Dear Ben-Gurion University Community,
I am pleased to update that the Coordinating Committee of the Senate has approved the request of University Rector, Prof. Chaim Hames, to establish the School of Sustainability and Climate Change at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. The Rector plans to submit the proposal for approval to the University Senate next week.
In the strategic plan launched about a year ago, we set a goal to leverage our research strengths to transform our University. One of the strengths identified as not yet exploited to its fullest, is in the field of sustainability and environmental research. The School of Sustainability and Climate Change is being established in response to the understanding that the issues of sustainability and climate change are critical to the future of humanity. The School, which draws on five decades of knowledge, experience, and scientific research at BGU, will become the go-to place for anyone passionate about the big challenges of humankind. It is only natural to harness our faculty, who are among the leading experts in the world, and their sought-after scientific experience in service of this challenge. Moreover, we intend to invest additional resources and enlist additional partners to generate the next generation of scientific and technological climate and environmental solutions.
The School will encompass a wide range of subjects, therefore, academics and scientists from all University faculties and campuses will be involved, where their accumulated knowledge and experience will be made available to students.
I am very thankful to the committed members of our academic and administrative community who have invested hours and days to develop the vision and guidelines that will enable the success of this exciting and critical endeavor.
Sincerely yours,
Prof. Daniel Chamovitz, President