Order of the Star of Italy

Bar-Ilan University Prof. Gilbert Daniel Nessim has been knighted “Cavaliere” of the "Order of the Star of Italy". The prize, one of Italy’s highest civilian honors, was presented to him by Ambassador of Italy to Israel Sergio Barbanti on behalf of the President of Italy. 

Prof. Nessim was recognized “for his remarkable contribution to the development of scientific and technological innovation and for his significant role in promoting academic cooperation between Italy and Israel.”  The Order of the Star of Italy is conferred upon those who have acquired special merit in the promotion of friendly relations and cooperation between Italy and other countries.

Prof. Nessim is an associate professor in Bar-Ilan University’s Chemistry Department and the Bar-Ilan Institute of Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials (BINA).

At the reception in which Nessim received the medal of honor, Ambassador Barbanti said that

Prof. Nessim stands out for his scientific caliber in the field of synthesis of new nanomaterials and that he has dedicated himself to the development of a network of collaborations with Italian universities and research partners in this field. “A man of multifaceted culture and profound humanity, Gilbert Nessim does his utmost to create high-level scientific exchange relations between Italy and Israel,” the Ambassador said.

“For his remarkable contribution to the development of scientific and technological innovation and for his significant role in promoting academic cooperation between Italy and Israel, the President of the Italian Republic bestowed on him an honor of the Order of the Star of Italy in the degree of Knight,” he added.

Prof. Nessim spoke of his goal to promote further collaboration in the future. “This is a great honor that rewards the many research collaborations we have established with Italian universities,” he said. “I consider this an encouragement to do more and better in the future. In general, research collaborations between Israel and Italy are very successful thanks to the extreme level of creativity, inventiveness, and entrepreneurship of the researchers in both countries.”

Bar-Ilan University President Prof. Arie Zaban expressed his pleasure at Prof. Nessim’s receipt of such a prestigious honor. “Prof. Nessim is a leader in his field, both here in Israel and internationally.  We are delighted that he has been recognized for his role in developing such strong ties between Italy and Israel, but most importantly, for the partnerships he has created between Bar-Ilan and some of Italy’s leading universities,” he said.

Prof. Nessim joined BIU’s Chemistry Department and BINA as a lecturer in 2010. He was promoted to senior lecturer with tenure in 2014, and associate professor in 2018. He leads the laboratory for the synthesis of nanomaterials. In 2020, he was appointed president of the Israel Vacuum Society (IVS), an organization that promotes and stimulates professional interconnections and communication among Israeli scientists specializing in the areas of surface science, thin films, and vacuum science.

Prof. Nessim was among four Israelis to be honored at the ceremony.