The Weizmann Institute of Science ( ''Machon Weizmann LeMada'') is a

public In public relations and communication science, publics are groups of individual people, and the public (a.k.a. the general public) is the totality of such groupings. This is a different concept to the sociology, sociological concept of the ''Öf ...

research university A research university or a research-intensive university is a university that is committed to research as a central part of its mission. They are "the key sites of Knowledge production modes, knowledge production", along with "intergenerational ...

Rehovot Rehovot (, / ) is a city in the Central District (Israel), Central District of Israel, about south of Tel Aviv. In it had a population of . Etymology Israel Belkind, founder of the Bilu (movement), Bilu movement, proposed the name "Rehovot ...

, Israel, established in 1934, fourteen years before the State of Israel was founded. Unlike other Israeli universities it exclusively offers postgraduate-only degrees in the

natural Nature is an inherent character or constitution, particularly of the ecosphere or the universe as a whole. In this general sense nature refers to the laws, elements and phenomena of the physical world, including life. Although humans are part ...

and

exact sciences The exact sciences or quantitative sciences, sometimes called the exact mathematical sciences, are those sciences "which admit of absolute precision in their results"; especially the mathematical sciences. Examples of the exact sciences are ma ...

. The institute is a multidisciplinary research center, employing around 3,800 scientists,

postdoctoral fellows A postdoctoral fellow, postdoctoral researcher, or simply postdoc, is a person professionally conducting research after the completion of their doctoral studies (typically a PhD). Postdocs most commonly, but not always, have a temporary academ ...

, Ph.D. and M.Sc. students, and scientific, technical, and administrative staff working at the institute. As of 2019, the Weizmann Institute of Science has been associated with six Nobel laureates and three Turing Award winners. The Weizmann Institute of Science and

Elbit Systems Elbit Systems Ltd. is an Israel-based international military technology company and defense contractor. Founded in 1966 by Elron, Elbit Systems is the primary provider of the Israeli military's land-based equipment and unmanned aerial v ...

have collaborated on various projects, notably including the development and supply of the space telescope for Israel's Ultraviolet Transient Astronomy Satellite ( ULTRASAT) program and research into bio-inspired materials for defense applications.

History

The institute was founded in 1934 by

Chaim Weizmann Chaim Azriel Weizmann ( ; 27 November 1874 – 9 November 1952) was a Russian-born Israeli statesman, biochemist, and Zionist leader who served as president of the World Zionist Organization, Zionist Organization and later as the first pre ...

and his initial (1st) team, which included Benjamin M. Bloch, as the Daniel Sieff Research Institute. Weizmann had invited

Nobel Prize laureate The Nobel Prizes (, ) are awarded annually by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, the Swedish Academy, the Karolinska Institutet, and the Norwegian Nobel Committee to individuals and organizations who make outstanding contributions in the ...

Fritz Haber Fritz Jakob Haber (; 9 December 1868 – 29 January 1934) was a German chemist who received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1918 for his invention of the Haber process, a method used in industry to synthesize ammonia from nitrogen gas and hydrog ...

to be the director, but following Haber's death en route to

Palestine Palestine, officially the State of Palestine, is a country in West Asia. Recognized by International recognition of Palestine, 147 of the UN's 193 member states, it encompasses the Israeli-occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and th ...

, Weizmann assumed the directorship himself. Before he became President of Israel in February 1949, Weizmann conducted his research in

organic chemistry Organic chemistry is a subdiscipline within chemistry involving the science, scientific study of the structure, properties, and reactions of organic compounds and organic matter, organic materials, i.e., matter in its various forms that contain ...

at its laboratories. On November 2, 1949, in agreement with the Sieff family, the institute was renamed the Weizmann Institute of Science in his honor.

WEIZAC WEIZAC (''Weizmann Automatic Computer'') was the first computer in Israel, and one of the first large-scale, stored program, stored-program, electronic computers in the world. It was built at the Weizmann Institute during 1954–1955, based on th ...

, one of the world's first electronic computers was locally built by the institute in 1954–1955 and was recognized by the

IEEE The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) is an American 501(c)(3) organization, 501(c)(3) public charity professional organization for electrical engineering, electronics engineering, and other related disciplines. The IEEE ...

in 2006 as a milestone achievement in the history of electrical and electronic engineering. In 1959, the institute set up a wholly owned subsidiary called Yeda Research and Development Company to commercialize inventions made at the institute. Yeda has more marine genetic patents than any other research institute. By 2013 the institute was earning between $50 and $100 million in royalties annually on marketed drugs including

Copaxone Glatiramer acetate, sold under the brand name Copaxone among others, is an immunomodulator medication used to treat multiple sclerosis. Glatiramer acetate is approved in the United States to reduce the frequency of relapses, but not for reduci ...

