Prof. Yehoshua Kolodny Named Winner of Israel Prize in Earth Sciences

Prof. Yehoshua Kolodny Named Winner of Israel Prize in Earth Sciences

Jerusalem – Prof. Emeritus Yehoshua Kolodny of the Fredy and Nadine Herrman Institute of Earth Sciences at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem has been chosen to receive the Israel Prize for 2010 in the field of earth sciences. The announcement of the prize, Israel’s highest civilian honor, was made by Israel Minister of Education Gideon Sa’ar.

Prof. Kolodny was selected for the prize by a committee for his work in the area of geochemistry and for his outstanding international achievements in his field. He was also cited for his educational activities and for developing a generation of researchers who today can be found in leading academic institutions and research institutes in Israel.

Prof. Yigal Arel, head of the Hebrew University Institute of Earth Sciences, said that Prof. Kolodny is a key figure in his specialty. “Over a period of more than 40 years, Prof. Kolodny has done groundbreaking work in one of the central areas of earth sciences – isotopic geochemistry,” said Prof. Arel, “and this has brought Israeli research in this field to the forefront.” Without doubt, continued Prof. Arel, “Prof. Kolody is the main figure responsible for the outstanding image of the Institute of Earth Sciences at the Hebrew University.”  

Prof. Kolody is esteemed among his colleagues, Prof. Areal pointed out, citing his participation in a number of important public roles in the country. At the Hebrew University he has served as a department chairman, head of the Institute of Earth Sciences and dean of the Faculty of Science.  

Prof. Kolodny was born in Pinsk in Poland (now part of Belarus) in 1936. He came to Israel in 1948 with his family and settled in Haifa, where he studied at the Reali School, followed by military service. He received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in geology at the Hebrew University and earned a doctorate from the University of California, Los Angeles, in 1969. Following his return to Israel he served in a number of roles at the Hebrew university. Prof. Kolodny is married to Amira and they have three children and eight grandchildren.  

(Photo of Prof. Kolodny available via e-mail upon request)

For further information: Jerry Barach, Dept. of Media Relations, the Hebrew University, Tel: 02-588-2904.  Orit Sulitzeanu, Hebrew University spokesperson, Tel: 054-8820016.