Technion achievements, donor recognition, and a feeling of community and hope were front and center at the ATS Board of Directors meeting, held in San Francisco from October 26 to 30, 2023, just weeks after the start of the war with Hamas.

Special guest Alice Kalman, vice chair of the Technion Student Association, who was then serving in the Israel Defense Forces, spoke about the courage and resilience of students on campus. In educational workshops, Professors Yosi Avron and Ido Kaminer discussed quantum technology, laying out its expected impact on areas such as medicine, sustainability, cybersecurity, and defense. In further recognition of quantum research, the Albert Einstein Award was given to the Helen Diller Family Foundation for its support of quantum science at the Technion.

Participants were treated to an exclusive visit to Uber Freight, where alumnus and CEO Lior Ron provided a preview of the future of logistics and trucking, including driverless trucks.

And finally, no California event would be complete without a taste of Silicon Valley and Hollywood. Kira Makagon, chief innovation officer of RingCentral, and Guy Nattiv, director of the film “Golda,” discussed the global response to October 7 and the rise of antisemitism.

Pictured above / Tech innovator Kira Makagon and “Golda” director Guy Nattiv.