Academics Flock to Israel for Elections, Boosting International Conferences
Translated & summarized from Globes by baba
A significant number of international academic conferences are being held in Israel, coinciding with Israelis returning home to vote in the recent elections. Organized by groups like MindIL, these events are bringing approximately 5,500 academics, including 2,000 from abroad, to the country. The gatherings feature prominent global scholars and aim to foster connections within the Israeli academic network. Airport data indicates a notable increase in arrivals compared to departures in the weeks leading up to the elections, attributed to citizens returning to exercise their democratic right.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- 59 academic conferences are being held in Israel, attracting 5,500 academics, including 2,000 from abroad.
- MindIL is organizing 36 of the conferences, with Professor Kinneret Theodoroscu leading the overall initiative.
- Prominent international scholars, including award winners, are participating in various fields like computer science and decision-making.
- The conferences aim to strengthen the network of Israeli academics both within Israel and globally.
- Airport data shows a trend of increased arrivals, attributed to Israelis returning to vote.
Amidst the recent influx of Israelis returning home to vote in the elections, a significant number of international academic conferences have coincided with their arrival. The organization MindIL has reported organizing 59 such conferences, attracting approximately 5,500 academics, with about 2,000 of them not currently residing in Israel. Of these, MindIL directly managed 36, while others joined the initiative but organized independently. Additional conferences are also taking place without direct affiliation with MindIL. Professor Kinneret Theodoroscu from the Technion's Faculty of Data and Decision Sciences is leading this initiative, with each conference having its own academic lead.
These gatherings are drawing prominent figures from the global academic community, including those who do not regularly visit Israel. For instance, a computer science conference honoring the late Professor Michael Rabin featured the Professor at Princeton, winner of the Abel Prize and Turing Award of Princeton, a recipient of the Abel and Turing awards, and Professor Tal Rabin, Michael Rabin's daughter and a computer science professor at the University of Pennsylvania. Other notable participants included researchers from leading institutions and companies like Google, IBM, and Check Point.
The conferences cover a range of disciplines. Professor Theodoroscu herself is leading a decision-making conference with participants such as Professor Ayelet Fishbach from the University of Chicago, Professor Ori Gneezy from UCSD, and Professor Ella Miron Spector from INSEAD. A conference on developmental biology and stem cells includes Professor Shai Shaham from Rockefeller University and Professor Micha Drukker from Linden University, among other international researchers.
This surge in academic events marks a refreshing return of internationalism to Israel's academic scene, following a period of decline. While the initiative was initially conceived to help Israeli academics justify their absence from work and potentially secure funding for travel, the primary goal for organizers was to leverage the presence of many leading academics already in Israel to vote. Professor Anat Bliliant, who came from the University of Arizona for a conference on "Communication in Uncertainty," expressed her delight at the opportunity to attend both the elections and the conference, noting the relevance of the topics discussed to current global challenges.
He attributed this to Israelis returning to vote, highlighting their commitment and sense of belonging. While the number of arrivals is not drastically higher than usual, the net inflow is notable. The airport is expected to see its busiest day on Monday, with approximately 37,000 passengers scheduled to arrive.
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