cover 2006

From The President
August 6, 2006
At this writing, our nation is under duress, with Israeli citizens under attack and several of our soldiers held
captive. Ben-Gurion University of the Negev is reaching out to students and staff who have been called
up for army reserve duty and we have opened our facilities and hosted summer camps for children from
frontline communities. During this extremely tense time, we are all working together to ensure that Israel’s
academic endeavors continue, and that all Israelis have a safe haven
for their children. This is the spirit of BGU.
It is this spirit of caring that first brought me to BGU thirty years ago. Few
of my medical school classmates chose to work in the Israeli periphery
and those of us who did so shared the strong conviction of making a
difference. I have had the opportunity to visit many universities both in
Israel and abroad, but I have never encountered such a group of people
who care so much and are so proud of their institution. From academic
faculty to administrative staff to students, everyone here has a “neshama
yetera” – or added spirit – that characterizes BGU.
This spirit of BGU, which combines open thinking, creativity and strong
social awareness, has led me to suspend my medical and research career
and take upon myself the responsibilities of President, with the goal of
leading our institution from good to great.
The challenges which lie before us are tremendous, particularly now in
light of the changes in national priorities. We are committed to being an
excellent research university while at the same time spearheading the development of the Negev. These
dual missions detract from our competitive edge in terms of resource allocation. In order to achieve a
leading position as a research institution, we need to be stronger and better than our counterparts.
During the next decade, we will pursue excellence in research and place BGU among the top universities
in the world. To have a meaningful scientific impact, we must focus on our strengths and uniqueness in
areas where we have a competitive edge over others and where we have proven expertise. It is hoped
that BGU’s scientific achievements will eventually translate into valuable intellectual property, enabling
greater independence and growth.
Thanks in part to our generous friends, we are attracting the best and brightest young researchers from
top universities in the United States and Europe – Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Max Plank, Oxford – by offering
them, beyond material support, open-mindedness, enthusiasm, commitment, collegiality and a warm
atmosphere that others may have lost, but which we have succeeded in nurturing at BGU. It is contagious,
invigorating and it marks our future.
David Ben-Gurion’s strength as a leader was to forge ahead despite the many obstacles. The current
national crisis only reinforces his dream of a safe Israel, anchored by a strong Negev with its flourishing
population, science and industry. With your help, we will be able to realize this dream and our wish for a
better future for Israel and the Jewish people.
In friendship,
Prof. Rivka Carmi, M.D.