SCOPUS 2017

Science fiction has traditionally provoked the
human imagination. Superheroes populate
our movies and books with their magical
superpowers that heal the sick, protect the weak,
and have seemingly endless technological tricks
to save the planet and humankind. But what if
these fantastic, extraordinary and unbelievable
technologies are bordering on the edge between
imagination and reality? What if some of the
greatest challenges humans face in everyday life,
such as illness, limited natural resources, and
security, are on the dawn of a new era in which they will no
longer be threats to our well-being?
Hebrew University scientists, in superhero fashion, are
applying the latest scientific breakthroughs to solve
some of these global problems in surprisingly new ways,
fundamentally changing the way the next generation will live.
Their “super” technologies are on course to cure cancer, put
real meat on our dinner plates without actually harming animals and create
invisible cloaks à la Harry Potter.
Underlying many of these technologies is the advancement of nanoscience
and an emphasis on interdisciplinary research. But it is not simply the
technological progress of the last decade and the academic accomplishments
of these researchers that result in these super technologies, but also their belief
that innovation can result in a world beyond one’s wildest dreams. As Hebrew
University founder Albert Einstein once famously said, “The true sign of
intelligence is not knowledge, but imagination.”
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