Prof. David Harel, President of the Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities, participated in a high-level German-Israeli scientific symposium held at the Harnack House in Berlin from December 15-17, 2024. The symposium, organized by the Alliance of Science Organizations under the patronage of the Helmholtz Association and the Max Planck Society, aimed to strengthen scientific cooperation between the two countries amid growing concerns about academic boycotts against Israeli researchers.

 

The three-day event brought together scientists from both countries across various career stages and disciplines, from doctoral students to Nobel laureates. Discussions covered crucial areas including artificial intelligence, physics, biomedicine, and sustainability research.

 

Prof. Harel presented in the symposium's AI panel, where he discussed three of his current projects related to artificial intelligence research.

 

The symposium highlighted existing collaborative projects and fostered new opportunities for scientific partnerships between Israeli and German research institutions. This gathering demonstrates the ongoing commitment of both countries to maintaining robust scientific cooperation and opposing attempts to isolate Israeli researchers from the international scientific community. The event emphasized that addressing contemporary global challenges requires sustained international scientific collaboration and open exchange of ideas.

 

From the left: Prof. Dr. Walter Rosenthal, President of the German Rectors' Conference, Prof. Otmar D. Wiestler, President of the Helmholtz Association, Prof. Dr. Patrick Cramer, Director of the Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Prof. David Harel, President of the Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities, Prof. Dr. Gerald Haug, President of the German Academy of Sciences Leopoldina – National Academy of Sciences, and Prof. Arie Zaban, President of Bar-Ilan University. Image: Courtesy of the Helmholtz Association.