Sheafer Replaces Prof. Barak Medina, HU Rector Since 2017

Professor Tamir Sheafer was chosen by the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HU)’s Senate as the university’s new rector.  For the last six years, Sheafer has served as Dean of HU’s Faculty of Social Sciences.  His field of expertise is digital and comparative communications.  Over the past two decades, Sheafer has led several international research groups to study the impact of political systems and the strength of a democracy on that country’s political processes and communications. Read more about Hebrew University Appoints New Rector—Professor Tamir Sheafer

From the Middle Bronze Age, Egypt played a crucial role in the appearance of calcite-alabaster artifacts in Israel, and the development of the local gypsum-alabaster industry. The absence of ancient calcite-alabaster quarries in the Southern Levant (modern day Israel and Palestine) led to the assumption that all calcite-alabaster vessels found in the Levant originated from Egypt, while poorer quality vessels made of gypsum were local products. Read more about Where were Herod the Great's Royal Alabaster Bathtubs Quarried?

It is humbling to realize that we human share about 70% of our genes with zebrafish. There are also a whole host of other similarities that make these small transparent fish an ideal animal model for the study of many human diseases and biological processes.  In the lab of Dr. Yaniv Elkouby at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HU)’s Faculty of Medicine, the focus is on the development of the immature egg cells (oocytes) of zebrafish. Read more about Hebrew U. Study of Zebrafish Ovaries Discovers New Structure Vital for Normal Egg Development

Ecuadoran President Guillermo Lasso became the 1st sitting president of his country to visit Israel.  He arrived with a 100-member delegation that will remain in country for two weeks to visit Israeli universities and innovative projects.

Today at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Lasso and his wife First Lady Maria de Lourdes Alcivar, inaugurated Ecuador’s Office for Technology and Innovation and held a business conference called “Ecuador Open for Business” to develop investments and public-private partnerships with key players in Israel’s ecosystem.  Read more about Ecuadoran President Guillermo Lasso visits Hebrew University

Hebrew U. Team Finds People Overestimate the Presence of Minorities Around Them, Impeding Efforts to Build a more Equitable and Inclusive Society

Read more about Seeing Members of Minority Groups Everywhere? It's an Illusion

Considering the threat on the lives of academics and university students in Ukraine, and in a show of solidarity, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HU) has offered academic hosting for Ukrainian academic staff and students.  To date, 18 such refugees have been accepted to continue their studies at the University and 10 have already arrived at our Jerusalem and Rehovot campuses.  Read more about Following Hebrew University's Emergency Aid for Ukrainian Academic Staff & Students: 10 Refugees Arrive on Campus

Probing the world of the very, very small is a wonderland for physicists.  At this nano-scale, where materials as thin as 100 atoms are studied, totally new and unexpected phenomena are discovered.  Here, nature ceases to behave in a way that is predictable by the macroscopic law of physics, unlike what goes on in the world around us or out in the cosmos. Read more about Working with the Tiniest Magnets, Hebrew U. Discovers New Magnetic Phenomenon with Industrial Potential

Dr. Moran Yassour at Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HU)’s Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, and Dr. Haitham Amal, at HU’s Institute for Drug Research and the School of Pharmacy, have been awarded the prestigious Krill Prize for Excellence in Scientific Research, which is administered by the Wolf Foundation. The Krill Prize is awarded each year to 10 outstanding young researchers who have not yet been granted tenure. Winners are chosen based on standards of excellence and on the subject of their research. Read more about Hebrew University Drs. Moran Yassour & Haitham Amal Awarded 2022 Krill Prize for Excellence in Scientific Research

Increasing numbers of free-roaming street cats is a global problem.  In fact, stray cats are considered one of the world’s most invasive species.  However, while they pose a health risk to humans, destroy large numbers of wildlife and suffer from poor welfare, most people are reluctant to cull their numbers with the fierceness we bring to rat and cockroach populations. Read more about Hebrew University Veterinary School Concludes 12-Year Study of Street Cats, Reveals How to Successfully Control Population Numbers

The prevalence of dental developmental anomalies (DDA) in survivors of childhood cancer differ according to the type of cancer treatment administered, according to researchers at the Hebrew University (HU)-Hadassah School of Dental Medicine. Read more about Dental Anomalies Among Childhood Cancer Survivors Differ According to Type of Anticancer Treatment Received

Israel’s academic cooperation with Morocco hit a high point this week with the visit of a senior delegation from Morocco’s Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P) to the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HUJI).

