PRESIDENT'S REPORT 2020 | OUR FIRST 50

CELEBRATING OUR FIRST 50

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 L-R: Prof. Angel Porgador, Dr. Roi Gazit, and doctoral student Avishay Edri, all of the Shraga Segal Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Genetics, organized BGU’s volunteers to test samples for coronavirus  BGU students volunteering at Beer Sheva's drive-through coronavirus testing site

BGU RISES TO THE CHALLENGE OF THE CORONAVIRUS

Ben-Gurion University began preparing for the coronavirus pandemic just as Purim arrived and the second semester was about to start. All events and in-person classes were cancelled and the University made a rapid and remarkably smooth transition to online learning, even before Israelis were instructed to remain at home. The academic year is continuing as scheduled. More than 50 scientists from across the University's departments joined forces in a coronavirus taskforce charged with developing novel solutions to medical and social problems caused by the pandemic. Some 100 BGU researchers and graduate students responded to a call for volunteers, working in shifts to test blood samples for coronavirus at the Clinical Virology Lab at Soroka University Medical Center.

BGU Radio upgraded its studios for live broadcasting via the BGU Radio Facebook page, to support staff and students during the coronavirus lockdown period. The broadcasts are in Hebrew, Arabic and English.