Rebif Interferon beta-1a (also interferon beta 1-alpha) is a cytokine in the interferon family used to treat multiple sclerosis (MS). It is produced by mammalian cells, while interferon beta-1b is produced in modified ''E. coli''. Some research indic ...

, and

Erbitux Cetuximab, sold under the brand name Erbitux, is an epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitor medication used for the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer and head and neck cancer. Cetuximab is a chimeric (mouse/human) monoclonal a ...

Iranian airstrike

Several buildings in the Institute were damaged by a retaliatory Iranian missile strike on 15 June 2025.

Graduate program

As of 2015, the Weizmann Institute had approximately 2,500 students, postdoctoral fellows, staff, and faculty, and awards M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees in mathematics, computer science, physics, chemistry, biochemistry, and biology, as well as several interdisciplinary programs. The symbol of the Weizmann Institute of Science is the multibranched ''

Ficus ''Ficus'' ( or ) is a genus of about 850 species of woody trees, shrubs, vines, epiphytes and hemiepiphytes in the family (biology), family Moraceae. Collectively known as fig trees or figs, they are native throughout the tropics with a few spe ...

'' tree. Undergraduates and recent graduates must apply to M.Sc. programs, while those earning an M.Sc. or an MD can apply directly to Ph.D. programs. Full fellowships are given to all students.

Youth programs

Weizmann Institute of Science Aerial View

In addition to its academic programs, the Weizmann Institute runs programs for youth, including science clubs, camps, and competitions. The Bessie F. Lawrence International Summer Science Institute accepts high-school graduates from all over the world for a four-week, science-based

summer camp A summer camp, also known as a sleepaway camp or residential camp, is a supervised overnight program for children conducted during the summer vacation from school in many countries. Children and adolescents who attend summer residential camps ...

. The Clore Garden of Science, which opened in 1999, is the world's first completely interactive outdoor

science museum A science museum is a museum devoted primarily to science. Older science museums tended to concentrate on static displays of objects related to natural history, paleontology, geology, Industry (manufacturing), industry and Outline of industrial ...

Rankings

The Weizmann Institute of Science was ranked number 2, globally, for research quality by the

Nature Nature is an inherent character or constitution, particularly of the Ecosphere (planetary), ecosphere or the universe as a whole. In this general sense nature refers to the Scientific law, laws, elements and phenomenon, phenomena of the physic ...

Index in 2019, and in the top 25 research institutes/universities in the world in two main categories by

U-Multirank College and university rankings order higher education institutions based on various criteria, with factors differing depending on the specific ranking system. These rankings can be conducted at the national or international level, assessing inst ...

, 2019: Top Cited Publications and Patents Awarded. The institute was in 7th place in the

European Research Council The European Research Council (ERC) is a public body for funding of scientific and technological research conducted within the European Union (EU). Established by the European Commission in 2007, the ERC is composed of an independent Scientific ...

report in 2020 for its high rate of success in obtaining research grants. In 2018 the institute was ranked 9th, globally, (1st in Israel) by the

CWTS Leiden Ranking The CWTS Leiden Ranking is an annual global university ranking based exclusively on bibliometric indicators. The rankings are compiled by the Centre for Science and Technology Studies ( Dutch: ''Centrum voor Wetenschap en Technologische Studies' ...

, which is based on the proportion of a university's scientific papers published between 2012 and 2015 that made the 10% most cited in their field.

Achievements and Developments

Over the years, groundbreaking discoveries have emerged from research at the Institute, leading to the development of various technologies and applications. As mentioned, the Institute receives

royalties A royalty payment is a payment made by one party to another that owns a particular asset, for the right to ongoing use of that asset. Royalties are typically agreed upon as a percentage of gross or net revenues derived from the use of an asset or ...

from

patents A patent is a type of intellectual property that gives its owner the legal right to exclude others from making, using, or selling an invention for a limited period of time in exchange for publishing an sufficiency of disclosure, enabling discl ...

and applications developed within its framework through Yeda Research and Development Company, which manages the Institute’s

intellectual property Intellectual property (IP) is a category of property that includes intangible creations of the human intellect. There are many types of intellectual property, and some countries recognize more than others. The best-known types are patents, co ...

. In 2021, the pre-application research unit “BINA” was established under the Office of the Vice President for Innovation and Applications, Professor Irit Sagi. The unit bridges basic research on campus with commercial activity conducted via Yeda, helps develop early-stage ideas, assists with scientific experiment planning, and connects scientists with industry experts to mature commercial concepts. From its inception until 2024, around 120

startup companies A startup or start-up is a company or project undertaken by an Entrepreneurship, entrepreneur to seek, develop, and validate a scalable business model. While entrepreneurship includes all new businesses including self-employment and businesses tha ...

based on Weizmann Institute research and technologies were founded. In 2022, products based on Institute research generated global sales of over $23 billion.

