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Author: Hilary

TAU is Going Abroad

Written by Hilary on . Posted in Newsroom.

Outgoing Exchange Meeting Sees Highest Turnout Ever

This year, with the largest turnout ever, The Lowy International School once again held an event for upcoming outgoing exchange students. Approximately 140 Tel Aviv University (TAU) undergraduate and graduate students attended as they prepared to study at universities in Europe, Asia, Australia, North America, and elsewhere.

“The exchange program gives TAU students a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience another university and another culture, and to get a taste of the international life,” says Galia Netzer Erlichmen, who oversees the exchange program as the Head of Internationalization at Home for TAU. “These students who have signed up to go this year are enthusiastic, and they know it’s a really meaningful opportunity right now.” 

Netzer Erlichmen speaks to exchange students about their upcoming adventure.

While the tradition of exchange between TAU and its partner institutions continues, with each TAU student going to one of the more than 50 study destinations available this year, preparations for outgoing exchange has recently necessitated a more unique approach given the global unrest following October 7 and the war. While students were given advice and training related to usual exchange program considerations – like adapting to a new culture – they were also provided with a workshop on conflict management.  

“Israel is in a certain position, and we know across the world there are many questions and sometimes severe accusations, so we made it a point of giving our students tools to, as much as possible, deal with these questions,” says Netzer Erlichmen. “Whether they don’t want to answer or whether they want to hold a discussion … we wanted to help them feel comfortable responding.”

At the same time, Netzer Erlichmen emphasized that, should an issue ever arise, the students aren’t alone and have the full support both of TAU’s outgoing exchange office, as well as the institutions they will be attending.

Outgoing exchange students during one of the workshops held on July 9.

“Throughout these tense times, if there’s been a [campus] demonstration that a TAU exchange student has been worried about, there has always been someone directly at that university who has been wiling to check the situation out and provide help,” says Netzer Erlichmen. “Our exchange partners have always been welcoming to our students and we are so glad to have that continued support. These are challenging times and it means so much to us to be able to continue to work with our partners.”

And while the TAU students going on exchange have been prepared slightly differently this year, they are still very excited for what will hopefully be one of the best experiences of their lives.

“Students at TAU have gone through a lot,” reflects Netzer Erlichmen. “On top of all the other benefits an academic exchange opportunity offers, it’s also a chance for our students to get a breather for a bit and really enjoy themselves. They deserve that.”  

Interested in going on exchange and joining us in Tel Aviv? Visit our Incoming Exchange Program to learn more. Are you at TAU and want to go abroad for a bit? Learn more about our Outgoing Exchange Program.

 

How Did Prehistoric Stone Tools Evolve After Elephants Disappeared?

Written by Hilary on . Posted in Newsroom.

TAU study identifies tools developed by early humans for butchering fallow deer after elephants disappeared.

A new study from Tel Aviv University identified the earliest appearance worldwide of special stone tools, used 400,000 years ago to process fallow deer. The tools, called Quina scrapers (after the site in France where they were first discovered), were unearthed at the prehistoric sites of Jaljulia and Qesem Cave. They are characterized by a sharp working edge shaped as scales, enabling users to butcher their prey and also process its hides.

The researchers explain that after the elephants disappeared from the region, the ancient hunters were forced to make technological adaptations enabling them to hunt, butcher, and process much smaller and quicker game – fallow deer. The study also found that the unique tools were made of non-local flint procured from the Mountains of Samaria, which probably also served as the fallow deers’ calving area, about 20km east of Jaljulia and Qesem Cave. Consequently, the researchers hypothesize that Mounts Ebal and Gerizim (near Nablus of today) were considered a source of plenty and held sacred by prehistoric hunters as early as the Paleolithic period.

The study was led by Vlad Litov and Prof. Ran Barkai of Tel Aviv University’s Jacob M. Alkow Department of Archaeology and Ancient Near Eastern Cultures. The paper was published in Archaeologies.

Prof. Ran Barkai

The researchers explain that for about a million years, starting 1.5 million years ago, early humans used stone tools called scrapers to process hides and scrape the flesh off the bones of mostly large game. In the Levant, they mainly hunted elephants and other large herbivores that provided most of the calories they needed. The study found, however, that about 400,000 years ago, following the elephants’ disappearance, hunters turned to a different kind of prey, considerably smaller and quicker than elephants – fallow deer.

How Changing Diets Shaped Prehistoric Tools

Litov explains: “In this study, we tried to understand why stone tools changed during prehistoric times, with a focus on a technological change in scrapers in the Lower Paleolithic, about 400,000 years ago. We found a dramatic change in the human diet during this period, probably resulting from a change in the available fauna: the large game, particularly elephants, had disappeared, and humans were forced to hunt smaller animals, especially fallow deer. Clearly, butchering a large elephant is one thing, and processing a much smaller and more delicate fallow deer is quite a different challenge. Systematic processing of numerous fallow deer to compensate for a single elephant was a complex and demanding task that required the development of new implements. Consequently, we see the emergence of the new Quina scrapers, with a better-shaped, sharper, more uniform working edge compared to the simple scrapers used previously”.

A close look at a Quina-like scraper from Jaljulia.

The study relies on findings from an excavation at the Jaljulia prehistoric site next to Highway 6 in central Israel, probably inhabited by humans of the homo erectus species, as well as evidence from the nearby Qesem Cave. At both sites the excavators discovered many scrapers of the new type, made of non-local flint whose nearest sources are the western slopes of Samaria, to the east of the excavated sites, or today’s Ben Shemen Forest to the south.

Prof. Barkai adds: “In this study we identified links between technological developments and changes in the fauna hunted and consumed by early humans. For many years researchers believed that the changes in stone tools resulted from biological and cognitive changes in humans. We demonstrate a double connection, both practical and perceptual. On the one hand, humans started making more sophisticated tools because they had to hunt and butcher smaller, faster, thinner game. On the other, we identify a perceptual connection: Mounts Ebal and Gerizim in Samaria, about 20km east of Jaljulia, were a home range of fallow deer and thus considered a source of plenty. We found a connection between the plentiful source of fallow deer and the source of flint used to butcher them, and we believe that this link held perceptual significance for these prehistoric hunters. They knew where the fallow deer came from and made special efforts to use flint from the same area to make tools for butchering this prey. This behavior is familiar from many other places worldwide and is still widely practiced by native hunter-gatherer communities”.

