Eight students from the country’s leading universities will participate in the World Science Conference – Israel (WSCI) on August 15 to 20, 2015.
The students are: Maria Patricia Garcia and Patrisha Lazatin from the Ateneo de Manila University; Anthony Jaboneta, Joshua Paman and Alfonso Vicente Jadie from De La Salle University; and Divine Grace Capalaran, Jeremiah Reyes and Jonard Valdoz from the University of the Philippines Los Baños.
The Filipino students will join around 400 young future scientists from 70 countries in WSCI where they will attend lectures and interact with 15 Nobel Prize winners and other leading scientists from around the world.
The participating Nobel Laureates are: Prof. Zhores Alferov, Physics, 2000; Prof. Sidney Altman, Chemistry, 1989; Prof. Robert Aumann, Economic Sciences, 2005; Prof. Aaron Chiechanover, Chemistry, 2004; Prof. Steven Chu, Physics, 1997; Prof. Claude Cohen-Tannoudi, Physics, 1997; Prof. David Gross, Physics, 2004; Prof. Roger Kornberg, Chemistry, 2006; Sir Prof. Harold Kroto, Chemistry, 1996; Prof. Elon Lindenstrauss, Fields Medal, 2010; Prof. Richard Roberts, Physiology or Medicine, 1993; Prof. Dan Schechtman, Chemistry, 2011; Prof. Harold Varmus, Physiology or Medicine, 1989, Prof. Arieh Warshel, Chemistry, 2013; and Prof. Ada Yonath, Chemistry, 2009.
Modeled after the Asian Science Camp, WSCI was initiated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in collaboration with the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Nobel laureate Prof. Roger Kornberg, and the Ministry of Science and Technology. The WSCI’s opening event will be held in the presence of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former President Shimon Peres.
“The WSCI is unprecedented in both the bridging of disciplines and outreach to youth from all over the world as well as in number of Nobel Laureates and eminent scientists participating. As such, the WSCI will provide a unique platform for inspiration, dialogue and discussion between promising young talents and the attending Nobel Laureates & eminent scientists,” said Nobel laureate Professor Roger Kornberg, Chairman of the WSCI Academic Committee.
Danni Danon, the Israeli Minister of Science, Technology and Space, said the WSCI is a testimony of Israel's influence and importance in the world of science. “Along its 67 years of independence, Israeli scientists have been demonstrating that they can change the world for the better in each and every field they set their minds on. The Israeli Government is committed to the world of science and will continue to assist in promoting it.”
Dr. Dore Gold, Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, noted that the unique international event goes hand-in-hand with the diversity of Israel's activities in the areas of science and technology around the world, which have earned Israel its reputation as a powerhouse in scientific-technological innovation and progress.
Prof. Menahem Ben-Sasson, president of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, expressed hope that the event will establish life-long connections with the future scientists and innovators of the world.
The WSCI will encourage the young participants to take up the challenge of advancing science and technology in the next generation. It will also help develop international friendships and cooperation among students from all over the world, forge personal contacts among young people, and create young “Science Ambassadors.”
The WSCI is designed as a unique Israeli model that emphasizes the strengths, advantages and outstanding features of the “Israeli spirit” of innovation, creativity and groundbreaking thinking that successfully combines basic and applied sciences in Israel. As part of its program, alongside the activities for the young scientists, the WSCI will include special sessions that will bring the Nobel laureates and eminent members of the academia together with leading figures of the industry from Israel and abroad, to discuss and explore ways to advance the mutual connections between fundamental science and its applications.