Notable Applications in Mathematics and Computer Science

* "

", a

computer A computer is a machine that can be Computer programming, programmed to automatically Execution (computing), carry out sequences of arithmetic or logical operations (''computation''). Modern digital electronic computers can perform generic set ...

built at the Weizmann Institute and launched in

1955 Events January * January 3 – José Ramón Guizado becomes president of Panama. * January 17 – , the first nuclear-powered submarine, puts to sea for the first time, from Groton, Connecticut. * January 18– 20 – Battle of Yijian ...

, was the first computer in Israel. It was followed by three "

Golem A golem ( ; ) is an animated Anthropomorphism, anthropomorphic being in Jewish folklore, which is created entirely from inanimate matter, usually clay or mud. The most famous golem narrative involves Judah Loew ben Bezalel, the late 16th-century ...

" computers. * In April

2004 2004 was designated as an International Year of Rice by the United Nations, and the International Year to Commemorate the Struggle Against Slavery and Its Abolition (by UNESCO). Events January * January 3 – Flash Airlines Flight 60 ...

, the world’s first

biological computer Biological computers use biologically derived molecules — such as DNA and/or proteins — to perform digital or real computations. The development of biocomputers has been made possible by the expanding new science of nanobiotechnology. The ter ...

was completed by Professor

Ehud Shapiro Ehud Shapiro (; born 1955) is an Israeli scientist, entrepreneur, artist, and political activist who is Professor of Computer Science and Biology at the Weizmann Institute of Science. With international reputation, he made contributions to many s ...

. *

Encryption In Cryptography law, cryptography, encryption (more specifically, Code, encoding) is the process of transforming information in a way that, ideally, only authorized parties can decode. This process converts the original representation of the inf ...

and decryption systems developed by Institute scientists are manufactured in Israel and used, among other applications, for scrambling and decoding

television Television (TV) is a telecommunication medium for transmitting moving images and sound. Additionally, the term can refer to a physical television set rather than the medium of transmission. Television is a mass medium for advertising, ...

broadcasts.

Notable Applications in Physics

* In 1967, Hector R. Rubinstein and his young collaborators at Weizmann Miguel Ángel Virasoro and

Gabriele Veneziano Gabriele Veneziano ( ; ; born 7 September 1942) is an Italian theoretical physicist widely considered the father of string theory. He has conducted most of his scientific activities at CERN in Geneva, Switzerland, and held the Chair of Elementar ...

have done some foundational research that culminated in the famous

Veneziano amplitude In theoretical physics, the Veneziano amplitude refers to the discovery made in 1968 by Italian theoretical physicist Gabriele Veneziano that the Euler beta function, when interpreted as a scattering amplitude, has many of the features needed to ex ...

that gave birth to

string theory In physics, string theory is a theoretical framework in which the point-like particles of particle physics are replaced by one-dimensional objects called strings. String theory describes how these strings propagate through space and intera ...

. * In

1983 1983 saw both the official beginning of the Internet and the first mobile cellular telephone call. Events January * January 1 – The migration of the ARPANET to TCP/IP is officially completed (this is considered to be the beginning of the ...

, astrophysicist

Mordehai Milgrom Mordehai "Moti" Milgrom () is an Israeli physicist and professor in the department of Particle Physics and Astrophysics at the Weizmann Institute in Rehovot, Israel. Biography He received his B.Sc. degree from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem ...

developed MOND –

Modified Newtonian Dynamics Modified Newtonian dynamics (MOND) is a theory that proposes a modification of Newton's laws to account for observed properties of galaxies. Modifying Newton's law of gravity results in modified gravity, while modifying Newton's second law resul ...

– the most robust alternative to

dark matter In astronomy, dark matter is an invisible and hypothetical form of matter that does not interact with light or other electromagnetic radiation. Dark matter is implied by gravity, gravitational effects that cannot be explained by general relat ...

theories. MOND has been highly successful empirically in explaining galactic rotation curves.. . . * Advanced

laser A laser is a device that emits light through a process of optical amplification based on the stimulated emission of electromagnetic radiation. The word ''laser'' originated as an acronym for light amplification by stimulated emission of radi ...

systems for precise

cutting Cutting is the separation or opening of a physical object, into two or more portions, through the application of an acutely directed force. Implements commonly used for wikt:cut, cutting are the knife and saw, or in medicine and science the sca ...

diamonds Diamond is a solid form of the element carbon with its atoms arranged in a crystal structure called diamond cubic. Diamond is tasteless, odourless, strong, brittle solid, colourless in pure form, a poor conductor of electricity, and insol ...

. * In 2022, Israel's first

quantum computer A quantum computer is a computer that exploits quantum mechanical phenomena. On small scales, physical matter exhibits properties of both particles and waves, and quantum computing takes advantage of this behavior using specialized hardware. ...