Samaria’s Sacred Role in Early Tool Evolution

Litov concludes: “We believe that the Mountains of Samaria were sacred to the prehistoric people of Qesem Cave and Jaljulia because that’s where the fallow deer came from. It’s important to note that in Jaljulia we also found numerous other tools made of different kinds of locally-procured stones. When the locals realized that the elephant population was dwindling, they gradually shifted their focus to fallow deer. Identifying the deer’s plentiful source, they began to develop the unique scrapers in the same place. This is the earliest instance of a phenomenon that later spread throughout the world. The new scrapers first appeared at Jaljulia on a small scale, about 500,000 years ago, and a short time later, 400,000 to 200,000 years ago, on a much larger scale at Qesem Cave. The Samarian highlands east of Jaljulia and Qesem Cave were likely the home range of a fallow deer population, as evidenced by bone remains recovered from local archaeological sites throughout the Pleistocene and Holocene. Many fallow deer bones were also found at the altar site on Mount Gerizim, attributed in the Old Testament to Joshua bin Nun, and identified by some traditions as the place of Abraham’s Covenant of the Pieces described in the Book of Genesis. Apparently, the Mountains of Samaria gained a prominent, or even sacred status as early as the Paleolithic period and retained their unique cultural position for hundreds of thousands of years”.

Could Graphene be the Future of Nanoelectronics?

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New study offers a breakthrough development that may facilitate the use of graphene nanoribbons in nanoelectronics

An international collaborative study that features researchers from TAU presents a new method for growing ultra-long and ultra-narrow strips of graphene (a derivative of graphite), which exhibit semiconducting properties that can be harnessed by the nanoelectronics industry. The researchers believe that the development may have many potential technological applications, including advanced switching devices, spintronic devices, and in the future, even quantum computing architectures. The study was conducted under the leadership of an international research team, that included Prof. Michael Urbakh and Prof. Oded Hod from TAU’s School of Chemistry, as well as scientists from China, South Korea, and Japan. The study was published in the scientific journal Nature.

Prof. Michael Urbakh.

Prof. Urbakh and Prof. Hod explain that graphene is a single layer of graphite made of carbon atoms and built similarly to the shape of a beehive. Graphene is very suitable for technological uses. Apart from its extraordinary mechanical strength, additional properties have been discovered in recent years regarding certain structures made of a small number of twisted (laterally rotated with respect to each other) graphene layers. These properties include superconductivity, spontaneous electric polarization, controlled heat conduction, and structural superlubricity – a state in which materials demonstrate negligible friction and wear.

Prof. Oded Hod.

One of the limitations we find for using graphene in the electronics industry is that it is a semi-metal, namely that charge carriers can move freely in it, but their density is very low. Hence, graphene cannot be used either as a conducting metal or as a semiconductor used by the electronic chip industry.

However, if long and thin strips of graphene (termed graphene nanoribbons) are cut out of a wide graphene sheet, the quantum charge carriers become confined within the narrow dimension, which makes them semi-conducting and enables their use in quantum switching devices. As of today, there are several barriers to using graphene nanoribbons in devices, among them is the challenge of reproducibly growing narrow and long sheets isolated from the environment.

Graphene Nanoribbons in Action

In this new study, the researchers were able to develop a method to catalytically grow narrow, long, and reproducible graphene nanoribbons directly within insulating hexagonal boron-nitride stacks, as well as demonstrate peak performance in quantum switching devices based on the newly-grown ribbons. The unique growth mechanism was revealed using advanced molecular dynamics simulation tools developed and implemented by the Israeli teams. These calculations showed that ultra-low friction in certain growth directions within the boron-nitride crystal dictates the reproducibility of the structure of the ribbon, allowing it to grow to unprecedented lengths directly within a clean and isolated environment.

The researchers see the development as a scientific and technological breakthrough in the field of nanomaterials, one which is expected to open the door to a wide range of studies that will lead to their utilization in the nanoelectronics industry.

Prof. Urbakh and Prof. Hod summarize: “The importance of this new development is that for the first time, it is now possible to fabricate carbon-based nanoelectronic switching devices directly within an isolating matrix. These devices will likely have many technological applications, including electronic and spintronic systems, and even quantum computing devices”.

Revolutionary Ideas Take Center Stage at Falling Walls Lab Tel Aviv

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Tel Aviv University hosts second annual research and innovation pitch competition

Growing mushrooms from plastic waste, overturning wrongful convictions, building next-gen microscopes, and training a brain-aware chatbot—these are just some of the breakthrough solutions presented at the Falling Walls Lab Tel Aviv competition hosted by Tel Aviv University on July 11.

Falling Walls Lab participants with Michael Linder Zarankin, the Lowy International School (left) and Anne Gladitz, DAAD (right)

The event, organized by the Lowy International School in collaboration with the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), is part of an international series of pitch competitions where participants present their solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges in just three minutes. The winners advance to the global finals in Berlin on November 7, where they will compete for the Breakthrough Winner title in the Emerging Talents category and get to attend the Falling Walls Science Summit to engage with leading figures in science, business, and policy.

Pioneering Minds at Work: Pitch Highlights

Carefully selected participants from various Israeli universities pitched their innovative ideas in fields ranging from cancer research and superconductors to neuroscience, linguistics, and law. The jury, comprised of experts from Tel Aviv University, the Weizmann Institute of Science, Reichman University, and the University of Haifa, evaluated the pitches based on innovation, relevance and potential impact, and presentation performance.
 

 

Netanel Loyfer from The Hebrew University of Jerusalem won the competition with his groundbreaking project on cell-free DNA. Loyfer’s innovation involves tracking cell-free DNA fragments in the bloodstream to detect early signs of various diseases. 

Netanel Loyfer (The Hebrew University of Jerusalem), the Falling Walls Lab winner 

By identifying the signatures of different cell types, his method allows for precision diagnosis using a simple blood test, offering a promising tool for early detection of dangerous diseases. A cancer screening test using this technology is already commercially available in Israel and worldwide.

