TAU Honorary Doctors and groundbreaking women share their stories in inspirational panel.

Jodi Kantor, Pulitzer Prize winning journalist; Prof. Katalin Karikó, co-creator of mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines; and Prof. Cornelia Bargmann, prominent neurobiologist and geneticist, offered a glimpse into their exceptional lives in a lively discussion.  

“You’ve made your way through smoke-filled editorial rooms and the exclusive world of elite science—both predominantly male fields,” said Prof. Milette Shamir, TAU Vice President International, who moderated the event titled, “Leading the Charge: A Unique Glimpse into How Powerful Women Break Down Barriers.” All three panelists received TAU Honorary Doctorates at this year’s Board of Governors meeting. 

Although the women come from different backgrounds, their life stories are strikingly similar. All found mentorship, support, and the belief in truth to be essential factors in propelling their success in leading change.  

Bargmann described coming from a “highly academic household. At our home, the values of education, constant sense of discovery, curiosity and love of learning were highly encouraged,” she said. 

As the granddaughter of Holocaust survivors, Kantor grew up “surrounded by the atmosphere of investigative journalism,” an environment filled with questions about her grandparents’ past.  

“Science and investigative journalism share the spirit of open-minded inquiry,” said Kantor, who broke the Harvey Weinstein sexual assault story in the New York Times, spurring the world-changing #MeToo movement. A love of knowledge and a readiness to receive the unexpected connect the two, she added. 

Karikó grew up in a small town in communist Hungary and was the first member of her family to attend high school. “I was surrounded by loving parents and by very good teachers, who believed in me,” she said. From an early age, she was curious about the animals and nature that surrounded her. Upon being fired from a Hungarian university for being too scientifically daring, Karikó and her family immigrated to the United States, with $900 hidden in their daughter’s teddy bear—because they were not allowed to take such a sum out of the country. 

The panelists reflected on obstacles they encountered and highlighted the factors that could help other women following in their footsteps. “Limits can also be turned into opportunities,” said Bargmann. “People believed in me, not just women but men. In a [situation] of underrepresentation, it’s the responsibility of everyone to reach out and extend a helping hand.”  

Karikó reflected on society and government’s responsibility to support women and underrepresented groups. “Affordable, high-quality childcare was essential in allowing me to continue my work… Also government programs that reach out to underrepresented populations and give them real examples of what higher education is all about are essential.” 

Toward the end of the panel, Kantor gave a broader perspective: “Gender is not just a topic, but an entry-point into a different narrative than the one we are used to seeing,” she said. She added that there were powerful players who tried to prevent her story about sexual abuse in the film industry from being published. “But they were no match for the truth and for the brave women who told their stories. We can’t solve a problem we can’t see. We have to expose the hidden truth in order to change it,” she concluded.

11 distinguished individuals and one organization from diverse fields receive University’s top honor.

In a festive ceremony held during the 2022 Board of Governors meeting, Tel Aviv University awarded honorary degrees to 11 individuals and an organization, all of whom have made exceptionally positive impact on the world.  

The recipients were: Jodi Kantor, New York Times investigative reporter and an award-winning author; Katalin Karikó, developer of the mRNA-based vaccine platform for COVID-19 and other diseases; Michael Victor Berry, theoretical physicist; Bernd Huber, academic leader and expert in public finance; Cornelia Bargmann, influential neurobiologist and geneticist; Eric J. Gertler, public service and business leader; James S. Gertler, philanthropist and business leader; Jehuda Reinharz, path-breaking scholar of Jewish history; Jurgen Renn, expert on evolution of knowledge; and Solomon Lew, industry leader and philanthropist.  

The Honorary Fellowship was awarded to the Iranian American Jewish Federation of New York and the George S. Wise medal awarded to Mark J. Carney, former Governor of the Banks of England and Canada.  

WATCH: A recap of some of the most memorable moments from the Honorary Degrees Ceremony 2022

Guests were treated to spirited performances by TAU music students and the world renown Shalva Band, whose members have disabilities, which left no one sitting still. 

“The honorees of this event are all driven by a deep social consciousness, whether in the areas of academia, business, civic service or philanthropy, and their contribution is boundless,” said Dafna Meitar-Nechmad, Chairwoman of TAU’s Board of Governors. 

The event highlighted one of the University’s most important recent achievements: the Emergency Ukrainian Fellowship Fund, established in just a few days by TAU friends worldwide. The Fund enabled tens of Ukrainian scholars to continue their studies at TAU, after war erupted in their home country. 

One of those scholars, Maiia Levinson, spoke at the ceremony: “The scholarship I received has not only helped me to move to a safer country … but also made one of my biggest dreams come true—the opportunity to do research on cancer immunology.  

 “The knowledge and friendship I received here will be helpful for my country, when I come back home,” she said. 

Speaking on behalf of all the honorees, Cornelia Bargmann thanked TAU and reflected on the role universities play in the modern world. Being part of a university “is a privilege, and with privilege comes responsibility: the duty to share [knowledge] with the world,” she said. 

More than 300 guests, among them senior TAU officials, academics, Governors and friends, attended the ceremony and reception.  

New focus on history reaffirms importance of field, supports early and midcareer researchers and practitioners.

The Dan David Prize was awarded to a diverse cohort of historians and researchers from around the world on May 11, at a multimedia ceremony during Tel Aviv University’s Board of Governors meeting. 

