Dr. Levy is an economist who studies the impact of social media, news consumption, and political outcomes. In the research for which he received the grant, Levy studies the slant of news (its political leading). Previous studies have measured the slant of news outlets (for example, the New York Times site versus Fox News). However, today individuals no longer consume news from one or two outlets but are exposed to many articles from various sources through social media. Levy and his research partners will fine-tune a large language model to estimate the slant of millions of articles and use this data to estimate the extent to which people are exposed to and consume like-minded news. The research will examine whether people reside in online echo chambers and also study what influences those echo chambers: the consumers’ choice to avoid content they disagree with, social media algorithms, or the tendency of outlets to produce more biased content.

The Boris Mints Institute is proud to state that Prof. Sened, head of BMI and Dean of the Social Sciences Faculty has received a certificate of appreciation from the Eilat-Eilot Center for Renewable Energy for his input into the collaboration and long-standing support of the activities. The Institute has supported the Eilat-Eilot Center for the past 8 years and has seen incredible growth of the initiative. We appreciate our partnership with the Center and are proud to see  achievements and development that were accomplished by both Eilat-Eilot and the collaboration with BMI.

Dr. Yaela Golumbic is a prominent researcher in science communication and citizen science at Tel Aviv University’s Steinhardt Museum of Natural History. Her work centers on engaging the public in science, fostering dialogue between scientists and the public, and making science accessible and relevant to diverse audiences. Dr. Golumbic, who holds degrees in Biology and a Ph.D. in Education and Science Communication, has led various citizen science projects, examining their benefits and challenges for science and society.

Amidst unprecedented scientific and technological progress and challenges like misinformation and unequal access to science, Dr. Golumbic’s research plays a vital role. She explores innovative ways of public participation in science, addressing the complexities of science-public interactions. Her extensive experience includes projects like air quality monitoring in Israel, radon concentration measurement, and global accessibility of essential medicines. Part of her work at the Israeli Center for Citizen Science focuses on biodiversity and invasive species, crucial for ecological system health and sustainable management. Her citizen science projects emphasize data collection over wide areas, raising awareness of nature conservation, and monitoring sustainable ecological management practices

The research focuses on the impacts of climate disruptions on the supply chains of critical foods and national security, with a specific case study examining the interdependence between Israel and Gaza. In recent years, global supply chains have faced numerous challenges, notably during the COVID-19 pandemic and the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war. Climate change acts as a “risk multiplier,” exacerbating existing crises and generating new challenges. The combination of crises alongside climatic challenges could lead to a “perfect storm,” resulting in instability and national security threats.

This impact is particularly significant in regions like Israel and the Gaza Strip, which rely heavily on long and complex supply chains. These areas are especially vulnerable to the effects of climate change and face additional significant challenges to their national resilience. The research aims to understand and address these vulnerabilities, exploring how climate change influences supply chain disruptions and the consequent effects on national security. It seeks to propose strategies for mitigating risks and enhancing resilience, especially in geopolitically sensitive regions like Israel and Gaza, where supply chain disruptions can have far-reaching implications. Eden will take part in the Geopolitical Cooperation Lab.

Yan Zheng will join as a postdoctoral fellow of the BMI Demography Lab and Healthy Longevity Research Center in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at Tel Aviv University. Prior to joining Tel Aviv University, she obtained her Ph.D. from the University of Hong Kong. She mainly works on population health research, and her research areas cover life expectancy, lifespan inequality, and healthy life expectancy. She also conducted studies related to suicide and mental disorders.

Currently, her project mainly focuses on the social determinants of life expectancy and lifespan inequality in Israel. Although Israel is at the global vanguard of life expectancy among men and women alike, we currently know little about its level of lifespan inequality and how it has changed over time, both for the population as a whole as well as for various social groups. A comprehensive analysis of life expectancy, lifespan inequality, and their underlying social determinants will improve our understanding of the population health in Israel—both with respect to maintaining improvements in longevity and ensuring that they are shared by all.

After being part of BMI as an assistant to Dr. Boaz Hameiri’s research in the field of Conflict Resolution, Noy will start independent research in BMI

Noy’s research in the Human Development Lab will focus on utilizing network analysis to plan effective interventions. Network analysis is a valuable method for visualizing and analyzing complex networks, including clustering patterns that traditional statistical analysis may overlook. She aims to analyze dominant attitudes and their associations through network analysis, comparing two groups: Israelis and Arabs. By employing this method, we wish to identify which attitudes influence and are related to others, allowing us to pinpoint specific areas to target during interventions. This innovative approach enhances the planning of tailored interventions for each social group, potentially making a significant impact on inter-group relations during conflicts and ultimately aiding in the promotion of coexistence between the groups.