Diversifying Academic Culture

The 2nd Neubauer Symposium for the Advancement of STEM Education and Research was recently held at the Technion in the presence of Technion President Uri Sivan and philanthropists and entrepreneurs Joe and Jeanette Neubauer, heads of the Neubauer Foundation.

Technion President Prof. Uri Sivan welcomed the conference participants and personally addressed Joe and Jeanette Neubauer, saying, “I would like to thank you for your many efforts and for your commitment, dedication, and determination in increasing the representation of students and faculty members from Arab society within the academic community. As you look around you today, you must feel great pride. You have brought about real change.”

Joe Neubauer thanked President Sivan and noted that the flagship program to increase the representation of students and academic faculty from Arab society originated at the Technion: “During my visit to this campus a decade ago, the initiative was born to create a program to increase the number of academic faculty members from Arab society. The program began on a small scale and grew slowly and gradually. Today, it is a national program operating at five of Israel’s leading universities. We are strengthening research, expanding opportunities, and transforming academic culture.”

In her concluding remarks, Jeanette Neubauer addressed the PhD fellows: “One day, when you are all rich and famous because of your successful career, the mantle of leadership is going to fall on your shoulders. If you truly want to live in a healthier world, you have to accept this responsibility. No matter what kind of scientist you choose to become, remember that you are in the positive change business.”

The conference, led by Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion Prof. Adi Salzberg, was attended by doctoral students, foundation fellows from across the country, faculty members, and guests. It combined scientific sessions showcasing the research achievements of the foundation’s fellows with lectures that exposed students to future career opportunities in academia and industry.

In recent years, thanks to the foundation’s activities, approximately 40 outstanding students from Arab society have begun doctoral studies at the Technion. Dr. Majdi Gzal, a graduate of the program’s first cohort who returned to the Technion this year as a faculty member in the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, was in the audience and received congratulations and applause.

“The conference is a wonderful example of the power of community, and of how scientific curiosity and collaboration can advance us all,” Prof. Salzberg said at the conclusion of the conference. “This day fills me with genuine optimism and faith in the power of science and in our shared pursuit of knowledge.”