, named "WeizQC" (a

paraphrase A paraphrase () or rephrase is the rendering of the same text in different words without losing the meaning of the text itself. More often than not, a paraphrased text can convey its meaning better than the original words. In other words, it is a ...

of "WEIZAC"), was launched. It was developed by Professor

Roee Ozeri Roee or Roei () is a Hebrew male given name meaning "shepherd". Notable people with the name include: * Roee Avraham (born 1996), Israeli squash player * Roee Rosen (born 1963), Israeli artist See also * Roe (surname) {{given name Hebrew-lan ...

Notable Applications in Medicine

Applications and technologies in medicine originating from basic research by Weizmann Institute scientists include: *

Affinity chromatography Affinity chromatography is a method of separating a biomolecule from a mixture, based on a highly specific macromolecular binding interaction between the biomolecule and another substance. The specific type of binding interaction depends on the ...

– a method for separating biological substances, central to the

biotechnology Biotechnology is a multidisciplinary field that involves the integration of natural sciences and Engineering Science, engineering sciences in order to achieve the application of organisms and parts thereof for products and services. Specialists ...

industry. * Living polymers – a

technique Technique or techniques may refer to: Music * The Techniques, a Jamaican rocksteady vocal group of the 1960s * Technique (band), a British female synth pop band in the 1990s * ''Technique'' (album), by New Order, 1989 * ''Techniques'' (album), by ...

foundational to the

polymer A polymer () is a chemical substance, substance or material that consists of very large molecules, or macromolecules, that are constituted by many repeat unit, repeating subunits derived from one or more species of monomers. Due to their br ...

industry. * Discovery of the

ribosome Ribosomes () are molecular machine, macromolecular machines, found within all cell (biology), cells, that perform Translation (biology), biological protein synthesis (messenger RNA translation). Ribosomes link amino acids together in the order s ...

structure and understanding of its function, which earned Prof.

Ada Yonath Ada E. Yonath (, ; born 22 June 1939) is an Israeli crystallographer and Nobel laureate in Chemistry, best known for her pioneering work on the structure of ribosomes. She is the current director of the Helen and Milton A. Kimmelman Center for B ...

the

Nobel Prize in Chemistry The Nobel Prize in Chemistry () is awarded annually by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences to scientists in the various fields of chemistry. It is one of the five Nobel Prizes established by the will of Alfred Nobel in 1895, awarded for outst ...

. * Several medications developed at the Institute are in use worldwide. The best-selling drugs based on Weizmann research include:

(also known as Avonex),

Humira Adalimumab, sold under the brand name Humira and others, is a disease-modifying antirheumatic drug and monoclonal antibody used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, Crohn's ...

Vectibix Panitumumab, sold under the brand name Vectibix, is a fully human monoclonal antibody specific to the epidermal growth factor receptor (also known as ''EGF receptor'', ''EGFR'', ''ErbB-1'' and ''HER1'' in humans). Panitumumab is manufactured by ...

Enbrel Etanercept, sold under the brand name Enbrel among others, is a biologic medical product that is used to treat autoimmune diseases by interfering with tumor necrosis factor (TNF), a soluble inflammatory cytokine, by acting as a TNF inhibitor. I ...

, and Remicade. * An original method for non-matching

bone marrow Bone marrow is a semi-solid biological tissue, tissue found within the Spongy bone, spongy (also known as cancellous) portions of bones. In birds and mammals, bone marrow is the primary site of new blood cell production (or haematopoiesis). It i ...

transplantation, applied in several

hospitals in Israel A hospital is a healthcare institution providing patient treatment with specialized health science and auxiliary healthcare staff and medical equipment. The best-known type of hospital is the general hospital, which typically has an emergency ...

and abroad, as well as a non-

invasive procedure Invasive procedure may refer to: * "Invasive Procedures" (''Star Trek: Deep Space Nine''), the fourth episode of the second season of the television series ''Star Trek: Deep Space Nine'' * ''Invasive Procedures'' (novel), a 2007 novel by Orson Sc ...

to distinguish between

malignant tumors Cancer is a group of diseases involving abnormal cell growth with the potential to invade or spread to other parts of the body. These contrast with benign tumors, which do not spread. Possible signs and symptoms include a lump, abnormal ...

and

benign tumors A benign tumor is a mass of cells (tumor) that does not invade neighboring tissue or metastasize (spread throughout the body). Compared to malignant (cancerous) tumors, benign tumors generally have a slower growth rate. Benign tumors have rela ...

using

magnetic resonance imaging Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a medical imaging technique used in radiology to generate pictures of the anatomy and the physiological processes inside the body. MRI scanners use strong magnetic fields, magnetic field gradients, and ...

