Miel de Botton

In November 2015 Miel de Botton was awarded an honorary doctorate by the Weizmann Institute of Science in recognition of her generous support towards its development.

Miel is a clinical psychologist, a contemporary art collector, a dedicated philanthropist, and a singer-songwriter. 

She follows in the footsteps of her late father, Gilbert de Botton who was a successful financier and generous patron of numerous causes.

 Miel is an avid supporter of the Weizmann Institute of Science. She has endowed the de Botton Institute for Protein Profiling at the Nancy and Stephen Grand Israel National Center for Personalized Medicine. With its world-class infrastructure and multidisciplinary collaborations, the de Botton Institute’s research is expected to lead to medically applicable discoveries.

More recently, Miel established the de Botton Center for Marine Science, in support of Israeli
scientists’ study of the oceans, and, in particular, the Mediterranean Sea. 

She has also been a contributor to Weizmann UK’s Making Connections programme which funds collaboration between the Institute and UK Universities.

Miel received her honorary doctorate alongside renowned scientist and broadcaster Professor Lord Winston who gave the keynote speech at the honorary degree ceremony.

Speaking of her connection to the Weizmann Institute of Science, she said: 

“I grew up with the Weizmann Institute always being talked about a lot in the family and then I had the privilege to actually visit with my father and understand a little bit about why it was so special.” 

“It is an honour for me to be able to continue my father’s work so it has been a pleasure and a joy. I haven’t expected anything in return and so to receive this is an unbelievable accolade. I’m thrilled, honoured and privileged.”

Miel joins an illustrious list of honorands including, the late Marc Chagall, Artur Rubenstein, Riccardo Muti, Leonard Bernstein,  Zubin Mehta, Daniel Barenboim, Murray Perahia, to name just a few.