As a seminal figure of the Zionist movement, Dr. Chaim Weizmann would undoubtedly feel a sense of satisfaction, if he were alive today. Both Israel and the Weizmann Institute of Science, which he founded, faithfully embody many of his visions and highest hopes. Dr. Weizmann understood that Israel's success would result, in large part, from the development of basic science research and its application to solving the practical problems of living in an arid land of scarce resources. Moreover, he understood that a first class scientific establishment, while directly contributing to the new state's prosperity and growth, would also garner for Israel and for the Jewish people everywhere, the respect and admiration of the world. In 1934, along with their friend Dr. Weizmann, the Sieff family from England founded a modest research institute in Rehovot consisting of two small buildings and half a dozen scientists concentrating on organic chemistry (Dr. Weizmann's field), agriculture, bacteriology and pharmaceuticals. In 1949, the Daniel Sieff Research Institute was officially renamed the Weizmann Institute of Science in honor of its president, Chaim Weizmann, who at that time was also the first president of Israel. During the 1950's, the Weizmann Institute established itself as a scientific institution of international standing, hosting international scientific gatherings. In those years, one of the first operational computers in the world was built at Weizmann. In 1958, the Feinberg Graduate School opened to train young scientists, and in 1968, a science teaching department was started to improve science education in Israeli schools. The Weizmann Institute today consists of 78 buildings that encompass 18 different research departments and almost 40 interdisciplinary research centers, with a scientific and technical staff of 2500. The Institute has established extensive collaborative agreements with the top European, Asian and American research centers, and students from all the major scientific powers of the world study at the Feinberg Graduate School. Most of the faculty are now Israeli born and educated. Thirty percent of the Ph.D.'s granted in Israel in the natural sciences and mathematics come from the Weizmann Institute. The Institute is Israel's leading center of basic scientific research and one of its most important links to the world.   Click here to contact us American Committee for the Weizmann Institute of Science 130 East 59th Street, New York, NY 10022  Phone: 212/779-2500  Fax: 212/779-3209 www.weizmann-usa.org