MORNING CLASSES:
PATHS TO PEACE: Democracy, Dialogue and Cooperation
The Honorable William A. Brown, Professor Haim Rabinowitch
Hebrew University scientists and scholars have been carrying out research projects with their colleagues across Israel’s borders since 1977, when attempts to reach a settlement in the Middle East conflict began. Nearly thirty years later, through the years of hope and disappointment in the peace process, HU continues its unceasing efforts to improve ties between Israel and her neighbors. Join Ambasador Brown and Professor Rabinowitch in a dialogue on some of the peace projects at The Harry S. Truman Institute for the Advancement of Peace.

ADULT STEM CELLS AND GENES: The Building Blocks of Biological Tissue Replacements
Professor Dan Gazit
Modern medicine has a new goal: "Regenerative Medicine"-- development of alternative tissues for body parts that were injured during one’s lifetime due to different causes. By injecting stem cells, which will be taken from the patient himself, we aim to renew the growth of that tissue. This new method of treatment is around the corner: in a couple of months a clinical trial for the repair of non-union fractures will commence, and in a few years we can anticipate that this therapy will be available for every patient.

TIKUM OLAM: Our Duty to Repair the World
Professor Marc Hirshman
Working together for a more just and peaceful world is an obligation proscribed by Jewish tradition. In the aftermath of the Temple’s destruction, the sages of the first centuries of the Common Era succeeded in fashioning a new ideal of the Jewish society. We will analyze the concept of Tikun Olam as a pivotal concept in the Temple’s restoration.

UNDERSTANDING THE BRAIN: An Interdisciplinary Approach
Professor Hagai Bergman
The brain is the control center for most of the functions throughout the body. It is where thought, love and dreams are conjured up and where memory is embedded. But along with ever-increasing longevity, neurodegenerative diseases erode the most basic of brain functions. Professor Bergman will examine some of the ground-breaking research which has already given some sufferers of these diseases some of the first medical interventions available to help control and alleviate the symptoms of these diseases.

AFTERNOON CLASSES:
ALZHEIMER'S: Healing Body and Spirit
Professor Gail Auslander, Dr. Noam Shoval
As the world’s population ages, dementia-related disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease are becoming more prevalent. One of the more common behavioral manifestations of dementia-related disorders is severe problems with out-of-home mobility. It is not uncommon for people with dementia to go missing, or to be found seriously injured, or dead. This class will examine the ethical aspects involved in the use of modern communication and tracking technologies to improve the quality of life of Alzheimer’s patients, family members and care-givers.

BRIDGES TO PEACE: Fostering Regional Cooperation
Dr. Dan Avnon, Dr. Anat Lapidot-Firilla
The class will look at two HU projects on regional cooperation. Dr. Lapidot-Firilla will examine the correlation between women’s positions in the Muslim world and the degree to which civil society, democratization and political stability exist. Utilizing women as principal agents of democratization may provide the main impetus for implementing progressive reforms. Dr. Avnon will present the Gilo Center’s “pluricultural model”. This model is based on the assumption that intimate knowledge of one’s personal and cultural identity enhances the prospects of developing values conducive to enhancing a stable and thriving democratic society. The presentation will include a video of a pilot program that applies the guiding principles of the project in a variety of dissimilar schools in Israel.

FEEDING THE WORLD: Expanding the World's Bounty
Professor Haim Rabinowitch
There is no shortage of food in the world, yet there are people who are starving. How is this possible? The distribution is not equitable and serious corruption exists in developing countries. In the year 2050 there will be approximately 10 billion people living on earth. This means that we will have to increase our yield by 60%-80%. This is impossible to do via conventional means, thus alternative methods need to be explored and developed to improve our crop yields. These efforts as well as the various moral issues surrounding the topic will be discussed in the class.

GLOBAL WARMING: Why is it So Darn Hot?
Professor Avnir de-Shalit, Professor Nir J. Shaviv
According to common perception, the temperature over the 20th century has been warming, and it is mostly the fault of mankind, with greenhouse gases being the dominant driver. Others, usually called "skeptics", challenge this view and instead claim that the temperature variations are all part of natural variability. Join Professors Shaviv and de-Shalit to explore this important trend, along with an exploration of environmental ethics and politics.