“Changing the Academic Culture”

The Technion recently hosted the Second Neubauer Symposium for the Advancement of STEM Education and Research, in the presence of philanthropists and entrepreneurs Joseph and Janet Neubauer, who lead the foundation. Technion President Prof. Uri Sivan welcomed the symposium participants and addressed Joe and Janet Neubauer personally:

“I want to thank you for your tremendous efforts and for your commitment, dedication, and determination to increase Arab representation within the academic community. As you look around you, you must feel great pride. You have brought about real change.”

Mr. Neubauer thanked the president and noted that the flagship program to increase the representation of students and academic staff members from the Arab community was born at the Technion: “During my visit to this campus ten years ago, the idea emerged for what began as a small program aimed at increasing the number of academic faculty members from the Arab community. We grew slowly and steadily, and today it has become a national program operating in five of Israel’s leading universities. We are strengthening research, expanding opportunities, and changing the academic culture.”

The event, led by Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion Prof. Adi Salzberg, took place before an audience of doctoral students, foundation fellows from across the country, faculty members, and guests. The symposium combined scientific sessions—showcasing the research achievements of the foundation’s fellows—with panels exposing students to future career paths in academia, industry, or a combination of both worlds.

In recent years, thanks to the foundation’s direct activity, about 40 outstanding students from the Arab community have begun doctoral studies. Dr. Majdi Gzal, a graduate of the program’s first cohort who returned to the Technion as a faculty member in the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and was present in the audience, received special recognition and applause.

In her concluding remarks, Prof. Salzberg said she sees this symposium as a wonderful example of the power of community, and of how scientific curiosity and collaboration can advance us all. “This day fills me with genuine optimism and faith in the power of science and in our shared pursuit of knowledge.”