Master class in Mexico City

Prof. Alon Chen, head of the Department of Neurobiology (and the newly elected President of the Weizmann Institute, who will take office in December 2019), was invited to the Guadalajara International Book Fair in November to speak about his research. Better known as the Feria Internacional del Libro de Guadalajara (FIL), the book fair is one of the largest in Latin America. Prof. Chen gave a series of talks, including a master conference at the FIL attended by 400 people, in which he spoke about the brain’s response to stress.

Prof. Chen also visited Mexico City, where he delivered scientific talks at the National Institute of Psychiatry, the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), and the Center for Research and Advanced Studies of the National Polytechnic Institute (CINVESTAV), as well as a lecture open to the general public at the Monte Sinai Center. Prof. Chen also visited the headquarters of the Centro Deportivo Israelita (CDI) Jewish Sport Center and was given a special tour of the Jardín Weizmann de Ciencias, which is modeled after the Clore Garden of Science.

Prof. Alon Chen speaking at a master conference at the FIL, Guadalajara, Mexico. (Photo credit: Eva Becerra)

The activities in Mexico City were coordinated by the Mexican Association of Friends of the Weizmann Institute and its President, Martha Flisser. It was also announced during the trip that Silvia Gerson will become the next President of the Mexican Association.

The visit included several special gatherings, among them a reception at Martha and Manuel Flisser’s house, and a cocktail party at Mauricio and Joan Schwarz’s house, hosted by the New-Generation Mexican Friends group.

Dany Schmit, CEO of the Weizmann Institute for Latin America, accompanied Prof. Chen on his trip.