“We are not the only ones to detect mutations, but we are the only ones who can differentiate the affected organs. Our technology saves lives.”—Netanel Loyfer, the competition winner

Barak Halpern from Tel Aviv University secured second place with his project focusing on sustainable agriculture. He proposed using fungi to convert agricultural waste, including plastic, into useful products, and even growing mushrooms. To demonstrate the viability of the project, Halpern even took a bite of a mushroom!

 

Gony Rosenman from Tel Aviv University

Third place went to Gony Rosenman from Tel Aviv University for his work on mental health diagnostics. Rosenman’s project integrates fMRI technology with advanced AI to improve the accuracy of psychiatric assessments, aiming to revolutionize mental health care with personalized, data-driven solutions.

“We are talking about a new era with brain-aware chatbots that operate on text alone but retain neuroscientific insight, making the approach practical and cost-effective”—Gony Rosenman

Other notable projects included Rachel Thau-Bedziner’s Validify, which aims to combat disinformation using AI and machine learning, already boasting a 70% accuracy rate in real-time verification. Liron Amihai from Tel Aviv University showcased a computer vision-based platform that helps children with autism practice facial mimicry skills

 

The jury members (from left to right): Naama Barkai, Weizmann Institute of Science, Ofer Arazy, University of Haifa

Nir Cafri from Tel Aviv University showed an intelligent sleep mask designed to improve sleep quality. Ralfy Kenaz from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem presented Relips, a tool enhancing semiconductor manufacturing. Asaf Cohen from Tel Aviv University introduced an AI-based real-time CPR coach to improve the quality and timeliness of CPR administered outside hospital settings. 

 

Asaf Cohen (Tel Aviv University) presenting the CPR coach

Hadar Abutbul-Oz of Bar Ilan University showcased MultiPath, a digital platform providing language profiles of children to address language gaps early. Mayur Tanna from The Hebrew University of Jerusalem presented a novel approach to inhibit cancer metastasis by studying the chemical processes of migrating cancer cells. 

Liora Cohen, University of Haifa, Falling Walls Lab participant

Liora Cohen from the University of Haifa highlighted a project aimed at preventing wrongful convictions through better media literacy and strategic use of communication in legal defenses.

Breaking Walls Between Countries

This is the second year that the Falling Walls Lab has been held at Tel Aviv University. Prof. Milette Shamir, VP of International at TAU, stressed the event’s importance in the current climate of political instability and polarization, especially considering the academic boycotts Israeli universities have faced since October 7.
 

Falling Walls Lab jury (from left to right): Ofer Arazy (University of Haifa), Milette Shamir (Tel Aviv University), Yair Sakov (Tel Aviv University)

Shamir emphasized that by “recognizing and supporting the innovative minds of young people around the world, Falling Walls inspires hope for overcoming the complex problems that we face today. If there is hope for all of us in this region and globally, it lies in the creative spirit of this new generation of thinkers and doers.”

“The spirit of collaboration across national borders and the commitment to the free exchange of ideas are the underlying principles of the Falling Walls Lab, as even its title implies, the walls that fall down.”—Prof. Milette Shamir

Marco Mattheis, the Cultural Attaché of the Embassy of Germany in Israel, echoed this spirit: “Academic exchange between our countries lies at the heart of Israeli-German exchange in general.”

 

Marco Mattheis, Cultural Attaché of the Embassy of Germany in Tel Aviv 

We will do everything we can to stop the boycott movement because trying to silence all those whose opinion you might not like, or even all voices from an entire country, no matter what their scientific or political opinion is not acceptable.”—Marco Mattheis, Cultural Attaché of the Embassy of Germany in Tel Aviv 

 

Anne Gladitz (right) with representatives of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD)

Anne Gladitz from the German Academic Exchange Service remarked, “Events like the Falling Walls Lab create hope by insisting on a common world. The presentations give us a glimpse of what a better world could look like.”

Competition participants

The Falling Walls Lab Tel Aviv competition not only highlighted the incredible talent and innovative spirit of early career researchers from various Israeli universities but also underscored the importance of international collaboration. The event serves as a reminder that the future of science and technology depends on fostering creativity, supporting young innovators, and breaking down barriers—both physical and intellectual. 

 

Internships in Israel: Transformative Experience

Written by Hilary on . Posted in Newsroom.

International students share their stories of interning at Israeli companies during the summer

From high-tech and venture capital to recovery homes, Israel offers a unique environment for interns to gain hands-on experience in their field of interest. This summer, Tel Aviv University’s Lowy International School welcomed international students for an eight-week internship. Students’ accounts highlight transformative experiences, personal growth, challenges, and valuable lessons. 

Mark Leaf, Syracuse University: At the Heart of Technological Innovation

“I chose to intern as a software engineer in Israel because it offered a unique environment where I could work without judgment. Israel, the modern center of technology, startups, and inventions, was the perfect place for my first internship experience, which has been outstanding so far.”

 

“The team I work with comprises industry professionals, and I learn from their expertise daily.”

“The challenging environment keeps me constantly learning and growing. My initial fear of spending time on meaningless tasks was unfounded. Instead, I’m developing a new software feature, and seeing my work come to life is incredibly rewarding.”

“My voice is heard, my actions are meaningful, and my time is spent wisely.”

“During my internship, I learned how large corporations cooperate and communicate, how workflows are built and maintained for efficiency, how to be agile yet responsible, and how to be a valuable team member. I am grateful to each team member for their friendly approach, mentorship, and guidance.”

 

Ben Mizrahi, TAU Dual Degree with Columbia University: Embracing Venture Capital in a Time of Change

“Being accepted into the venture capital firm’s Corporate Investments Investor Relations branch has been an unforgettable experience. This internship was unique because it allowed me to contribute to projects partnered with international governments and source international LPs to invest in Israeli startups. This work is particularly significant during such a challenging time for Israel. 

 

 

Working under the guidance of the Managing Director was an honor, and his professionalism, empathy, and vast industry expertise were genuinely inspiring. My experience was welcoming, professional, dynamic, and meaningful.”

“I learned the importance of having an ever-growing appetite for knowledge and development, the value of hard work and consistency, and the significance of empathy and building genuine relationships.”