Seeking to establish a medical school and school of pharmacy, the UM6P representatives met with Professor Dina Ben Yehuda, Dean of the Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School, to learn how HUJI prepares its future doctors for a medical career based on computational medicine and AI, while maintaining humanity and compassion for their patients. Read more about Senior Moroccan Academic Delegation Visits Hebrew University

Perhaps you are wearing glasses while reading this or have a cell phone, binoculars, a virtual reality headset or telescope.  All of them rely on high-quality lenses, which are bulky, expensive and heavy—especially when considering drones and satellites, where every gram counts. Read more about Hebrew U. Develops Method to Evaluate Emerging Flat Lens Technologies

Israelis Nab 2 Out of 15 Spots Worldwide

Moshe Shenfeld, a computer science PhD candidate at Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HU)’s Rachel and Selim Benin School of Engineering and Computer Science has been selected as an Apple Scholar in AI/Machine Learning for 2022.  Shenfeld is one of only 15 awardees worldwide, the other Israeli recipient is from Tel Aviv University.  The PhD fellowship in Machine Learning and AI was created by Apple “to celebrate the contributions of students pursuing cutting-edge fundamental and applied machine learning research worldwide”. Read more about Hebrew University Student Wins Prestigious Apple AI Fellowship

Hebrew U. Study of 380,000 Births in Israel—a Country with the Highest Fertility Rate among OECD Countries and High Air Pollution Levels—Reveals Troubling Link  

Read more about Mother's Exposure to Air Pollution Associated with Low-Birth-Weight Babies

"Within a decade, we hope to increase fertility among older women using anti-viral drugs"—Hebrew University’s Dr. Michael Klutstein.

Throughout much of the world, increasing numbers of women are delaying having their first child until they are in their late thirties, and even into their forties.  At this age, their eggs are rapidly deteriorating and, even with IVF, their prospects of conception are far from guaranteed. Read more about Extending Fertility & Reversing Aging in Human Egg Cells

Plus Teaching Posts, Stipends and Studies for Fleeing Ukrainian Academics and University Students

In a show of solidarity with the Ukrainian people, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HU) and HU Student Union hoisted the Ukrainian flag on its campus on Mt. Scopus.  The University and its students seek to send a message of support and encouragement to Ukraine, which is now suffering the second week of a brutal invasion by the Russian military. Read more about Hebrew University Offers Emergency Aid to Students & Professors from Ukraine

New Hebrew U. Survey Probes German and Israelis Perceptions of One Another, Shows Bilateral Support for Germany as Middle-East Mediator

The visit to Israel on March 2^nd of Germany's newly-elected Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, heralds a new era in German-Israel ties.  On the heels of this visit, it is timely to announce the findings of a recent survey conducted in Israel and Germany by The Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HU)'s European Forum, which reveals a complex picture regarding Israeli perceptions of Germany, as well as German perceptions of Israel.  Read more about German Chancellor Scholz's First Visit to Israel

Sometimes, to see the roots, you have to look up.

Roots are normally associated with things that live underground, in the damp and the dark. Think of turnips, radishes and yams. However, many plants make their roots above ground.  Ivy uses its roots to climb on buildings and the mighty ficus tree uses them to support their large branches.  What makes plants form roots in the “wrong place,” so to speak? That would be like us humans sprouting legs from our shoulders. Read more about Hebrew U. Team Finds How Plants Make Aerial Roots

Read more about Siblings of Children with Disabilities May Have Greater Cognitive Empathy

Michal Braverman-Blumenstyk, General Manager of Microsoft Israel Research and Development Center, along with company management visited the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HU)’s Selim and Rachel Benin Department of Computer Science and Engineering yesterday, Israel’s leading computer science department.

The visit took place as part of Microsoft’s plans to establish an R&D center in Jerusalem.  While there, they met with HU President Prof. Asher Cohen, Rector Prof.  Barak Medina, and CEO and VP Yishai Fraenkel. Read more about Microsoft R&D Visits Hebrew University

Michal Braverman-Blumenstyk, General Manager of Microsoft Israel Research and Development Center, along with company management visited the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HU)’s Selim and Rachel Benin Department of Computer Science and Engineering yesterday, Israel’s leading computer science department.

The visit took place as part of Microsoft’s plans to establish an R&D center in Jerusalem.  While there, they met with HU President Prof. Asher Cohen, Rector Prof.  Barak Medina, and CEO and VP Yishai Fraenkel. Read more about Microsoft R&D Visits Hebrew University

Movement is ubiquitous across the natural world. All organisms move, actively or passively, regularly or during specific life stages, to meet energy, survival, reproductive and social demands.  Movement affects a variety of ecological processes and the ability of individuals to cope with human-induced, rapid environmental changes. Read more about Big-Data Tracking Technologies can Uncover Wildlife Secrets & Reduce their Conflicts with Humans, International Team Led by HU Shows

Stress and Smoking Rates Up Among All Hospital Workers, New Hebrew U. Study Finds

