Technion Confers Four Honorary Doctorates at President’s Reception
The Technion conferred honorary doctorates on four distinguished individuals at a festive ceremony during the President’s Reception on Monday, October 26. Technion President Prof. Uri Sivan, Haifa Mayor Yona Yahav, Technion Council Chairman Dadi (David) Perlmutter, members of the Technion administration, deans, friends of the Technion from Israel and abroad, senior executives from Israeli industry, and faculty members attended the ceremony.
An honorary doctorate is the highest honor bestowed by the Technion upon individuals who have distinguished themselves through exceptional scientific or cultural achievements or through their contributions to Israel, the Jewish people, and humanity. Previous recipients include Chaim Weizmann (1952), Albert Einstein (1953), Niels Bohr (1958), David Ben-Gurion (1962), Eugene Wigner (1971), Margaret Thatcher (1989), Yitzhak Rabin (1990), and Angela Merkel (2021).
Technion President Prof. Uri Sivan said: “Since its founding, the Technion has been guided by a national mission – a commitment to the security of the State of Israel, its economy, and the resilience of Israeli society. This year’s honorary degree recipients each reflect, in their own way, the core values that guide us and the very best of Israeli society.
“We are extremely proud of our four new honorary doctorate recipients. Through their lifelong achievements, their commitment to advancing knowledge, innovation, and a better society, and their role as an inspiration to generations of scientists, engineers, and leaders, each of them brings great honor to the Technion and the State of Israel.”
The honorary degree recipients are:
Gideon Frank, a Technion alumnus and former Director General of the Israel Atomic Energy Commission, recently completed his term as Chairman of the Technion Council. He received the honorary doctorate “in recognition of his profound commitment to the Technion and the State of Israel; with gratitude for his extraordinary dedication to Israeli society and to the advancement of its science, research, and national security infrastructure; in sincere appreciation of his professional leadership at the national level; and with heartfelt thanks for his many years of service strengthening the Technion’s local and global standing through a wide range of roles, most notably as Chairman of the Technion Council.”
Ben Ami Gov, a Technion alumnus, served as Director General of Israel’s Ministry of Communications and as head of the Israeli Air Force’s Kfir fighter aircraft project. He received the honorary doctorate “in recognition of his pioneering contributions to the development of Israeli aviation and technology industries; in recognition of his deep commitment to the Technion, and with gratitude for his many years of service on behalf of Israeli society.”
Dr. Orna Berry, a scientist and high-tech entrepreneur, was the first woman to serve as Chief Scientist and head of the Industrial R&D Administration at Israel’s Ministry of Industry, Trade and Employment. She received the honorary doctorate “in appreciation of her groundbreaking achievements in Israel’s high-tech and entrepreneurial sectors; in recognition of her leadership and her inspiring contribution to those who follow in her footsteps; in recognition of her visionary leadership in advancing innovation and spearheading national initiatives in science and technology; and with gratitude for her enduring dedication and remarkable impact on Israeli society and the technology community.”
Prof. Noga Alon of Princeton University, a Technion alumnus, is an award-winning Israeli mathematician and computer scientist. He received the honorary doctorate “in deep appreciation of his wide-ranging contributions to mathematics and to the theory of computer science, laying foundations that continue to serve researchers worldwide and enable new applications; in gratitude for his role in educating generations of influential researchers; in recognition of his standing as an exemplar for Technion alumni through your enduring connection to your alma mater; and in appreciation of his scientific excellence and the inspiration he provides to the academic community.”
Photos: Rami Shlush, Technion Spokesperson’s Office