“From conversations with the Managing Director to client meetings and investor decks, I understood what being a successful venture capital firm means. I am deeply grateful for this opportunity and the lessons it has taught me.”

Sarah Kratka, Brandeis University: Nurturing and Responsibility in a Recovery Home

 

“I work at a recovery home, which is a home for women over the age of 18 with eating disorders. I was placed here because of my interest in nutrition, and as a public health and psychology major, it fit perfectly.

 

 

My experience has been very positive although, initially, I struggled with how tough it was to be with the patients and my limited Hebrew skills. The nature of their disease makes them manipulative, even if unintentionally, so I had to put on a solid front. Despite these challenges, I learned to be kind yet firm with them.

I’ve been given many responsibilities, such as cooking and plating meals for the patients. Sometimes, I get pushback, but the experience has been positive overall.”

“I’ve learned the importance of kindness and resilience in a challenging environment.”

“I check medicines and meal plans, personalizing care for each patient. Once I check on personal needs, I prepare individualized meals such as chicken and other nursing food.”

“I get to talk to patients, and join in on different types of therapies, like animal and talk therapy.”

 

Alex Nunez, University of Central Florida, and Zoe Bayewitz, Maryland University: Gaining Professional Experience in Israel

“The decision to pursue an internship at a professional office in Israel was driven by the desire to gain real-world experience. One of the primary reasons for picking this internship was the opportunity to work in an office environment. This experience has allowed us to navigate office dynamics and enhance specific skills, particularly in graphic design, copyediting, and working with software like Microsoft Excel.

 

 

The office culture in Israel is notably more relaxed: this atmosphere, coupled with a highly supportive staff, created an ideal environment for growth and development.”

“For anyone looking to gain professional experience in a supportive and flexible environment, it is highly recommended to seek out an internship in Israel.”

Find out more about TAU’s Summer Internship program here

Text by the Lowy International School’s Marketing Intern, Liyah Rozett

 

How Does Origami Enhance Bioprinting?

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TAU researchers apply the art of origami to advance 3D bioprinting

Researchers at Tel Aviv University relied on principles of origami, the Japanese art of paper folding, to develop an original and innovative solution for a problem troubling researchers worldwide: positioning sensors inside 3D-bioprinted tissue models. Instead of bioprinting tissue over the sensors (found to be impracticable) they design and produce an origami-inspired structure that folds around the fabricated tissue, allowing the insertion of sensors into precisely pre-defined locations.

The study was a joint effort of researchers from several units at TAU:  the School of Neurobiology, Biochemistry and Biophysics, the Koum Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, the Department of Biomedical Engineering, the Sagol Center for Regenerative Medicine, the Sagol School of Neuroscience and the Drimmer-Fischler Family Stem Cell Core Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine. The researchers are Noam Rahav, Adi Soffer, Prof. Ben Maoz, Prof. Uri Ashery, Denise Marrero, Emma Glickman, Megane Beldjilali-Labro, Yakey Yaffe, Keshet Tadmor, and Yael Leichtmann-Bardoogo. The paper was published in the leading scientific journal Advanced Science.

The 3D Origami Platform integrated in a 3D printed structure.

Prof. Maoz explains: “The use of 3D-bioprinters to print biological tissue models for research is already widespread. In existing technologies, the printer head moves back and forth, printing layer upon layer of the required tissue. This method, however, has a significant drawback: The tissue cannot be bioprinted over a set of sensors needed to provide information about its inner cells, because in the process of printing the printer head breaks the sensors. We propose a new approach to the complex problem: origami”.

MSOP: Where Art Meets Science in Bioprinting

The innovation is based on an original synergy between science with art. Using CAD (Computer Aided Design) software the researchers design a multi-sensing structure customized for a specific tissue model – inspired by origami paper folding. This structure incorporates various sensors for monitoring the electrical activity or resistance of cells in precisely chosen locations within the tissue. The computer model is used to manufacture a physical structure which is then folded around the bioprinted tissue – so that each sensor is inserted into its predefined position inside the tissue. The TAU team has named their novel platform MSOP – Multi-Sensor Origami Platform.

The new method’s effectiveness was demonstrated on 3D-bioprinted brain tissues, with the inserted sensors recording neuronal electrical activity. The researchers emphasize, however, that the system is both modular and versatile: it can place any number and any type of sensors in any chosen position within any type of 3D-bioprinted tissue model, as well as in tissues grown artificially in the lab such as brain organoids – small spheres of neurons simulating the human brain.

Origami’s Scientific Touch

Prof. Maoz adds: “For experiments with bioprinted brain tissue, we demonstrated an additional advantage of our platform: the option for adding a layer that simulates the natural blood-brain barrier (BBB) – a cell layer protecting the brain from undesirable substances carried in the blood, which unfortunately also blocks certain medications intended for brain diseases. The layer we add consists of human BBB cells, enabling us to measure their electrical resistance which indicates their permeability to various medications”.

The researchers summarize: “In this study, we created an ‘out-of-the-box’ synergy between scientific research and art. We developed a novel method inspired by origami paper folding, enabling the insertion of sensors into precisely predefined locations within 3D-bioprinted tissue models, to detect and record cell activity and communication between cells. This new technology is an important step forward for biological research”.

 

 

The Eighth Front: Against Academia

Written by Hilary on . Posted in Newsroom.

As published in “Haaretz” in Hebrew on July 6th, 2024. By Prof. Ariel Porat.

Today, the Ministerial Committee for Legislation will discuss a bill to amend the Council for Higher Education Law. This bill would enable the Council for Higher Education to instruct academic institutions in Israel to fire professors for making statements that, in its opinion, constitute incitement to terrorism or support for a terrorist organization. Any institution that does not comply, will be exposed to budget cuts. The bill makes apparent sense: incitement to terrorism or support for a terrorist organization are already punishable criminal offenses. The bill adds another punishment in the form of dismissal from work. Why, then, do the academic institutions in Israel, every single one of them, see it as an unprecedented threat to Israeli academia? What is all the fuss about? We are all against terrorism, aren’t we?

The bill may seem innocent enough, but two main features reveal its fascistic character and its aim to subjugate academia to government control.

