Amid growing concern about unequal access and opportunity in education and the economy, it is natural for people to shape their perspective based on their life history. Here I present my perspective based on my own experience and some ideas about policy intervention. I was born in a low (really low) middle-class family in Israel. […]
Merit, Access, and Opportunity: A Personal Perspective Read More »
Last week I participated in the 25 th conference of the International Consortium of Agricultural Biotechnology Research (ICABR). The ICABR is a network of scholars, mostly social scientists, who study the economic and social implications of modern biotechnology, the impacts of policies to accept it, and consumer acceptance of biotechnologies, especially in agriculture and natural
ICABR at 25 – Celebrating 25 years of Research on the Bioeconomy Read More »
In January, my nephew Judah informed me that he planned to get married this year and told me that he will time the wedding so I could participate. I arrived in Israel to join the wedding last week, after being vaccinated in late February. Israel is now in transition to a post-pandemic reality, as most
More vaccines, less economic suffering are key to a return to normalcy Read More »
In this year of the election, pandemic, and general mayhem, we still have a lot to be grateful for. First, Americans voted to avoid the lure of a false Messiah (a charismatic and egocentric exploiter of grievances and purveyor of false hopes) – and chose democracy and sanity. Second, Joe Biden as president-elect. He was
There is a lot to be grateful for, even this year Read More »
When I was young, I was fascinated by leaders like Churchill, Ben-Gurion, Gandhi, and even the two Roosevelts, who changed history. As I grew up, I realized that leadership occurs in business, academia, sports, and family life. When we started the BEAHRS Environmental Leadership Program , we targeted up-and-coming training leaders and needed to develop
Lessons from Gordon C. Rausser on Leadership and Persistence Read More »
After three failed campaigns, I was elected and served as president of the AAEA from July 2018 to July 2019. I expected the job to be about organizing meetings, fund raising, and writing letters to the membership, but I encountered a much more significant challenge. The US president’s budget proposed to cut 40% of the
Presidents come and go: The AAEA is resilient and thriving Read More »
On May 30 I received the Wolf Prize in Agriculture in Jerusalem . It is considered the “Nobel Prize” of agriculture and mathematics. Many of the Wolf Prize laureates in Medicine and Chemistry go on to receive the Nobel Prize. I was honored and humbled to get the prize – especially because I am the
On receiving the Wolf Prize and on the scholar as an intellectual athlete Read More »
I am frequently asked whether students should work before going to graduate school. Of course, no single answer fits all, but I owe much of my success to the experience I gained working before graduate school. I grew up in a low-income family in Israel and went to a warm and friendly neighborhood school, then
The gains from working before starting a graduate program Read More »
Last week, I learned that I was awarded the Wolf Prize in Agriculture. I wondered what had enabled a kid that grew up in a low-income neighborhood in Jerusalem to receive this award from the Israeli president. Of course, there are the usual suspects – loving and supportive parents and family, excellent primary and secondary
On the contributions of mentors and role models Read More »
Towards the end of every year I post a summary of my personal and professional activities. They are intertwined. I hope this summary is enlightening to people who are interested in the university, its people and their ideas. I discuss first personal aspects, and then move to research and academic activities. I am 71 and
My annual review 2018 Read More »