developed throughout the program.
We’re proud to take part in an initiative that gives students not only practical tools, but also the ability to think critically, ask better questions, and engage thoughtfully with a rapidly changing world.
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For International Diversity Day, we chose to spotlight the people helping make the Weizmann Institute of Science a more open, diverse and inclusive place.
Over the years, the Diversity and Inclusion Office has presented awards to members of our community who have led social initiatives, supported students, advanced equal opportunity, built communities and created spaces where people feel they belong.
From community leadership and volunteer work, to supporting underrepresented populations and building bridges across cultures, each of this year’s honorees reminds us that diverse communities are built by people who choose to notice, initiate and take action for others.
Thank you!
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Community
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You don’t need a special occasion to make an impact, and this month our campus was filled with acts of generosity.
Members of the Weizmann community donated clothes, books, games, toys, dry food, textiles, and kitchenware from their homes, while volunteers came together to sort and pack every item with care, making sure each donation reached the people who needed it most.
The donations were distributed to nonprofit organizations, second-hand shops, and community initiatives supporting families in need, children, Holocaust survivors, and elderly people across Israel.
As always, the initiative was led by Weizmann’s Social Involvement in the Community team. It’s inspiring to see the campus come together around meaningful action.
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We already know that the most meaningful things happen when people come together. That’s the power of science, and the power of community.
This month we headed out for another volunteer day, this time in Kibbutz Zikim near the Gaza border. In partnership with the Alon and Ella Foundation, around 50 employees and students from the Weizmann Institute came together to help build and renovate shared spaces across the kibbutz. Together, we created seating and kitchen areas for kindergartens, set up outdoor gathering spaces, prepared flower planters, and spent the day doing what matters most: giving back, working together, and supporting one another.
The volunteer day brought together people from across the Institute’s scientific and administrative communities, creating a great opportunity to connect and collaborate outside of everyday work.
We’re glad we could be part of it, and we’re already looking forward to the next volunteer day.
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Sustainability
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Africa is the world’s second-largest continent, yet it remains one of the regions with relatively limited climate data.
A few months ago, the project DELTA: Africa, led by Prof. Dan Yakir of the Weizmann Institute of Science, set out to help close that gap. Using a mobile research laboratory, the project explores how land-use changes affect carbon, water, and energy cycles across ecosystems in East and Southern Africa.
After weeks at sea traveling around the continent, the laboratory arrived in Kenya. In collaboration with the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) and additional local partners, the team began its first field measurements across savannas, forests, and agricultural areas.
One of the first research sites was the Kapiti Conservancy, where researchers documented the beginning of the rainy season and tracked ecosystem changes in real time. Recently, the team arrived at the Ngare Ndare Forest on the slopes of Mount Kenya, where a new measurement campaign is now underway in collaboration with local communities and regional researchers.
The project is expected to continue for the next two to three years, with the mobile laboratory traveling between sites across Africa to collect data that will help deepen our understanding of the continent’s ecosystems and their role in the global climate system.
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Study Opportunities
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Call for applications: The Max Planck Society and the Weizmann Institute of Science invite you to apply to our prestigious joint postdoctoral program. Designed for recent PhD graduates in the life sciences, physics, chemistry, earth science, mathematics and computer science, our fully funded four-year program offers you an unrivaled opportunity to conduct cutting-edge research at two globally recognized institutions, fueling your passion for boundless scientific exploration and propelling your career to new heights. Deadline: July 1, 2026 |
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Call for applications: Join the Frontiers of Quantum Science Summer School at the Weizmann Institute of Science on August 9-13, 2026, and explore cutting-edge topics including quantum computing, topological physics, quantum sensing, atoms, photons, and more.
The program is open to outstanding undergraduate and MSc students who are eager to engage with leading researchers and learn about the latest developments at the forefront of quantum science.
Applications close on July 1, 2026
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