First, the bill requires imposing severe punishment without a trial. In a democratic state, even murderers or rapists are not punished before they receive their day in court. But according to the proposed bill, an administrative body (the Council for Higher Education), which is often controlled by the Minister of Education, will be able to force an academic institution to punish professors by dismissing them because of a statement they made. This means a person might lose their livelihood without a trial!

Second, the person who will interpret and implement the law in practice is a politician, the Minister of Education, who is the Chair of the Council for Higher Education. The Minister of Education may suppose, for example, that a professor who expresses empathy towards the residents of Gaza or severely criticizes the IDF and its commanders is inciting terrorism. Although that is not the case, the Minister may instruct the head of the academic institution to fire the professor. (There are indeed ministers and members of the Knesset who are quick to define completely legitimate statements as incitement to terrorism.) The head of the institution will have to choose between a bankruptcy of values – firing a professor who did nothing wrong – and financial bankruptcy due to the expected budget cut that would be imposed on the institution for disobeying the Minister. Although it would be possible to apply to the court with a request to reverse the decision, the trial might take years, and in the meantime, the institution would suffer serious damage and may even collapse financially (since there may be several such cases). I know what my choice would be if I faced this dilemma.

There are two reasons why it is difficult to understand what has led to the initiation of this unfortunate bill. First, the bill deals with a problem that does not exist. There is not a single case in Israeli academia of a professor who incited terrorism (for a statement to constitute incitement to terrorism it needs to generate a substantial risk that a terrorist act might be committed; it is not enough for the statement to be outrageous, infuriating, or hurtful). And even if there were such cases, we have criminal law and the Minister of National Security who can launch a police investigation in response to incitement. Why then impose the role of the punisher on universities that do not have investigative bodies or the ability to weigh evidence as the police and the courts of law do?

The second reason is that the State of Israel is now facing its most difficult hour. The Prime Minister has recently claimed that Israel is at war on seven fronts. Just a few days ago, Iran has threatened to declare a war of annihilation upon Israel if we attack to the north; in the south and north of Israel, entire communities have been uprooted and need to return to their homes; the war is still raging in the south, and many hostages have not yet returned from Gaza. How is it, then, that amid all this, the Knesset and Israeli government see fit to handle the “urgent” problem of incitement to terrorism by university professors, a problem that does not actually exist?

There is no other option but to conclude that someone up there decided that now is the right time to deal with academia. It is from the academia that critics of the government emerge; it is from the academia that criticism of the legal reform came; and it is now time to settle the score. This is the eighth front that needs to be opened.

Members of the Knesset, coalition and opposition, I urge you: do not follow this legislation initiative blindly. It pretends to be innocent, but it will become a fatal blow to the independence of Israeli academia. Surely you don’t wish for an obedient academia that is subservient to the government, such as those found in totalitarian countries. Surely you don’t wish for an academia in which professors hold back their opinions, fearing to be misinterpreted. Surely you do not wish for an academia plagued by McCarthyism. Universities are not the enemy. Without an independent academia, we will not be the same, whether in the humanities, in science, or in the strength of our security. I ask that you to deal with the truly acute and existential problems that we face, rather than with those that someone has fabricated out of thin air.

 

Cyber Week 2024: Securing Cyber Strength

Written by Hilary on . Posted in Newsroom.

Shaping the Future of Cybersecurity

Amid Israel’s turbulent times, the combined annual events of Cyber Week and AI Week highlighted Tel Aviv as a foremost cyber capital. Hosted by the Blavatnik Interdisciplinary Cyber Research Center, the Yuval Ne’eman Workshop for Science, Technology and Security, Tel Aviv University, the Israeli National Cyber Directorate, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The four-day event drew 7,000 participants, including 12% from abroad. The first day focused on research and academic innovation, addressing cybersecurity challenges in the age of generative AI and misinformation.

 

 

Securing Tomorrow’s Cyberfront

The main plenary featured esteemed speakers like Matanyahu Englman, State Comptroller of Israel and President of Eurosay; Prof. Ariel Porat, TAU President; Shira Lev Ami, CEO of the Israel National Digital Agency; and Andrew Conway, Vice President for Security Marketing at Microsoft, who discussed strategies and collaborations during and after recent conflicts, highlighting the evolving cybersecurity landscape.

Gabi Portnoy, Director General of the Israel National Cyber Directorate, emphasized the increased aggression and psychological warfare in cyber activities post-October 7th, particularly from Iran.

“The nature of the cyber activities since October 7th is more aggressive. It combines a lot more psychological warfare, information extraction distributed in various media channels, and mostly not identified as being Iranians… The information stolen from government systems is used for Iranian cyber terrorism,” he noted.

Investing in Israel’s Future

Israel’s 13th Prime Minister, Naftali Bennett, discussed the country’s future amidst ongoing conflicts, praising the resilience and idealism of the younger generation.

“We have a younger generation that is the toughest we’ve ever seen.. they have embedded work ethics, courage, strength, resilience, and idealism. Every one of them has been changed forever and cares more about the state of Israel, about building the future here. We’re not giving up,” he stated.

Israel’s 13th PM Naftali Bennett.

He also encouraged global investment in Israel: “Israel is the breeding ground for the super entrepreneurs of the next 50 years. So for all of you who’ve come from around the world, now is a great time to invest in Israel.”

During the events, attendees also engaged with early-stage Israeli cybersecurity startups at the Startup Exhibition, featuring ventures like Adversa, Cyclops, MEMCYCO, and prominent companies such as Checkpoint and Cloudflare.

 

Empowering Youth in Tech

The Annual Youth Cyber Conference promoted equal opportunities for youth from Israel’s periphery, bringing together 600 young individuals for its ninth year. The conference aimed to equip teenagers with skills for tech-oriented military service and careers in Israel’s hi-tech industry.

As Cyber Week 2024 highlighted, the cybersecurity landscape is rapidly evolving amidst global challenges. The event underscored the importance of innovation, collaboration, and resilience in tackling emerging threats. By bringing together industry leaders, academics, and young talent, Cyber Week continues to pave the way for a secure, innovative future in the digital age, reaffirming Israel’s position as a global leader in cybersecurity.

