PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Two events happened this spring that encapsulate the University’s dual commitment to science and society. The first one – a historic milestone in TAU’s growth – celebrated the Gray Foundation’s $125 million gift for expanding and upgrading medical education and research. This transformative donation, so uplifting during these times of crisis, will enable TAU to strengthen biomedical science in Israel and globally, as well as significantly enhance the national healthcare system.

The second event, held a day earlier on the other side of the campus, was the 2nd Tel Aviv Conference on the Future of Israel. With prominent speakers from all sectors and political camps, the gathering tackled wide-ranging social issues that included the erosion of democratic values; shared civic responsibility for the nation’s security and economy; and the physical and mental rehabilitation of people affected by the Gaza War. For each of these issues, Tel Aviv University conducts cutting-edge research and runs dedicated institutes and programs, attesting to its central and active role in responding to societal dilemmas.

Indeed, science and society are intertwined at our University. Take the issue of brain drain, a longstanding problem in Israel – especially in academia – that has only been exacerbated by the Gaza war. TAU’s answer is an ambitious program to attract and retain outstanding Israeli faculty and post-docs who are currently affiliated with top universities abroad. Bringing home leading researchers, however, requires competitive recruitment packages that can cost $1 to $5 million each. In this, the University is fortunate to have received support from donors who recognize that keeping top academic talent here in Israel is vital for the future technological superiority, economic prosperity and social fortitude of the country.

Last year I reported that over 7,000 of our students had been called up for IDF reserve duty and that TAU was committed to providing them with academic and financial resources to overcome lost study time. Since then, many of our students have been called up again, some repeatedly. But I am pleased to share that, due to the collective efforts of the campus, together with funding from concerned donors, reservist students have kept up their grades and are successfully completing the school year at the same rate as the general student body. Our global community of supporters similarly rallied to help us provide PTSD treatment to hundreds of IDF and civilian patients, and to complete a dedicated building in advance of the anticipated wave of post-trauma sufferers in Israel.

I am optimistic that, with such steadfast backing of our loyal and dear friends, we will continue to apply our expertise to pioneering science, bettering society, and revitalizing Israel after the war.

Sincerely,