A magnanimous commitment from Dr. Ellen R. Knell and Harvey G. Knell―past recipients of the PhD honoris causa and longtime, devoted friends of the Weizmann Institute―is poised to transform computer science and mathematics.
The Knells’ tremendous new gift, made via the Harvey and Ellen Knell Foundation, establishes the Knell Family Institute for Artificial Intelligence, which will support campus-wide efforts in fundamental AI research and promote the integration of AI tools, applications, and techniques into the studies taking place in labs of every discipline across Weizmann.
The initiative will find its physical expression in a new entrance to the Weizmann campus from the north, to be called the Knell Family Gate.
The Knell Family Institute will be devoted to helping researchers and students find new and better ways to apply AI to scientific challenges. Under the direction of Israel Prize laureate Prof. Shimon Ullman―a global authority on AI and computer vision―this framework will turbo-charge the pace of discovery while laying critical groundwork for AI ethics, creating a holistic strategy that allows AI to best serve humanity, now and in the future.
“‘Science for the Future of Humanity’ is a powerful concept—and the guiding principle of the Weizmann Institute,” share Ellen and Harvey Knell. “Artificial intelligence holds tremendous potential to accelerate and enhance scientific discovery. We knew this was exactly the kind of transformative initiative the Knell Family would want to support in a meaningful way.”
“The dawn of AI presents the greatest opportunity since the industrial revolution to create the kind of seismic change that can touch the lives of virtually everyone on the planet,” adds Prof. Roee Ozeri, Vice President for Development and Communications, whose team built Israel’s first quantum computer. “Thanks to the leadership of Ellen and Harvey Knell, Weizmann scientists will be empowered to take their place as AI pioneers in this extraordinary point in history.”
The Knells have been generous supporters of the Weizmann Institute for decades, with major contributions that have funded the Knell Family Center for Microbiology and the Knell Family Professorial Chair. They are also active leaders at the American Committee for the Weizmann Institute of Science, where Harvey Knell currently serves as National Chair. Most recently, Harvey and Ellen have stepped up to serve as co-chairs of the Institute’s global campaign, Empower Tomorrow.