The Prize, which for the first time in its 20 year history focuses exclusively on the historical disciplines, is awarded to early and midcareer researchers and practitioners who explore and study the human past in bold and creative ways. Totaling $3 million, it is the world’s largest history prize. Each winner receives $300,000 to further their research and work. Ten percent of the Prize purse is dedicated to scholarships for outstanding postdoctoral researchers in fields that study the past. 

The 2022 winners are: 

• Mirjam Brusius, a cultural historian who studies visual and material culture in global and colonial contexts.  
• Bartow Elmore, an environmental historian who uses everyday products—from sodas to seeds—to demonstrate how large multinational firms have reshaped global ecosystems.  
• Tyrone Freeman, a historian of philanthropy who researches African-American charitable giving and activism. 
• Verena Krebs, a cultural historian who draws on material culture and art, alongside written sources, to uncover the complex relationship between Ethiopia and Western Christendom. 
• Efthymia Nikita, an osteoarchaeologist who uses a wide range of innovative methods to unlock what human skeletal remains reveal about the health, diets and mobility of ancient peoples.  
• Nana Oforiatta Ayim, a curator, writer, filmmaker and public historian whose work recenters African narratives, institutions and cultural expressions in telling the past.  
• Kristina Richardson, a social and cultural historian of the medieval Islamic world.  
• Natalia Romik, a public historian, architect and curator whose work focuses on Jewish memory and commemoration of the Holocaust in Eastern Europe, especially Poland and Ukraine.  
• Kimberly Welch, a historian who uses endangered local legal archives from the antebellum American South to explore lawsuits brought by free and enslaved Black people.  

During the ceremony, Ariel David, Dan David Foundation Board Member and son of the Prize founder, spoke of the decision to refocus the prize on history. We wanted to “inject a new purpose into the Prize in an area which is increasingly underfunded and under attack,” he said. “It is clear that our history is a fundamental part of our identity and we cannot comprehend….the present without the past.” 

He added, “I believe the winners perfectly reflect the values of the new Prize.” 

TAU President Prof. Ariel Porat echoed the sentiments, addressing the audience: “In the face of dwindling investment and enrollment in the humanities worldwide, the Dan David Foundation and TAU are reaffirming the humanities’ value together with its centrality to the entire spectrum of research.”  

“The study of history…teaches about the complexity of human nature,” said Kimberly Welch, speaking on behalf of all the winners. She thanked the Dan David Foundation for the prize, which “recognizes the wider scholarly communities we are part of” and the importance of the field. 

Tamar Ish Shalom, a leading Israeli journalist and TAU alumna, moderated the ceremony, which included dynamic musical performances. 

The Prize, headquartered at Tel Aviv University and endowed by the Dan David Foundation, was established in 2001 by the late entrepreneur and philanthropist Dan David to celebrate and encourage achievement in the sciences and humanities. 

Featured image: Dan David Prize Winners 2022, from left: Kimberly Welch, Tyronne Freeman, Nana Oforiatta Ayim, Verena Krebs, Efthymia Nikita, Mirjam Brusius, Natalia Romik, Verena Krebs and Bartow Elmore. Credit: Guy Yehieli

Participants met with professors and students, learned about academic programs and participated in guided tours on campus.

After two consecutive years on Zoom, it was such a joy to finally be able to open our campus for visitors to TAU Open Day today. Over 6000 prospective students arrived throughout the day to learn about the various study programs, admission requirements and application processes.

This year, we added tailor made, guided tours to the program, enabling the participants to chat with our students, academic and administrative staff, visiting faculty buildings and labs.

For instance, in The Buchmann Faculty of Law, participants met with law students who answered their burning questions, such as how to combine studies and work, whether or not law studies could be combined with a second discipline, about the social life at the faculty, and more. In The George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, the prospective students visited research labs and chatted with the researchers. In The Iby and Aladar Flaischman Faculty of Engineering, they watched experiments in mechanical and materials engineering, whilst in the lobby of the Coller School of Management participants were treated to short TED-styled talks by faculty members on the studies of accounting and management. 

English speaking visitors met with representatives from TAU International, who offered information on English-language Bachelor’s degrees. Student exchange representatives were also available to present the extensive selection of study abroad options that TAU students can enjoy during their studies.

“Although we have all gotten quite used to Zoom and other online meetings, there’s really no substitute for in-person gatherings of this kind,” says Sharon Ariel, Marketing Director at Tel Aviv University. “It was important for us to allow prospective students to get max benefit from their campus experience today. Organized tours and meetings across campus gave them the opportunity to learn about the study programs from current students, see labs up-close and observe as leading researchers in their fields conduct experiments, listen to lectures by faculty and administrative staff about different study options and tracks, as well as entering lecture halls for the first time and walk around our beautiful green campus. On our Open Day we gave those who consider studying at TAU the opportunity to feel like a student for one day.”

Didn’t make it to Open Day?

All information on admission requirements for the various programs can be found on our registration website (in Hebrew) or on the TAU International website (in English). 

Festive event brings hundreds of Governors and friends to campus from around the world, for first time since 2019.

3D human spinal cord implants, a new type of prehistoric human and what could be the ultimate solution to Global Warming.

Following warming of relations between Israel and Turkey.