The Weizmann Institute of Science
The Weizmann Institute of Science was first built in 1934 as the Daniel Sieff Research Institute. Chaim Weizmann, the first President of Israel was also its first President and biggest supporter. In 1949, the institute’s name was officially changed to honor him.
Since its beginnings, the Weizmann Institute of Science has been one of Israel’s leading scientific research institutions. Today, it is a world renowned center of multidisciplinary science. It was at the Weizmann Institute of Science that Israel’s first cancer research and computer and nuclear physics studies were cultivated. Research developed at the Weizmann Institute of Science played a major role in the production of new drugs, computer languages, advanced optic equipment, gene mapping, embryonic transplant tissue research and more. Groundbreaking research initiated at the Weizmann Institute of Science has included work in the fields of amniocentesis, diamond cutting lasers, affinity chromatography, and living polymerization. In 2009, Professor Ada Yonath from the Weizmann Institute of Science was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for her work in solving the ribosome. This research is the basis for development of newer, more effective antibiotics.
The Weizmann Institute of Science is located in Rehovot, a few kilometers south of Tel Aviv. The campus has 17 departments in the five faculties of Mathematics and Computer Science, Physics, Chemistry, Biochemistry and Biology. In addition to the 1000 members of Weizmann’s scientific staff, the Weizmann Institute of Science also features the Feinberg Graduate School, which trains the next generation of Israeli scientists. It boasts close to 1000 research students and over 200 postdoctoral candidates. The campus also has a large and welcoming community with scientists, researchers and visitors from all over the world. The Weizmann Institute of Science also hosts a number of annual international conferences.
The Weizmann Institute of Science offers visitors tours of the Levinson Visitors Center, Weizmann House and the Clore Garden of Science. The new Levinson Visitors Center gives visitors a glimpse into the fascinating world of science and research at the Weizmann Institute through a multi media presentation. Weizmann House was the home of the first President of the State of Israel and founder of the Weizmann Institute, Dr. Chaim Weizmann. The house allows visitors to see aspects of Dr. Weizmann’s private and professional life and tells the story of both his life and his family. Dr. Weizmann’s gravesite is located on the grounds of the Weizmann Institute. The Clore Garden of Science is a unique, open air science museum. Located on 800 square meters of green lawns at the Weizmann Institute, it contains around 80 exhibits that help visitors understand science in an interactive and fun way. The Clore Garden of Science is excellent for both adults and children.