House of Commons Reception For Dr Bessie Lawrence Alumni

Alumni Event


Weizmann UK started the year on a high note with a reception held at the House of Commons for alumni of the Dr Bessie Lawrence International Summer Science Institute (ISSI).

Almost 100 participants of the programme who had spent a summer in Rehovot between 1970 and 2015 gathered in the prestigious Churchill Room at the Palace of Westminster. The event was hosted by Chris Philp MP, who is himself a Bessie alumnus.

He said: “I had no hesitation in accepting the invitation to host this event. My memories of that summer 22 years ago in Israel were amongst the happiest in my life. What the Weizmann Institute has achieved in little over 80 years to become so renowned internationally is remarkable.”

Another alumnus from 1988 gave a very personal and entertaining account of his experiences. He said: “I was a naïve, 18 year old, who was given an opportunity to attend the summer scheme at the Weizmann Institute and I have reaped the benefit ever since.”

He went on to describe how he felt his connections to the Weizmann Institute had led him to be accepted to study at Cambridge and later to forge a successful career in Engineering. He also announced his decision to this year sponsor a student to attend the ISSI.

Closing remarks were made by Professor Benny Chain who had been on the selection panel for a great number of the participants present. He paid tribute to the high quality of both the Weizmann Institute and the students he had encountered.

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Published: January 15, 2016

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