Recipients of Honorary Awards
Emmanual Mazor
F.W. Considine Professorial Chair, The Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel.
Award presented in Hawaii, 1997
Introduction by Yael Kali
Professor Mazor belongs to a very rare species of scientist. Those who perceive science education as an integra1 and important part of their scientific work. From his first steps in the earth sciences academic field, he has invested a lot of time and energy in the popularization of earth sciences. Among his many initiatives we would like to mention a few:
- the development of the earth science section of the Open University of Israel;
- writing of many popular books about geology and hydrology;
- preparing and broadcasting in many TV and radio series in Israel;
- initiation and practical involvement in developing a national geologic park in a unique part of Israel called Mactesh Ramon; and most of all, with his scientific reputation and pioneering charismatic personality, he succeeded to crack the educational establishment with his educational hammer.
These accomplishments enabled his successor, Dr. Nir Orion, to include the geosciences into the educational system from K-12, filling these joints with curricular substance and most important to expand the joints and allow young earth science educators to flow in. Finally I would like to add that it’s a great honor for me to represent Professor Mazor who was my advisor in my M.Sc. Thesis.