Tech Vs. Hate: New Ways to Fight the World’s Oldest Hatred

Written by Hilary on . Posted in Newsroom.

TAU’s AI and Cyber Weeks held a seminar on the state of online antisemitism and how it can be fought with AI

Antisemitism is on the rise around the world, spreading at record speeds thanks to social media as well as clandestine online efforts by hate groups and political entities. As part of its simultaneous Cyber and AI weeks, Tel Aviv University hosted “Tech Vs. Hate”, a women-led seminar bringing antisemitism experts together with entrepreneurs using technological solutions to fight online bigotry. In speeches and conversations, participants spoke about steps that can be taken now as well as policies and practices that must be adopted in the near future. The event was also livestreamed to a worldwide audience. 

“Words Become Deeds” 

Three experts on antisemitism spoke at the seminar: Avi Mayer, former Editor-in-Chief, The Jerusalem Post and Co-Chair of the Advisory Board of Global Jewry; Carole Nuriel, Senior Regional Director of the MENA Anti-Defamation League (ADL) chapter; and Michal Cotler-Wunsh, Senior Policy & Strategy Advisor in Israel’s Special Envoy for Combatting Antisemitism and a former Member of the Knesset.  

Each stressed above all that we must take hatemongering online seriously because it rarely stays online. As Ms. Nuriel put it, “words turn into deeds.” Said Mr. Mayer, “as one study found just last year, increases in antisemitic speech and particularly anti-Zionist speech online can help predict real-world antisemitic activity, including both far right threats and violence and far-left antisemitic incidents both on and off campus.” 

“Increases in antisemitic speech and particularly anti-Zionist speech online can help predict real-world antisemitic activity.”

Ms. Nuriel went into more detail with statistics from the ADL showing that a growing number of Jews are hiding their Jewishness from peers both online and on college campuses, while over 60% of Jews said they feel unsafe compared to last year. She also emphasized that instances of identity-based harassment have risen in the last year for all marginalized groups. Regarding technology, Ms. Nuriel raised concerns about the lack of effective anti-hate policy enforcement on social media websites as well as the growing role of AI platforms like ChatGPT in spreading disinformation.  

Ms. Cotler-Wunsh, who uses her legal training to advise on policies to combat antisemitism, explained that antisemitism may be seen as an “ever-mutating virus” which constantly changes terminology and platforms, making it especially difficult to recognize and fight—and meaning action against one strain won’t take down other strains. For years, she said, “one dominant strain has been anti-Zionism. Zionist is code for Jew, and post-10/7 we are living through the most Orwellian inversion of fact and law that have turned Israel’s image into nothing less than a genocidal state.”  

Weeding Out Hate with AI 

Even as hate speech rises, innovators and concerned individuals are rising to fight it. Three representatives from startups spoke on how they are using technology in fascinating new ways to stop the spread of hate and misinformation. 

From left: Carole Nuriel, Tal-Or Cohen, and Stav Cohen Lasri listen to Maya Shabi present the finance roads for hate groups. (Photo: Dror Sithakol, TAU)

Tal-Or Cohen Montemayor, founder and Executive Director of CyberWell, the world’s first live database of online antisemitism, spoke on how her company uses AI to identify possible antisemitic speech around the internet. It employs human analysts to check each instance and reports them to platforms using those platforms’ own policy language specifically. “We essentially act as an antisemitism compliance officer, advising companies on why they must take down harmful content.” 

Co-founder of the startup Savee.AI Stav Cohen Lasri spoke on how her company’s Chrome browser add-on, like CyberWell, uses AI to empower individuals to fight misinformation. The add-on gives users fact-based responses to flagged content that they post to contend with fake news and conspiracies. 

Maya Shabi, Senior Risk Strategist of financial risk detection AI EverC, detailed how investigating potential legal issues for big financial firms also gives her company the tools to detect how hate and terrorist groups are funded (usually cash, cryptocurrency, or money laundering) as well as when nations financially back hate and terror. She explained that her team goes “undercover” to figure out what platforms are used to move money and to alert those platforms in order to stop cash flow in its tracks.  

“We saw on 10/7 how immediately nation-state actors and organized groups capitalized and weaponized social media algorithms so to hijack the narrative.”

Unfortunately, had the financial industry kept a closer eye on these issues before 10/7, propaganda would not have spread so fast: “We also saw on 10/7 how immediately nation-state actors and organized groups capitalized and weaponized social media algorithms so to hijack the narrative. In addition there were bots behind that making the content go viral so that it was on everyone’s feed.” 

Pushing for Accountability 

To contend with the many fronts of antisemitism, each speaker emphasized policies must be created and staunchly upheld by governments and corporations alike. Ms. Cotler-Wunsh said that governments, especially the US, must adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of antisemitism, which accounts for its many forms. Regarding social media, speakers reiterated that big tech companies cannot be allowed to let hate speech spread on their watch. Policing and forcing them to self-police will be no easy task when these companies profit so heftily from rage-inducing content which drives engagement.

Shiran Mlamdovsky Somech, Founder of Generative AI for Good, showed how though AI is often used to drive that rage, it can also be used responsibly to promote compassion. She has used generative AI to “give a voice to the silent”, including Holocaust victims and hostages. 

“Public opinion polls show that the general public in the United States is concerned about rising antisemitism and perceives it across the political spectrum.”

Though it is an uphill battle, Jewish people are not alone in our fight. “If there’s any comfort to be found,” said Mr. Mayer, it may be in that people of conscience share our concern. Public opinion polls show that the general public in the United States is concerned about rising antisemitism and perceives it across the political spectrum. Three quarters believe that Jew hatred is a problem in America, and over half believe it is on the rise. Finally, more than 80% of Americans say that the belief that Israel has no right to exist–the fundamental belief of anti-Zionism–is indeed antisemitic.” 

 

Standing Still Is Not an Option When It Comes to AI

Written by Hilary on . Posted in Newsroom.

Pushing new frontiers and addressing challenges: Highlights from AI Week 2024

On June 26-27, Tel Aviv University hosted the AI Week 2024, a pivotal event that set the stage for critical discussions on the future of AI, its interconnection with cybersecurity, and the challenges ahead.

