“My PhD Took Me into a Whole New World”

Prof. Karen Agay-Shay – Environmental Epidemiologist, Faculty of Medicine

The 2025 Rector’s Award for Scientific Innovation has been awarded to eleven leading researchers at Bar-Ilan University, spanning disciplines from the natural sciences and technology to the humanities and social sciences. Their groundbreaking work not only pushes the boundaries of human knowledge, but also provides promising solutions to some of the most pressing challenges facing modern society—offering the potential for a better future for all.

Safer Technology for Gene Editing

What if drinking more water could help prevent heart disease?

Bar-Ilan University has been awarded the 2025 Minister of Defense’s Award of Recognition for its exceptional support of reservist students during a challenging academic year. The prestigious national award was granted by a committee composed of representatives from the IDF, the Ministry of Defense, the business sector, and local government, placing Bar-Ilan among only 20 organizations and employers to receive the award.

"There is anger that consumes, and there is anger that propels. I chose to let my anger propel me," says Jenny Savidia, who survived the October 7 massacre at the Nova music festival but lost her brother Shlomi in the attack.

When NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang stood on stage and said, “Kids shouldn't learn to code,” the internet predictably lost its mind. Why invest years in studying syntax and algorithms, he argued, when AI can now generate software from plain English? According to Huang, “the programming language is human.” Just tell the machine what you want, and it builds it.