Applications in Agriculture

* Institute scientists developed improved varieties of agricultural crops: high-

protein Proteins are large biomolecules and macromolecules that comprise one or more long chains of amino acid residue (biochemistry), residues. Proteins perform a vast array of functions within organisms, including Enzyme catalysis, catalysing metab ...

and high- yield

wheat Wheat is a group of wild and crop domestication, domesticated Poaceae, grasses of the genus ''Triticum'' (). They are Agriculture, cultivated for their cereal grains, which are staple foods around the world. Well-known Taxonomy of wheat, whe ...

, early-ripening

melons A melon is any of various plants of the family Cucurbitaceae with sweet, edible, and fleshy fruit. It can also specifically refer to '' Cucumis melo'', commonly known as the "true melon" or simply "melon". The term "melon" can apply to both the ...

, and disease-resistant

cucumbers The cucumber (''Cucumis sativus'') is a widely-cultivated creeping vine plant in the family Cucurbitaceae that bears cylindrical to spherical fruits, which are used as culinary vegetables.hybrid seeds that do not transmit diseases between generations. This helps protect food crops from various pests. * In the 1980s, Professor Mordechai Avron’s lab succeeded in getting a single-celled

alga Algae ( , ; : alga ) is an informal term for any organisms of a large and diverse group of photosynthetic organisms that are not plants, and includes species from multiple distinct clades. Such organisms range from unicellular microalgae, suc ...

called

Dunaliella ''Dunaliella'' is a single-celled, photosynthetic Green algae, green alga, that is characteristic for its ability to outcompete other organisms and thrive in Hypersaline lake, hypersaline environments. It is mostly a marine organism, though there ...

to produce beta-carotene at high levels. Beta-carotene helps prevent eye and skin diseases, high blood pressure, and is a precursor to

vitamin A Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin that is an essential nutrient. The term "vitamin A" encompasses a group of chemically related organic compounds that includes retinol, retinyl esters, and several provitamin (precursor) carotenoids, most not ...

. In cooperation with the Japanese company "Nikken Sohonsha", a

nutritional supplement A dietary supplement is a manufactured product intended to supplement a person's diet by taking a pill, capsule, tablet, powder, or liquid. A supplement can provide nutrients either extracted from food sources, or that are synthetic ( ...

was produced from the alga in a

factory A factory, manufacturing plant or production plant is an industrial facility, often a complex consisting of several buildings filled with machinery, where workers manufacture items or operate machines which process each item into another. Th ...

established in

Eilat Eilat ( , ; ; ) is Israel's southernmost city, with a population of , a busy port of Eilat, port and popular resort at the northern tip of the Red Sea, on what is known in Israel as the Gulf of Eilat and in Jordan as the Gulf of Aqaba. The c ...

Collaborations with the Science Park

Institute scientists initiated the establishment of

technology incubators A business incubator is an organization that helps startup companies and individual entrepreneurs to develop their businesses by providing a fullscale range of services, starting with management training and Office space planning, office space, a ...

to help scientific and technological personnel—especially immigrants from former

Soviet Union The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR), commonly known as the Soviet Union, was a List of former transcontinental countries#Since 1700, transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 until Dissolution of the Soviet ...

countries in the 1990s, develop innovative ideas. One of the first incubators was founded in the nearby

Kiryat Weizmann Science Park The glossary of Hebrew toponyms gives translations of Hebrew terms commonly found as components in Hebrew toponyms. B E G H I K M N R T See also * List of Hebrew p ...

, chaired by Professor

Ruth Arnon Ruth Arnon ( �ut aʁ'non born in Tel Aviv on June 1, 1933) is an Israeli biochemist and codeveloper of the multiple sclerosis drug Copaxone. She is currently the Paul Ehrlich Professor of Immunology at the Weizmann Institute of Science, where s ...

. Many scientists from the Institute have served, and continue to serve, in various public roles.

Sustainability

In 1989, the first solar tower in Israel was built on campus (now known as the "Migdal Shemesh"). In 2006, the Sustainability and Energy Research Initiative (SAERI) was launched to support scientific discoveries in the field of alternative energy, and later expanded to include other areas of environmental and sustainability research. This initiative evolved into the Institute for Environmental Sustainability, which aims to consolidate the Weizmann Institute’s research and expertise in sustainability under one umbrella. enabling shared resources and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration. Areas covered include

food security Food security is the state of having reliable access to a sufficient quantity of affordable, healthy Human food, food. The availability of food for people of any class, gender, ethnicity, or religion is another element of food protection. Simila ...

climate Climate is the long-term weather pattern in a region, typically averaged over 30 years. More rigorously, it is the mean and variability of meteorological variables over a time spanning from months to millions of years. Some of the meteoro ...

research, biodiversity,

renewable energy Renewable energy (also called green energy) is energy made from renewable resource, renewable natural resources that are replenished on a human lifetime, human timescale. The most widely used renewable energy types are solar energy, wind pow ...

, marine science, environment and health, and sustainable materials.