Speakers underscored the need for sustained investment in both software and hardware to promote Israel’s position as a global hub of AI innovation, particularly in generative AI and foundation and task-specific models, and the central role of cybersecurity in safeguarding technological advancements. Special panels were devoted to emerging ethical and regulatory issues as the next frontier in the AI-powered landscape, as well as geopolitical and sustainability aspects. 

The AI Week 2024 ran alongside Cyber Week and the two conferences featured several joint events, including a startup exhibition showcasing AI-driven solutions by innovative Israeli companies, an interactive panel on the Future of Creativity in the Age of Generative AI, and a session on combating online antisemitism Tech vs Hate.

Standing by Israel

While celebrating diverse achievements and technological breakthroughs, AI Week panelists addressed the events of October 7 and called for a safe return of all hostages still held captive.

“On every move we make, every AI project we launch, we need to think about millions of people around Israel that are suffering.” — Nir Yanovsky Dagan, Head of Innovation, Data and AI Unit at the Israel National Digital Agency

Nir Yanovsky Dagan, Head of Innovation, Data and AI Unit at the Israel National Digital Agency

Dagan stated that AI has the potential to change relations between various state and non-state actors, and that some use AI to create chaos. He emphasized the need to integrate AI into healthcare and government services to uphold democratic values, equality of opportunities, and freedom. “Otherwise, we might be the ones that are hurt by the revolution and not the ones that are leading the revolution.”

“We should never ignore the atrocities perpetrated by Hamas. One of the very reasons I’m here today is to send a clear message that the federal government stands by Israel’s side.” — Bettina Stark-Watzinger, Federal Minister of Education and Research, Germany

Stark-Watzinger praised Israel’s cutting-edge research and impressive startup landscape, emphasizing the mutual benefits of partnership between Germany and Israel: “Israel can count on Germany and it feels good that Germany can count on Israel. We want to keep up the research bridges and strengthen research collaborations,” she affirmed. 

Bettina Stark-Watzinger, Federal Minister of Education and Research, Germany, and Prof Ariel Porat, President of TAU

Giovanni Capriglione, Texas State Representative, spoke on behalf of the Texas delegation:  “We want to show the fact that we support Israel as Americans and as Texans. We’re here on a mission of mostly technology, innovation and business, and we wanted to be able to show our support during this time.”

AI Meets Cybersecurity

Gabi Portnoy, Director General of the Israel National Cyber Directorate, spoke about the transformative impact of AI on both opportunities and threats in cybersecurity. He noted that the rapid advancement of AI has the potential to significantly enhance security measures through improved analysis and detection capabilities, which are crucial in the wake of the tripling of cyberattacks since October 7. 

“AI can help close the gap between attackers and defenders by generating quicker insights and detecting new mutations in cyber threats.” — Gabi Portnoy, Director General of the INCD

Gabi Portnoy, Director General of the INCD

Ensuring a secure AI world involves working on three fronts: defending against AI attacks, protecting AI systems from manipulation, and integrating efforts to enhance cyber threat detection and mitigation. The goal of the Israel National Cyber Directorate is to establish a national lab on AI resilience so that all developers could test and improve their AI-based models before deployment. 

“In 2023, there were 343 mln victims of 2365 cyberattacks. It takes 277 days on average to identify and contain a breach.” — Ariel Levanon, VP Cyber Security, NVIDIA

Dr Dorit Dor, CTO of Check Point

Speaking about cybersecurity strategies, Dr Dorit Dor, CTO of cybersecurity giant Check Point, underscored the importance of fostering trust in AI systems by embedding antihallucination measures, explainability, and human reinforcement. It is also vital to carefully and responsibly manage data collection and access.

The highest risk will come from agent AI capable of autonomous decision-making, interacting with external systems, self-improvement, and persistently pursuing long-term goals.

Who Needs a Mediocre AI Without Human Values?

If you have ever watched Jonathan Nolan’s dystopian series Person of Interest, you’ll remember the focal battle between two omniscient and omnipotent AIs—The Machine, an ethical and caring AI imbued with human values, and Samaritan, a reward-focused AI capable of predicting and ruthlessly manipulating situations to serve its own goals. What seemed like science fiction just a while ago is quickly turning into a real-world discussion.

Prof. Amnon Shashua, President and CEO of Mobileye, delivered a keynote address on the evolving landscape of artificial intelligence. He traced the significant milestones in AI development up to the advancements in natural language processing leading to what Shashua described as “broad intelligence that’s emerging.”

Distribution of math test results from various AI models

Prof. Shashua highlighted the current limitations of AI using an analogy of AI solving a Hungarian math matriculation test. GPT-4, the best model available to date, scored 68 out of 100, akin to a mediocre student who overfits by solving many problems ahead of the test, hoping for similar exam questions. Shashua contrasted this with a top student who can abstract, generalize, and solve new problems. 

“Machines massively overfit on the entire human knowledge, impressing at a surface level an individual who is not an expert in a specific field, but revealing themselves as ‘knowledgeable idiots’ when scrutinized deeply.”  — Prof. Amnon Shashua, President and CEO of Mobileye 

Shashua questioned the need to replace the mediocres, stressing that it would be much more valuable if machines could become true experts, which would greatly advance humanity as a whole.

At the present moment, AI requires constant supervision, and the next frontier—fully autonomous AI—could take longer to achieve than anticipated.

Prof. Shashua also discussed the dangers of AI, particularly AI alignment and the potential for technological abuse. The risks include AI-powered cyberattacks on democratic systems by human-like bots inciting chaos on social platforms, identity fraud through deep fakes, and the possibility of AI systems being tricked to violate built-in ethics policies: “There will always be a long-enough adversarial prompt that will trick it into writing a trojan, for example, or providing a list of pirate sites.”

“LLM’s have been known to lure users into divorce.”

Shashua underscored the complexity of optimizing AI with reward functions, noting that while a developer might well intentionally wish to make people happy with AI, the system could do so in unforeseen ways, such as discouraging people from working harder or studying more aiming to lower their IQ to increase happiness.

Prof. Amnon Shashua, President and CEO of Mobileye

In conclusion, Prof. Shashua emphasized the need for robust verifiers to ensure AI solutions are trustworthy and the importance of setting boundaries around AI interactions. “AI alignment is a tough problem,” he said, advocating for limits on the length of conversations between humans and machines to mitigate risks and ensure ethical AI development.

