Cultivating academic excellence in science education for high school students from all demographics

Project: Purchase specialist laboratory equipment and implement the Advanced Chemistry Program at HEMDA Science Education Center.

Objective: Meet the need for cutting-edge science education to develop future scientists for the benefit of Israel’s economy and defense.

Impact: The Advanced Chemistry Program will cater to 50-60 students per year.

THE NEED:
The number and caliber of students studying chemistry at HEMDA have increased considerably in recent years. Further, changes to the Israeli science curriculum have allowed teachers greater freedom in teaching and assessment
methods. In addition, advances in technology have made it possible to give high school students access to science equipment and programs which used to only be available in university laboratories.

These trends mean that today’s chemistry students, with the right equipment and framework, are able to explore new topics like environmental chemistry, pharmaceutical chemistry, forensic chemistry archeology, and food science,
and create new interdisciplinary connections with physics, biology, and computer science.

Science is a gateway to engineering and high tech – critical and highly-valued professions in the Start-Up Nation. HEMDA offers a positive learning environment where students can share ideas and knowledge, engage in scientific inquiry, and excel, regardless of their background. Given HEMDA’s outstanding academic success, student demand is constantly increasing. HEMDA also helps to develop the next generation of scientists for Research &
Development (R&D) in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), academia, and business who will lead the State of Israel and the world into the future. Science and technology are instrumental to Israel’s defense and economy. Therefore,
a pipeline of expertise in physics, chemistry, and computer science is essential to retain Israel’s competitive advantage as the ‘Start-up Nation’.