The Weizmann Institute of Science (Hebrew: מכון ויצמן למדע, Makon Weizmann LeMada) is an Israeli public research university in Rehovot, Israel, south of Tel Aviv established in 1934, 14 years before the State of Israel. Named after Chaim Weizmann, its first president, the institute currently has 2,500 scientists and students on site.
Research at the institute falls into three main categories: natural sciences; mathematics and computer science; and life sciences. In terms of basic research performance indicators such as the number of publications and citations per faculty member, it consistently ranks among the world’s top-ten institutions in these fields.
The institute has unique strengths in integrative systems biology approaches to disease that employ mathematical modeling across different biological scales from molecules to whole organisms; these have been used to understand mechanisms underlying neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s disease and ALS. Other areas where it is a global leader include plant science (particularly synthetic biology), structural biology (especially cryo-electron microscopy), chemical physics (for example ultrafast laser spectroscopy), bioinformatics and systems biology.
The Weizmann Institute also offers programs for high school students both from within Israel and around the world through its International School for Advanced Studies (ISAS). The Clore Garden of Science, which opened in 1990, comprises interactive science exhibits aimed at young visitors.
In addition to hosting scientific conferences open to the public throughout the year on various topics ranging from cosmology to cancer research, each May since 1950 the Institute holds a large annual international conference attended by several thousand participants from all over the world called “Facing Tomorrow”.