A new study, published in the leading journal Nicotine and Tobacco Research’s special issue devoted to smoking and COVID-19, found that being on the COVID-19 frontlines could negatively impact hospital workers’ mental health—even during lull periods and even for ancillary hospital staff, such as maintenance workers and administrative staff.   Read more about Working on the Covid-19 Frontline Negatively Impacts Public Health at All Levels

New Hebrew U. Survey Finds 53% of Israelis Expect Situation to Worsen for Jews in Europe; France Now Tied with Poland as Europe’s Most Antisemitic Country, According to Israelis Read more about Israelis’ Perception of Antisemitism in Europe on Eve of Holocaust Remembrance Day

The Results Are In: Murder Rates of Women are Down—Even Among Israel’s Arab Sector. However, Troubling New Trend Shows Increased Rates of Mothers Murdered by Their Sons

Read more about The 2021 Report on Violence Against Women in Israel

The Answer Depends on Parents' Religiosity Level, Surprising Hebrew U. Study Finds

Read more about Is Shaming or Giving Kids the Silent Treatment Effective

Blood Test Developed at Hebrew U. Detects Immune and Inflammatory Activity in Tissues, Removing Need for Painful Biopsies and Expensive Imaging

Our immune systems work hard to keep us healthy and to protect us against bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites and cancerous cells.  When our Immune systems are weakened, we’re at risk for illnesses and dangerous infections; when they’re overactive, we’re at risk for inflammation and autoimmune diseases.  Therefore, accurate monitoring of our immune systems’ activity is vital to our health.   Read more about New Liquid Biopsy Detects Local Immune Activity

Read more about Hebrew U. Physicist Shlomi Kotler Wins Physics World’s 2021 Breakthrough of the Year Award

For almost two years, newsfeeds have kept us updated on the daily battle to annihilate the coronavirus.  So, it’ s easy to forget that there are also many types of bacteria threatening human health – our survival depends on the constant quest for new antibiotics that can destroy them.  Recent research provides an important insight into the complex response of bacteria to antibiotics and opens up the possibility of developing a novel and more effective class of drugs to combat major bacterial diseases. Read more about Newly-Identified State in Bacteria Has Major Implications for Antibiotic Treatment and Resistant Strains

Read more about Keeping Data Secure on the Internet: Quantum Encryption Advances at HU

An article published by the Nature Communications journal illustrates the innovative approach to the realization of increasingly performing sensors by researchers from the Politecnico di Torino and The Hebrew University of Jerusalem Read more about 3D Printing Nano-Resonators: Towards Miniaturized and Multifunctional Sensors

Back in the day, the Assyrians were one of the Near East’s superpowers, controlling a land mass that stretched from Iran to Egypt. They accomplished this feat with military technologies that helped them win any open-air battle or penetrate any fortified city.  While today, air power and bunker busters help win the war, back in the ninth to the seventh centuries BCE, it was all about the siege ramp, an elevated structure that hauled battering ramps up to the enemy’s city walls and let the Neo-Assyrians soldiers wreak havoc on their enemies. Read more about Siege Ramps and Breached Walls: Ancient Warfare and the Assyrian Conquest of Lachish

The Innovation Centers of the Hebrew University and of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev have won 2 of the world’s most prestigious prizes in higher education entrepreneurship. Read more about Israel - A Leader In Academic Innovation!

Thank you for joining us for The Hebrew University's 84th Board of Governors Celebration.

For those of you who miss it, feel free to watch the recap here:

• Day One
• Day Two 

Read more about Parents Can Now Select Embryos with Reduced Risk for Cancer and Mental Illness, But Does It Work?

Read more about Hebrew University Congratulates Former Faculty Member Joshua Angrist on Winning Nobel Prize in Economics

The human brain is a constant buzz of activity, with its 86 billion nerve cells (neurons) sending electrical signals from one region of the brain to another. The signals travel along the white matter fibers, a maze of wire-like fibers, ultimately giving rise to all brain functions. Uncovering these wire-like highways between neurons has been a longstanding challenge for neuroscience.  Existing methods for mapping this neural circuitry at the cellular level are either limited to animal studies or require highly specialized equipment for data acquisition and processing. Read more about Novel Method Developed at Hebrew University Reveals Details of Nerve Connections in the Brain

The CERN Council announced the election of Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HU) physicist Professor Eliezer Rabinovici as its 24th President as of January 2022.  Based in Geneva, Switzerland, CERN is the largest nuclear particle research center in the world.   Rabinovici will be taking over from Dr. Ursula Bassler, who concludes her term at the end of 2021. Read more about Hebrew University's Eliezer Rabinovici Elected President of Cern Council - European Nuclear Research Organization

Immigrants and Ultra-Orthodox Men at Greatest Risk

Read more about Largest Population-Based Study of "Lazy Eye" Reveals Public Health's Blind Spots