Architectural Planning at the Weizmann Institute of Science

The Institute's campus spans an area of 1,250

dunams A dunam (Ottoman Turkish, Arabic: ; ; ; ), also known as a donum or dunum and as the old, Turkish, or Ottoman stremma, was the Ottoman unit of area analogous in role (but not equal) to the Greek stremma or English acre, representing the amount ...

. It includes over 100 buildings with a total area of approximately 155,000 m², as well as around 100 residential units for scientists. About 120 research students live in the Institute’s

student dormitories A dormitory (originated from the Latin word ''dormitorium'', often abbreviated to dorm), also known as a hall of residence, a residence hall (often abbreviated to halls), or a hostel, is a building primarily providing sleeping and residential qu ...

. The Institute also holds land reserves (the “Faculty Site”) near the Davidson Institute, which were purchased in advance by donors.

Preserved Buildings on Campus

The Weizmann Institute has about 24 designated heritage buildings, some under strict preservation due to their

architectural Architecture is the art and technique of designing and building, as distinguished from the skills associated with construction. It is both the process and the product of sketching, conceiving, planning, designing, and construction, constructi ...

importance. These include: * **Ziv Research Institute (1934)** – Designed by Benjamin Chaikin, it became the foundation for the Weizmann Institute. Features trilingual inscriptions (Hebrew, Arabic, English) and a logo designed by

Erich Mendelsohn Erich Mendelsohn (); 21 March 1887 – 15 September 1953) was a German-British architect, known for his expressionist architecture in the 1920s, as well as for developing a dynamic functionalism in his projects for department stores and cinem ...

and typographer

Franziska Baruch Franzisca Baruch (; 21 November 1901 – 3 September 1989) was a German–Israeli graphic designer. She is known for designing Hebrew fonts, the cover of the first Israeli passport, the emblem of Jerusalem, and the logo of the ''Ha'aretz'' news ...

. Weizmann's original lab is preserved on the second floor. * **Weizmann Estate** – The 1936 villa, designed by Mendelsohn in the

International Style The International Style is a major architectural style and movement that began in western Europe in the 1920s and dominated modern architecture until the 1970s. It is defined by strict adherence to Functionalism (architecture), functional and Fo ...

, includes the couple's

mausoleum A mausoleum is an external free-standing building constructed as a monument enclosing the burial chamber of a deceased person or people. A mausoleum without the person's remains is called a cenotaph. A mausoleum may be considered a type o ...

, gardens, archive, and guard house. It served as the presidential residence. * **Yaakov Ziskind Building (1949)** – Designed by

Aryeh Elhanani Arieh El-Hanani () born SapozhnikovArie El Hanani
Israel Museum we ...

Israel Dicker Israel, officially the State of Israel, is a country in West Asia. It shares borders with Lebanon to the north, Syria to the north-east, Jordan to the east, Egypt to the south-west, and the Mediterranean Sea to the west. It occupies the Pale ...

, and

Uriel Schiller Uriel , Auriel ( ''ʾŪrīʾēl'', "El (deity), El/God is my Flame"; ''Oúriḗl''; ''Ouriēl''; ; Geʽez and Amharic: or ) or Oriel ( ''ʾÓrīʾēl'', "El/God is my Light") is the name of one of the archangels who is mentioned in Rabbinic ...

. The first Institute building after it evolved from Ziv. The first Israeli computer “WEIZAC” was installed here. It was the Middle East's first

air-conditioned Air conditioning, often abbreviated as A/C (US) or air con (UK), is the process of removing heat from an enclosed space to achieve a more comfortable interior temperature, and in some cases, also controlling the humidity of internal air. Air c ...

building. * **Isaac Wolfson Building (1953)** – Also by Elhanani. Initially housed experimental biology labs. Additions and entry relocations occurred over time. * **Charles and Tillie Lubin Biology Building (1936)** – By

Benjamin Orel Benjamin ( ''Bīnyāmīn''; "Son of (the) right") blue letter bible: https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h3225/kjv/wlc/0-1/ H3225 - yāmîn - Strong's Hebrew Lexicon (kjv) was the younger of the two sons of Jacob and Rachel, and Jacob's twe ...

, partially preserved. * **Danziger Central Utilities Building (1963)** – For emergency generators and

distilled water Distilled water is water that has been purified by boiling it into vapor then condensing it back into liquid in a separate container. Impurities in the original water that do not boil below or near the boiling point of water remain in the origin ...

production. Restored in 2001. * **Ullmann Life Sciences Building (1963)** – By Zalkind, Harel, and Elhanani. Underwent significant façade changes. * **San Martin Club (1954)** – Temporary admin offices, later converted to a

guesthouse A guest house (or guesthouse, also rest house) is a kind of lodging. In some parts of the world (such as the Caribbean), a guest house is a type of inexpensive hotel-like lodging. In others, it is a private home that has been converted for the e ...

