2022 Honorary Doctorates

Eight distinguished individuals received honorary doctorates in a festive ceremony that took place during the annual Technion Board of Governors meeting – the first in almost three years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The ceremony was held in the presence of Technion President Professor Uri Sivan, Chairman of the Council Mr. Gideon Frank, Chairman of the Board of Governors Mr. Scott Leemaster, members of the Technion senior management, and faculty deans.  Professor Wayne Kaplan acted as Master of Ceremonies and welcomed guests and honorees.

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett sent a video message congratulating the honorary doctorate recipients. He said that the Technion is Israel’s powerhouse of technology, and one of the most prestigious institutes in Israel, having produced four out of five Israeli Nobel prize laureates in the sciences. Prime Minister Bennett, who has a very personal connection to Haifa and the Technion – his father worked at the Technion, and he grew up in Haifa, also called the Technion a “beautiful model of coexistence – with Jews, Arabs, orthodox and secular students all coming together in the pursuit of excellence.” He finished by wishing everyone a wonderful evening and many more years of success.

In his welcoming remarks, Technion President Prof. Uri Sivan began by asking the question of how we should define a university. The university, he said, is the sum of all those who chose to align themselves with its mission and values. From the Technion’s founding fathers to its faculty, students, and administrative staff, from its staunch supporters to those who impact the world . “Our honorees tonight have aligned themselves with the Technion’s mission and dedicated themselves to be of service to others. Congratulations to each one of you – may you continue to bask in the glory of your meaningful, heartfelt lifelong contributions and derive an endless sense of meaning and joy from your pursuits.”

Scott Leemaster, Chairman of the Board of Governors shared his delight at being back with the Technion family after three tumultuous years. “The Technion is a leading university today thanks to visionaries who have steered it in the last hundred years.” He paid tribute to Uri Sivan, the 17^th president of Technion who has led it through the many challenges of the last few years, putting his heart and soul into this work and shaping the university into an institution of excellence. Mr. Leemaster added that the honorees championed the Technion’s values in research and they now joined the ranks of Einstein, Churchill, and other luminaries. He emphasized how important science and innovation were for a sustainable future – and to ensure that the next generations will have access to clean air and water, food, and a stable environment. He thanked the students for “showing us excellence and inspiring us.”

Citations for the Honorary Doctorate recipients

Dr. George Elbaum

In honor of your passion for the Technion and its role in keeping Israel safe and bettering humankind; with admiration for your commitment to influencing today’s youth by telling your story as a Holocaust survivor; in gratitude for your tireless leadership on the local, national, and international levels; and in appreciation for your generous support of energy research and student programs at the Technion.

Click here for the video screened at the Honorary Doctorate Conferment Ceremony.

Professor Harry B. Gray

In recognition of your extraordinary contributions that raised worldwide awareness of research and development of solar energy utilization; and in gratitude for your outstanding support and guidance to the Technion and the Israeli academic community.

Click here for the video

Kenneth Levy

For your continuous support of the Technion, its mission and its students; in recognition of your success as an international business leader; in gratitude for your contributions to the Israeli economy through the establishment of several internationally recognized high-technology companies; in admiration of your undying commitment to the Jewish people, to science and to humankind by providing the spark for transformative innovations and scientific advancements.

Click here for the video.

Robert (Bob) and Ruth Magid

In recognition of your joint support of Jewish communities in Australia, Israel and around the world; in gratitude for your relentless efforts to promote the Technion and its scientific pursuits; in tribute to your success and accomplishments as business leaders; and in appreciation of your selfless commitment to philanthropic causes and advocacy efforts.

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Irith Rappaport

For continuing the philanthropic efforts of your parents in supporting transformative biomedical research and education; in recognition of your steadfast dedication to empowering women and for your commitment to the arts; in gratitude for your devotion to the Technion and the Ruth and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine.

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Professor Anton Zeilinger

In recognition of your seminal contributions to quantum science and technology; in appreciation of your dedication to attracting young people to the field; in tribute to your efforts in envisioning science as a platform to enrich the human spirit; and for uniting the Israeli and European academic communities on the path to scientific achievement.

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Professor Daniel Zajfman

In recognition of your success at the helm of the Weizmann Institute of Science and for leading the way to impressive scientific achievements here in Israel and across the globe; in appreciation of your dedication to advancing science and promoting its accessibility on an international scale; and in deep gratitude for promoting collaborations between the Technion and the Weizmann Institute of Science in many significant areas of research.

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Speaking on behalf of all the honorees, Prof. Harry Gray responded that he was “honored to be in your graduating class.” He acknowledged Albert Einstein’s enormous impact on Israel and the Technion, and his statement made 100 years ago that “Israel must develop technology to exist and survive.” Now Israel is the world capital of technology. This has been largely due to the Technion family who has gone out and established companies all over Israel.

Prof. Gray emphasized that the job isn’t finished and said there are three crises on the planet that need to be tackled: human health, energy, and environment. The Board of Governors should support the Technion’s efforts in these areas, and Prof. Gray said he was very encouraged by the new Center for Sustainable Processes and Catalysis led by Distinguished Professor Ilan Marek. Prof. Gray finished on a personal note by saying, “Shirley and I came here 43 years ago with our family. We love this place. It’s been so good to us. We can’t thank you enough for what you’ve done for our family and for enriching our lives. With this honorary degree, there’s no way you’ll ever get rid of me now!”

Click below to watch videos from the Technion’s 2022 Board of Governors meeting: