Bashaar* - Academic Community for Israeli Society

Bashaar Activities

Introduction

"Bashaar" is a non-profit organization established by a group of faculty members drawn from all the universities in Israel. Many of them hold responsible positions at their respective universities such as presidents, rectors, decans and heads of departments.

Since its founding, in 1998, Bashaar has been recognized as a leading, unofficial representative of Israeli academia. The organization currently has 700 members, all of whom are volunteers, and new members are constantly joining.

Bashaar is run by a steering committee consisting of about 35 members drawn from all of Israel’s universities. The committee, which meets on a regular basis, is in charge of making all decisions regarding new activities, programs, events, etc. Bashaar is chaired by Prof. Zehev Tadmor (former president of Technion). Its vice chair is Prof. Hanoch Gutfreund (former President of the Hebrew University).

* The meaning of the Hebrew word "Bashaar" is "at the gate".

Bashaar Educational Initiations

Bashaar’s Internet Project

Bashaar’s Internet Project enables teachers and students to send questions to leading volunteer scientists at universities. The interaction is coordinated and mediated by one of Bashaar’s office staff. This project not only provides up-to-date answers to queries, but also opens a channel of personal interaction between the questioner and a scientist of international stature. In Israel, there are a number of Internet web sites that provide a wide variety of information and activities for teachers and for schoolchildren. This program is based upon these, and is aimed particularly at those living far from the center of Israel. Headed by Prof. Kenny Preiss (professor of engineering and of management at Ben Gurion University), the project is funded by an anonymous philanthropic foundation.

The Science Club

Bashaar operates a nation-wide lecture program called The Science Club headed by Prof. Benny Geiger (a
cell biologist
– dean faculty of biology at the Weizmann Institute ). Through this program Bashaar hopes to: spark the curiosity of junior and senior high school students in development towns and underprivileged neighborhoods with respect to various fields in the arts and sciences; introduce these students to scientific methods of thinking: and contribute to an informed, cultured and rational public dialogue based on understanding and mutual respect.

• To entice high school students to study science and to appreciate learning, knowledge and rational thinking;
• To break down the barriers of isolation and neglect and give these high school students a feeling that academic studies and science is within their reach;
• To convey to these high school students our concern for their future.

Over the past four years, about 300 faculty members from every academic discipline, (especially the natural sciences, advanced technology, humanities, and social sciences), have volunteered to take part in this ongoing activity. They have succeeded in reaching some 55,000 students to date. The lectures take place in 35 locations throughout Israel, mainly in the periphery, and including Israeli Jewish, Arab ,Druze and Bedwin.

The program is carried out in close cooperation with the Ministry of Education, the Eshkolot Pais organization (which operates a chain of regional science and art teaching facilities).

Bashaar is responsible for all coordination, logistical and transportation expenses. The faculty members volunteer their time and expertise. Following the main opening lecture, the professors give a second lecture to those students who have a special interest in a particular discipline. This second meeting creates ties between faculty members, teachers and students.

Meeting with the Community

Brain Week

For one week each year, leading scientists in the field of Neuroscience set out to locations throughout the country and into the peripheries, to spread a special kind of message.
In meetings with high school students and adults, these scientists introduce the latest trends and developments in brain research – covering subjects such as how the brain processes sensations, how drugs work on the brain, and new understandings about the physiology of mental illness.
The aim of these meetings is to raise public awareness of research done in this field, to interest young people in pursuing a career in science, and to bridge the perceived gaps between lay society and academia, particularly in the peripheries.

Astronomy and Space Science Week

Bashaar promotes ongoing interaction with science teachers and Bashaar volunteers have participated in several teacher meetings addressing topics related to science, technology and society.

The Science Fair

Bashaar initiated, organized and led the first Israeli Science Fair. Prof. Moshe Moshe (former dean of Technion’s physics department) headed the project. The fair took place in Yeruham on March 12-13, 2002, during the week of the National Science Day.
During the two-day fair, more than 6000 visited the fair, mainly junior and senior high school students. They enjoyed a festive happening that included:

• 24 scientific activity centers.
• Lectures given by Bashaar volunteers in three lecture halls.
• Exhibitions including those of the high-tech industries.
• IDF R&D units.
• Science museums (Jerusalem, Haifa and the Weizmann Institute).
• Demonstrations of rocket firings and science puzzles.
• Music played in the fair ground, (which added to the festive atmosphere).
• High school projects presented by the students.
• Prizes, special events and more.