. * **Weizgal House (1948)** – Residence of Meir and Shirley Weizgal in the “Neveh Metz” scientist neighborhood. * **Michael Sela Auditorium (1955)** – Cultural center named for Prof.

Michael Sela Michael Sela (; Mieczysław Salomonowicz; 2 March 1924 – 27 May 2022) was an Israeli immunologist of Polish Jewish origin. He was the W. Garfield Weston Professor of Immunology at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot. He was a preside ...

. * **David Lopatie Conference Center (1958)** – Originally the central library. Renovated in 2011 by architect Amir Kolker. * **Charles Clore Student Dormitory (1963)** – Features a relief by artist

Dani Karavan Daniel "Dani" Karavan (; 7 December 1930 – 29 May 2021) was an Israeli sculptor best known for site specific memorials and monuments which merge into the environment. Biography Daniel (Dani) Karavan was born in Tel Aviv. His father Abrah ...

titled “From the Tree of Knowledge to the Tree of Life.” * **Koffler Accelerator Building (1975)** – An iconic structure serving the

nuclear physics Nuclear physics is the field of physics that studies atomic nuclei and their constituents and interactions, in addition to the study of other forms of nuclear matter. Nuclear physics should not be confused with atomic physics, which studies th ...

department. * **Daniel Wolf Building (1939)** – The last building Mendelsohn designed in Israel. * **Edna and K.B. Weissmann Physics Building (1957)** – Inaugurated with the presence of

Ben-Gurion David Ben-Gurion ( ; ; born David Grün; 16 October 1886 – 1 December 1973) was the primary national founder and first prime minister of the State of Israel. As head of the Jewish Agency from 1935, and later president of the Jewish Agency ...

, Ben-Zvi,

Robert Oppenheimer J. Robert Oppenheimer (born Julius Robert Oppenheimer ; April 22, 1904 – February 18, 1967) was an American theoretical physicist who served as the director of the Manhattan Project's Los Alamos Laboratory during World War II. He is often ...

, and

Niels Bohr Niels Henrik David Bohr (, ; ; 7 October 1885 – 18 November 1962) was a Danish theoretical physicist who made foundational contributions to understanding atomic structure and old quantum theory, quantum theory, for which he received the No ...

. * **David and Pella Schapell Holocaust Memorial Square (1954)** – Rededicated in 1972, features a limestone memorial with a Torah scroll fragment by Karavan. The full inscription is revealed by circling it six times—representing six million victims. * **Lunenfeld-Kunin Guest Scientist Residences (1964)** – First of a planned three-building housing complex for visiting scientists. * **House of Europe (1974)** – Second building in the complex. * **Water Tower (1930s)** – Provided water to the acclimatization garden. * **Bloch Gate (1932)** – Historic entrance to the Ziv campus, later moved in 1997 due to traffic.

Other Architecturally Significant Buildings

* **Wolfson Villa (1947)** – Built with a personal grant from Sir

Isaac Wolfson Sir Isaac Wolfson, 1st Baronet FRS (; 17 September 1897 – 20 June 1991) was a Scottish businessman and philanthropist. He was managing director of Great Universal Stores (G.U.S. or Gussies) 1932–1947 and chairman 1947–1987. He establish ...

for hospitality use. * **Ephraim Katzir House (1970)** – Former residence of Katzir, designed by Elhanani and Nisan Kenan. Now houses the Gershon Kekst International Office. * **Stone Administration Building (1966)** – Features a mural by artist

Naftali Bezem Naftali Wahba Bezem (; November 27, 1924 – October 2, 2018) was an Israeli painter, muralist and sculptor. Biography Naftali Bezem was born in Essen, Germany, in 1924. His early adolescence was spent under Nazi oppression, in constant fear ...

. * **Canada Centre for

Solar Energy Solar energy is the radiant energy from the Sun's sunlight, light and heat, which can be harnessed using a range of technologies such as solar electricity, solar thermal energy (including solar water heating) and solar architecture. It is a ...

(1988)** – 52-meter “Solar Tower” repurposed in 2014 for personalized medicine. * **School of Research Building (1960s)** – Formerly the Feinberg Graduate School; designed by Idelson and

Gershon Tsipor According to the Torah, Gershon ( ''Gērǝšôn'') was the eldest of the sons of Levi, and the patriarchal founder of the Gershonites, one of the four main divisions among the Levites in biblical times. The Gershonites were charged with the care o ...

Campus Gates

The Institute has six active gates: * **Main Gate** – Located on Herzl Street, opposite Yavne Road. * **Bloch Gate** – Opposite the Faculty of Agriculture. * **South Gate** – For pedestrians and bicycles only. * **Pinsker Street Gate** – Pedestrian gate. * **Davidson Gate** – Near the Schwartz/Reisman campus and Davidson Institute HQ. * **Train Gate** – For pedestrians connecting to

Rehovot Railway Station Rehovot railway station (, ''Taḥanat HaRakevet Rehovot''; ) is an Israel Railways station located in the city of Rehovot. It serves the city, the Weizmann Institute of Science and the nearby science industries park, as well as the city of Ness ...

