BEN-GURION UNIVERSITY | THE WAY FORWARD

Jusidman Science Center for Youth Over a thousand students from the Negev currently participate in the Jusidman Science Center for Youth’s in-depth STEM enrichment programs each year – a number which has doubled since the start of the Way Forward Campaign in 2020 – embarking on a transformative academic journey that begins at BGU. Throughout the year, they are empowered and inspired, as they gain new skills and greater confidence and their horizons grow. Thousands of others participate in briefer activities that increase their exposure to science and academia. Regardless of the extent of their engagement, new opportunities and pathways emerge in the special setting of excellence, academia, and science at the Jusidman Center, pointing participants toward higher education and BGU’s degree programs. Both the development of the Negev and the prosperity of the country rest on realizing the human potential in the south. Increasing the number of students participating in higher education is therefore a national mission. The Jusidman Center and the donors supporting it are helping fulfill this mission, building academic and scientific capital in the Negev and creating a reserve that will foster development, resilience, and a high quality of life in the region for years to come. Below we highlight one of the center’s programs benefiting from donor support.

and innovators. In addition, without access to high-quality STEM instruction, many students miss the opportunity to pursue advanced science and mathematics studies, limiting their pathways to higher education and careers in Israel’s innovation-driven economy. The Science Educators for the Negev Initiative addresses this challenge by creating a pipeline of exceptional science educators from BGU’s doctoral programs to Negev classrooms. Through this innovative initiative, outstanding PhD students in the natural sciences earn teaching certification along with their doctoral degrees, equipping them to inspire the next generation of scientists while strengthening science education across the region. This pilot program will expand educational opportunity and reduce regional disparities, upholding BGU’s commitment to strengthening the development of the Negev through education. Another new program is nurturing a new generation of science educators among BGU’s undergraduate student population, equipping students with a science and education degree, along with a teaching certificate. The Science/ Education Dual Degree Program expands students’ skillsets and career opportunities, inspiring them to share their passion for science with Negev youth, while creating a growing cadre of certified teachers for the region.

Participants in Jusidman Science Center Activities, 2020-2025

14,000 12,000 10,000

1,517

2,581

1,672

1,217

8,000 6,000 4,000 2,000 0

2,167 828

11,050

8,116

10,644

7,856

2020-21

2021-22

2022-23

2023-24

2024-25

In-Depth Programs

Short Exposure

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