Both the Minister of Education and the Minister of Science, Culture and Sport visited the fair.
In light of its great success, Bashaar believes there is a strong rationale for holding future science and Technology Fairs in other peripherial locations in the country.

University within Reach

The idea of this initiative is to bring thousands of junior and senior high school students (especially ninth-graders) from development towns and low socio-economic neighborhoods to the campuses of the universities for science summer camps – a week of activities in the laboratories, lectures and fun.

The objective of the program is to convey to these students the realization that the university is within their reach, to break barriers, whet their appetite for learning and studies and have them include a university education in their list of dreams for the future.

The program includes 5 days of academic studies, social activities and overnight accommodations on the campus. In the project they are exposed to a wide variety of scientific disciplines and approaches, including scientific fields new to them. In doing so they are brought into contact with many different methods of learning, increasing their motivation to study. Experience with the first group of students has shown that exposure to the university and teaching. Faculty raises the self-image of the students. They see that the university is in fact not a distant ivory tower, but is within their grasp.

In the summer of 2001 a pilot project with 264 students took place at Haifa and Tel Aviv Universities. In the summer of 2002 the project was expanded to include about 500 students in 5 universities: Technion, Haifa, Tel-Aviv, Bar-ilan and Jerusalem, and operated at the same level in 2003.

The project is a joint venture with the Sacta-Rashi Foundation and the universities.

Bashaar's Public Activities

Program for High School Students who Excel in the Sciences:
“Outstanding Young Scientist” Contest

A selected group of high school students who excel in the sciences are diligently working on their own science projects, under the guidance of Bashaar volunteers specializing in the relevant areas of science and technology.
The projects will be entered into the annual “Outstanding Young Scientist” Contest, sponsored by the Bloomfield Science Museum in Jerusalem. The final judging of the contest will highlight the activities marking “National Science Day”, which will be celebrated on March 14, 2004, in commemoration of the birth date of Albert Einstein.
The contest winners will receive the “Outstanding Young Scientist” Award on that day in a ceremony at the President’s Residence.

Bashaar & Knesset’s Education committee cooperation

Bashaar as an organization and individual Bashaar members have cultivated contacts with Knesset members and Knesset committees to help the Knesset legislative process with expert advise. The Knesset
Ex-C hairman, Mr. A. Burg, endorsed this cooperation. More Recently, Prof. Ithamar Gruenwald initiated and fostered a special relation between the Educational and Cultural Committee of the Knesset and Bashaar. The Chairman of the Committee at the time, Mr. Z. Orlev with the active support of former Minister of Finance, Mr.
A. Shochat, initiated a special alliance between this committee and Bashaar. Consequently, periodic formal joint meetings are taking place. The objective of these meetings is to break the mounting barriers and alienation between the legislation body and the public and academia. Bashaar is being recognized as the most influential public non-profit organization in matters relating to higher education in Israel.

Friday Noon Meetings with Decision Makers

At these meetings, organized by Prof. Zeev Segal (a professor of law and public affairs at Tel Aviv University and a distinguished journalist on the Editorial Board of "Haaretz"), Bashaar members meet with key national policymakers and public figures. These have included, among others, the state attorney general, Sepharadic chief rabbi, head of the Supreme Court, inspector general of the police, minister of Culture, Science and Sport, chief military censor and the IDF chief of staff, former Prime Minister Mr. Binyamin Netanyau.
These meetings enable Bashaar members to present professional, informed opinions to Israeli decision-makers, thereby helping them to shape their positions on policies of national importance.

Seminars and Workshops Program

Bashaar conducts a series of seminars and workshops on issues relevant to its vision. This program provides a platform for discussing novel ideas and thoughts. The following seminars and workshops have taken place so far:

• Graduate studies in colleges and their implications for the Israeli higher education system.
• The culture of knowledge in a diverse society.
• Core curriculum.
• Relationships between Jews and Israeli Arabs in Israel: present and future.
• University accessibility and diversity in higher education - how does one climb the Ivory tower
• Academic freedom and accountability.
• University-government relations – the universities at a crossroads.
• Mathematics Teaching in the Israeli School System.