The Big Bang in the Creative Industry

Can AI produce musical compositions that will surprise us with complexity and precision? Does technology enhance human creativity or threaten it? Who should own the copyright to AI-made creative content? 

Demonstration of an AI-generated music video

These were just some of the questions debated during the Creativity in the Age of Generative AI Panel, co-hosted by TAU and S. Horowitz & Co Law. The discussion even delved into philosophical matters of the nature of creativity and what it means to be human. 

François Pachet, a pioneer in AI-generated music, noted the shift from scarcity to superabundance in music production, with 100,000 songs being released daily. Despite acknowledging advancements in music source separation and singing voice synthesis, he raised concerns about declining musical quality in mainstream music and the challenge of measuring a song’s intrinsic value. 

François Pachet, Scientist, Composer, Former Director of the Spotify Creator Technology Research Lab and Sony Computer Science Lab in Paris

“We don’t understand how people create and how they listen and what they like. We have better models, but that doesn’t correlate with the quality of music.” — François Pachet

Izhar Ashdot and Ivri Lider, prominent Israeli musicians, agreed with Pachet on AI being a tool rather than an independent creator, stressing the need for human input to create emotionally resonant music. 

Panel: The Future of Creativity in the Age of Generative AI

For Fernando Garibay, a polymath, music producer, and the founder of the Garibay Institute, how we create will change over time and the younger generation is already responding well to AI-created music.

“Do an Emotional Turing test on AI music – does it move you?” — Fernando Garibay

In a captivating demonstration that followed the discussion, Garibay showed how synthetic and organic creativity can be merged to create compelling music hits. Emphasizing the importance of effective prompting, both for AI and human artists, Garibay explained how delving into personal experiences and profound questions can unlock deep creativity and allow AI to generate emotionally resonant content. 

Fernando Garibay leading an interactive session to create a pop song with AI

Answers from members of the audience to a series of questions including “What did you lack as a child?” or “What’s your favorite song of all time?” were used to prompt ChatGPT to write lyrics in a combination of genres – R&B, funk, and electronic. Garibay and his assistant then fed the lyrics into music generation software (Udio, in this case), which came up with two versions of AI-generated songs that the audience was able to enjoy.

Sustainability and AI

Experts from Google, Microsoft, and innovative startups discussed how AI is tackling environmental challenges. Ayelet Benjamini from Google highlighted AI’s role in combating climate change, reducing emissions, and aiding disaster recovery. AI already reduces traffic emissions in cities, predicts and mitigates contrails from planes, fights extreme heat, and provides real-time damage assessments.

What’s more, AI helps develop new crop varieties essential for future food security and enhance real-time water quality monitoring. It is also instrumental in synthetic biology applications for clean tech and food tech, predictive maintenance sensors, and more. 

Moran Haviv, Strategic Innovation, Microsoft

Moran Haviv emphasized AI’s role in accelerating sustainability efforts: it can quickly identify sustainable materials, such as a replacement for lithium, quickly find patterns in complex systems, and accelerate research by analyzing massive datasets, generating and testing hypotheses, and automating experiments and simulations. 

“We need to rapidly change the course of the current carbon-intensive economy – increase carbon removal capacity thousandfold by 2050 and reverse the loss of biodiversity.” — Moran Haviv, Microsoft

At the same time, AI itself needs to become sustainable, so examining and optimizing all the links of the supply chain, starting with the chip production, is key.

Looking Forward: Global Competitiveness, Regulation, and Ethics

Dror Bin, CEO of Israel Innovation Authority, underscored Israel’s significant strides in AI, ranking high globally in per capita AI utilization and private investments. Despite these achievements, Bin acknowledged the existing gaps in AI infrastructure and regulatory frameworks. 

Dror Bin, CEO of Israel Innovation Authority

In the public sector, significant plans are underway for wider implementation of AI to make the ministries more interconnected, enable faster decision-making, and boost the overall efficiency of the sector.

The panel on the role of smaller economies in forming global AI policies, featuring Israeli and international experts, focused on aligning national and international regulation for a fair AI landscape. Ian Mak, the Ambassador of Singapore to Israel, showcased Singapore’s commitment to influencing the global AI arena, acknowledging the unique challenges smaller states face, such as limited market size and access to training data. 

We are in a regulatory storm that is facing the AI environment at a moment of a geopolitical crisis.

The regulatory focus is currently shifting from a responsible and ethical AI to one centered on compliance and trustworthiness. The timing of this regulatory storm is critical as AI technology is still evolving, reminiscent of the early internet era when a hands-off regulatory approach was taken, leading to subsequent criticism.

Ian Mak, Ambassador of Singapore to the State of Israel, Cedric Sabbah, Ministry of Justice, Dr Ziv Katzir, Israel Innovation Authority

Ellen Goodman, Senior Advisor for Algorithmic Justice at the US Department of Commerce talked about a culture war within the AI space between safety advocates concerned about existential risks and realists focused on current harms like bias and consumer protection.

Can AI Ethics Enhance Cybersecurity? A Panel with No Clichés

At the same time, the debate about AI ethics continues, particularly in the sphere of cybersecurity. One contentious issue relates to data scraping and the use of private data to train AI models. While it is natural to strive for maximum data privacy protection, this can hinder the development of AI since the models should be trained on large and reliable data sets.

“If we are not adopting the principles of AI ethics such as transparency and explainability, it can lead to discrimination, erosion of trust, and wrongful accusations.” — Dr. Alžběta Solarczyk Krausová, Head of the Center for Innovations and Cyberlaw Research, Institute of State and Law, Czech Academy of Sciences

At the same time, one could argue that just as Excel cannot be held responsible for financial losses resulting from an incorrect formula, or an MRI machine is not an independent actor, AI itself or its vendors should not be held accountable. Instead, liability should lie with those who use AI with malicious intent. 

As AI continues to reshape industries and societies worldwide, the debate about its regulation, ethical and legal implications, and the scope of its applications will continue to evolve. Events like AI Week 2024 serve as crucial platforms for forging a path toward a secure, innovative, and ethically sound AI-driven future.

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