41 The Israel Chemist and Chemical Engineer Issue 8 · November 2021 · Kislev 5782 Report multi-generational continuity is quite common in the Israeli chemical community, making this community so strong. I feel that the ICS represents an extraordinary, beautiful community. From a broad perspective of several decades in research, I am delighted with my chosen career in chemistry, and the ICS perfectly reflects my point. Chemistry is an interdisciplinary science, widely considered the center of all science. Chemistry produces character and mentality. Our Department of Chemistry at Bar-Ilan University has always been culturally different from neighboring departments, probably because of its interdisciplinary nature. Our research requires collaborations and flow of information, all leading to a character of openness that radiates on the entire Israeli community. The State of Israel is blessed with a glorious community of chemistry far beyond its physical proportions. This community significantly promotes the country. I wish to say something about chemistry, which is the scientific domain that provides great inspiration. Chemistry allows us to admire Nature. The Lord rules the world using a finite number of laws of Nature, which respond amazingly well to the mathematics that the human brain invented. Nature behaves according to laws that the human brain can grasp, allows for engineering and exploiting Nature’s laws to advance humanity and modern life, all inspired by Chemistry. We can watch the most fantastic chemical industry. For example, I work with the vast industry, BASF, a factory the size of Ramat Gan, which produces the best chemical products in the world. Nevertheless, one leaf of grass can do more than the entire BASF in terms of chemical engineering. So, chemistry is a science that inspires and helps to develop the human imagination. Finally, I am delighted with this recognition. I thank the generations that educated me and the generations that I manage to raise. I feel privileged to now release my 65th PhD. I also had the privilege of having academic children and grandchildren. One of my academic grandsons, Menny Shalom, receives the ICS Award for the Excellent Young Scientist today. As an ICS member, I am happy to be part of a wonderful group of prize winners.” The 2020 ICS Prize of Excellence Prof. Doron Shabat of the School of Chemistry, Tel Aviv University, received the prize for his seminal contributions to developing highly efficient light-emitting small molecules for signal amplification, drug delivery, sensing, and imaging. Prof. Shabat responded: “Since you have already heard me talking today, I’ ll be brief. It is my great honor to receive this award. I wish to share a story related to where I started my career and came to this recognition. More than 30 years ago, I studied at the Technion towards my BSc degree, when Ehud Keinan (Udi) was still a young professor. In those days, and certainly, when I was a high school student, nobody paid attention to the currently recognized problem of attention deficit disorder. Although nobody diagnosed me, I am probably sufficiently intelligent to diagnose myself. I have realized that I suffer from this problem even today. I admit that it is difficult for me to maintain a long conversation for more than five or ten minutes. I immediately lose attention, and my thoughts wander to other places. Nevertheless, I completed my BSc degree as an average student, or perhaps even below average. My career started taking off only when I stepped into the research lab and carried out my research programwith passion and dedication, and my success drove me forward. But nobody mentioned my limitations, including Udi, who was my first mentor. I think that if he would disagree with me, he is just trying to be polite. Those days, nobody could predict that I’ll become a university professor one day, certainly not a laureate of the ICS Prize of Excellence. At least, I can attest to myself that my driving forces were my passion, imagination, and creativity. These elements are the essential keys to success in any academic career. Shmuel Carmeli, the current Head of the School of Chemistry in Tel Aviv University, is here today, would agree with me. When I first interviewed for a position in the School of Chemistry, I could not announce that I was not the sharpest pencil in the pencil case, a reason to receive some discount. Nevertheless, today I ask my colleagues for exemption from various administrative responsibilities, and they understand. So, I want to take this opportunity to thank once again my teachers, my doctoral supervisor who is here, and of course, the fantastic group of students I had over the years. I like the cliché that a person learns much from his teachers, but even more from his students. It represents me perfectly well. My outstanding students are fully responsible for the reason I am here today. One of them, Prof. Roey Amir, winner of the 2018 ICS Excellent Young Scientist Prize, is here with us today. Thank you all very much for your attention.” The 2020 ICS Excellent Young Scientist Prize Prof. NormanMetanis of the HebrewUniversity of Jerusalem received the prize for his contributions to the chemoselective synthesis of therapeutic proteins, and to the understanding of the function of human selenoproteins. Prof. Metanis responded: “I want to begin by thanking the award committee for selecting me for this award. I am truly honored to receive this important recognition. It is an even
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