Weizmann UK raises over £60,000 for Women in Science

Blake Ezra Weizmann Women 013

Over £60,000 has been raised by supporters of Weizmann UK for women from across Israel who wish to pursue a career in science. We held our fundraising lunch on Tuesday 13 October in support of the Institute’s Women in Science programme which provides grants to women from Israeli Institutions to complete their postdoctoral training overseas.

Over 100 supporters attended the lunch kindly hosted at the St John’s Wood home of Lady Rosa Lipworth CBE. The event was generously sponsored by Terry de Gunzburg, founder of the By Terry range of cosmetics.

Writer and actor Tracy-Ann Oberman made an empowering appeal and told the audience: “Don’t teach your daughters to fit into glass slippers teach them to shatter glass ceilings.”

She added: “The Weizmann Institute is a beacon of excellence around the world. It has opened its doors to Israeli and Arab students;  male and female scientists. Its wonderful facilities are open to all who wish to pursue excellence in the field of medicine and science regardless of nationality or religion. It is its inclusivity and the focus on freedom to study that has provided the entire world with medical breakthroughs that have saved lives and changed our future.”

Guests were given an inside account of the latest research from the lab of Professor Yardena Samuels, a leading melanoma expert from the Weizmann Institute of Science.

Since 2007 the Weizmann Institute of Science has been offering promising female PhD graduates merit-based scholarships, with the aim of boosting the ranks of Israeli women in research and industry.   11 women a year are awarded grants totalling £250,000.

Sheridan Gould, Executive Director of Weizmann UK said: “Over half of all the science students at Israeli Universities are women, but due to family pressures far too few are able to continue their careers as scientists.  This unique fund aims to alleviate these pressures. By providing these grants we are enabling brilliant young women scientists to fulfil their dreams and continue their research.”

The World Economic Forum has this month ranked Israel as the 3rd most innovative country in the world largely thanks to the quality of its Scientific research Institutions such as the Weizmann Institute of Science.

View our gallery of images from our Women in Science lunch.

Published: October 14, 2015

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