BGU&U | SPRING 2026

Asking the Bigger Question Asking the Bigger Question The Young Family School for the Human Experience

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Ben-Gurion University is internationally recognized for excellence in engineering, health sciences, cybersecurity, and desert research. The Young Family School does not stand apart from that tradition; it strengthens it. Its purpose is to bring humanistic inquiry into meaningful dialogue with the disciplines shaping tomorrow’s world. As Young explains, “I’m not against science or AI. Not at all. But we’re at a crossroads. Either we remain in control and use these tools wisely, or we risk losing sight of what makes us human.” The School creates a University wide framework ensuring that students in every field can engage seriously with subjects such as ethical reasoning, historical perspective, cultural literacy, and critical reflection. Courses will explore democratic resilience, moral decision-making, identity, narrative, and the human consequences of technological progress. An honors track will provide formal recognition for students who pursue deeper interdisciplinary study, equipping

This year, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev will officially launch one of its most forward-looking academic initiatives: the Young Family School for the Human Experience. At a moment when

artificial intelligence, biomedical innovation, and advanced engineering are transforming society at unprecedented speed, BGU is asking a deeper question — not only what we can build, but why we build it. The School’s central inquiry is both timeless and urgent: What does it mean to be human in the twenty-first century? For Toni Young, whose gift made the School possible, that question had been building for years. “I kept asking myself: What does it mean to be human? How do we treat one another? How do we honor the rich legacy that has been created for thousands of years?”

“Scientific excellence is essential, but it is humanistic understanding that gives knowledge meaning.” Prof. Amit Schejter