The Davidson Institute is the educational arm of the Weizmann Institute of Science.
It was established in 1999 thanks to a generous endowment gift of
William (Bill) Davidson (1922-2009) from Detroit, USA, and several other gifts for the various buildings of the Institute.
The Davidson Institute is a nonprofit public organization governed by its own Board, which includes scientists from the Weizmann Institute, and other public figures from industry, municipalities, education, media and other walks of life. The Board is chaired by Prof. Daniel Zajfman, founder of the Davidson Institute and former president of the Weizmann Institute. The Director General of the Davidson Institute is Dr. Ariel Heimann.
The Davidson Institute specializes in the field of mathematics, natural science and technology education, exploiting knowledge and experience gained from implementing a wide variety of programs in areas such as teachers’ training, science programs for school classes, unconventional programs for teens at risk and teens with low academic achievements and popular science programs for the general public. A unique asset of the Davidson Institute is the participation in its programs of numerous active Weizmann Institute research scientists, and the involvement of members of Weizmann’s Department of Science Teaching.
Science education programs for all ages give the Davidson Institute a deep perspective of Life Long Learning and a deep understanding of the needs of the various segments of Israeli society.
The various projects and activities of the Davidson Institute are conducted in two mini-campuses within the Weizmann Institute campus, as well as in numerous other locations in Israel. The Davidson campus facilities include lecture halls, laboratories and classrooms, fully equipped for scientific experiments and activities.
Prof. Haim Harari, the former President of the Weizmann Institute of Science was the founder and first chairman of the board of the Davidson Institute of Science Education 1999-2015
Davidson Institute's programs and activities are executed by its five units:
