BGU | PRESIDENT'S REPORT 2023

Prof. RAZ JELINEK VICE PRESIDENT

AND DEAN FOR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

T​he Office of the Vice President and Dean for Research and Development is responsible for managing and developing all research activities at BGU. The main goal is to encourage and promote cutting-edge research based on the proven capabilities and expertise of our scholars and scientists. The Research and Development Authority facilitates this by supporting researchers in securing funding and managing their research budgets. As part of the efforts to advance BGU to the forefront of research institutions worldwide, the Office of the Vice President and Dean for R&D has been supporting

supra-disciplinary and inter-disciplinary research initiatives and programs. We have held a number of short two-day retreats on various subjects – such as energy sustainability and digital humanities – in order to stimulate new ideas and create research communities. THE OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT AND DEAN FOR R&D HAS BEEN SUPPORTING SUPRA-DISCIPLINARY AND INTER DISCIPLINARY RESEARCH INITIATIVES AND PROGRAMS In January, we held the second annual BGU Research Fest. The highlight of the event was the inauguration of the Manya Igel BGU-FOR (Food systems, One health, and Resilience) Research Center, under the leadership of Prof. Dorit Nitzan, a former head of Emergency Services for the World Health Organization. This initiative, made possible by the estate of the late Manya Igel, will explore the connections and impact of food and ecosystems on nutrition quality, equity and security, the molecular factors contributing to food systems and health, and the relationship between food systems, human and animal health, and resilience in the face of global emergencies. Finally, we also invested NIS 30 million in new faculty absorption packages to ensure that we are able to attract and retain the best and brightest young faculty members.

Women in Science Day, February

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Ben-Gurion University of the Negev