. * **“Palace Gate”** – Closed gate leading to the Weizmann House.

Visitor Centers on Campus

The campus hosts three active visitor centers: * **Levinson Visitors Center (2011)** – Offers a free interactive tour and 8-minute film. Visited by ~20,000 people in 2022. Includes a souvenir shop. * ** Clore Garden of Science** – Reopened in 2024 with 9 thematic areas: Motion, Light, Code, Matter, Life, Earth, Plants, Brain, and Water. Entrance by ticket. * **

Weizmann House The Weizmann House () was the home of the first President of Israel, Chaim Weizmann, and first First Lady, Vera Weizmann. The house sits atop a hill in Rehovot, and is now part of the Weizmann Institute of Science. The architect was Erich Mendel ...

** – Built in 1936, former presidential residence. Now a heritage center honoring the Weizmann legacy.

Campus Gardens

Approximately 6,800

trees In botany, a tree is a perennial plant with an elongated stem, or trunk, usually supporting branches and leaves. In some usages, the definition of a tree may be narrower, e.g., including only woody plants with secondary growth, only p ...

of over 100 species grow on campus, which serves as a public green space. Highlights include: * **Acclimatization Garden** – Early 20th-century

agricultural experiment station An agricultural experiment station (AES) or agricultural research station (ARS) is a scientific research center that investigates difficulties and potential improvements to food production and agribusiness. Experiment station scientists work with ...

introducing sub-tropical trees like

mango A mango is an edible stone fruit produced by the tropical tree '' Mangifera indica''. It originated from the region between northwestern Myanmar, Bangladesh, and northeastern India. ''M. indica'' has been cultivated in South and Southeast As ...

avocado The avocado, alligator pear or avocado pear (''Persea americana'') is an evergreen tree in the laurel family (Lauraceae). It is native to Americas, the Americas and was first domesticated in Mesoamerica more than 5,000 years ago. It was priz ...

, and

loquat The loquat (''Eriobotrya japonica'', Chinese: 枇杷; Pinyin: pípá) is a large evergreen shrub or tree grown commercially for its orange fruit. It is also cultivated as an ornamental plant. The loquat is in the family Rosaceae, subfamily Spi ...

to Israel. * **Cactus Garden** – 2,000 m² garden opened in 2019, named after Hannah and Amnon Kaduri, who donated their

cactus A cactus (: cacti, cactuses, or less commonly, cactus) is a member of the plant family Cactaceae (), a family of the order Caryophyllales comprising about 127 genera with some 1,750 known species. The word ''cactus'' derives, through Latin, ...

collection. * **Japanese Garden** – Covers ~6,500 m² near Lopatie Center. Designed by landscape architects Lior Wolf and Baha Milhem. Features waterfalls, stones,

plane trees ''Platanus'' ( ) is a genus consisting of a small number of tree species native to the Northern Hemisphere. They are the sole living members of the family Platanaceae. All mature members of ''Platanus'' are tall, reaching in height. The type ...

, and

aquatic plants Aquatic plants, also referred to as hydrophytes, are vascular plants and non-vascular plants that have adapted to live in aquatic environments ( saltwater or freshwater). In lakes, rivers and wetlands, aquatic vegetations provide cover for aquat ...

. * **Bloch Avenue** – Historic

ficus ''Ficus'' ( or ) is a genus of about 850 species of woody trees, shrubs, vines, epiphytes and hemiepiphytes in the family (biology), family Moraceae. Collectively known as fig trees or figs, they are native throughout the tropics with a few spe ...

avenue planted in the 1930s, leading from Bloch Gate to the original Ziv building.

Image Gallery

File:WIS-Physics01.jpg, Faculty of

Physics Physics is the scientific study of matter, its Elementary particle, fundamental constituents, its motion and behavior through space and time, and the related entities of energy and force. "Physical science is that department of knowledge whi ...

(Weissmann and Bonozio buildings) File:Weizmann Institute of Science.JPG, Aerial view from the accelerator tower, 2009 File:Weizmann Institute IMG 2321.JPG, Tree-lined walk at the “Faculty Gate” File:Weizman16.jpg, Solar Tower, 2009

Presidents

The nonscientists Abba Eban and Meyer Weisgal were assisted by scientific directors, as was Weizmann himself owing to his duties as the first president of Israel. The following persons held the position of scientific director:

Faculty

Alumni

References

External links

Weizmann Institute of Science Website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Weizmann Institute Of Science Buildings and structures in Rehovot Universities and colleges established in 1934 Multidisciplinary research institutes Postgraduate schools Research institutes in Israel Technical universities and colleges in Israel 1934 establishments in Mandatory Palestine