During that evening in Berlin, Alon Chen also observed that a café is an indispensable part of research infrastructure. It is where scientists from different disciplines meet, start conversations and develop collaborations. This strong sense of community shapes the Weizmann Institute campus, where many scientists also live with their families. Alongside the coffee shop, the playground becomes another place for exchange.
This spirit became especially clear after two Iranian missiles destroyed or damaged numerous buildings at the Institute’s campus in Rehovot in June 2025. Research groups whose own laboratories had not been affected came together and welcomed colleagues who had lost access to theirs. Cancer research was temporarily carried out in the Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences. Some scientists were able to resume their work just one week after the attack.
This resilience — the determination to make the best of a difficult situation and then go further still — is truly remarkable.
This cross-border approach reflects the Institute’s ambition: research for the benefit of all humanity.
International collaboration is not a side issue at the Weizmann Institute; it is part of its scientific DNA. Programmes such as ISSI, research placements for students and postdoctoral initiatives with partners including the Max Planck Society bring together people from diverse academic, cultural and social backgrounds.
This diversity of perspectives creates the conditions for new ideas and unexpected solutions. Challenges such as cancer, climate change and the development of sustainable technologies do not stop at national borders. Addressing them requires the exchange of knowledge, methods and experience across disciplines and countries. The Weizmann Institute’s international network therefore not only accelerates scientific progress; it also increases the likelihood of finding answers to questions that matter to people around the world.
ISSI alumni gathering, 2025