My Journey at the Technion: Mapping My Future and Giving Back
A Personal Narrative From Gidon Horesh
I am a fourth-year student in the Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the Technion, majoring in mapping and geo-information. This field is meaningful to me because it combines technology and real-world impact. For example, using remote sensing and mapping, we can help farmers practice precise agriculture — detecting which parts of a field need more water or fertilizer, reducing waste, and improving yields. Knowing that my work can contribute to solutions like these motivates me every day.
Looking back, my path to the Technion was anything but straightforward, but every challenge along the way has shaped who I am today. I grew up north of Jerusalem, and I decided I wanted to attend the Technion. I worked hard to improve my grades and took the psychometric test [university entrance exam], but I was still uncertain about my future.
My partner and I moved to Nesher, a city just southeast of Haifa, when she began her bachelor’s degree in physics at the Technion. While working at a solar and hot water installation company, I realized that I aspired to become a civil engineer or work in a related field. As I read about the various branches of engineering at the Technion, mapping and geo-information engineering stood out to me. I was fascinated by the idea of measuring and mapping the world with high accuracy, using remote sensing to classify and understand our environment.
But I didn’t initially meet the Technion’s admission requirements. So, I enrolled in the Technion pre-University program (Mechina) and retook the psychometric test. After a lot of hard work and perseverance, I was finally accepted. That moment was a turning point for me. I had chosen a hard and fulfilling path, and I was determined not to quit.
Gidosh Horesh, 2026 Berger Visiting Fellow
Since then, my journey at the Technion has been filled with growth and opportunity. Despite my initial challenges, I’ve had the privilege of being on the Dean’s List. I work as a teaching assistant and lab instructor, as well as a laboratory assistant in the remote sensing and geospatial data research group. I also serve as an academic organizer, coordinating exams, managing academic challenges, and supporting undergraduate students. After I complete my undergraduate studies, I intend to pursue an M.Sc. degree, also in mapping and geo-information.
The Technion has been a pillar of support, especially during challenging times. After October 7, the faculty — and my supervisor, in particular — took me under their wing, providing academic help and encouragement. Even when I had to catch up on missed studies, I told myself I would not give up. Their support, combined with my determination, helped me succeed. Living on campus in the Stanley Shalom Zielony Graduate Student Village with my fiancée has also helped me focus on my studies.
I hold great appreciation for the Technion and its researchers. This institution has given me the tools to grow, to aspire to excellence, and to give back. I hope that through my work and dedication, I can contribute to the Technion community and inspire others to pursue their dreams, no matter how challenging the path may seem.
About the Program
The Ilene & Steve Berger Technion Visiting Fellows Program features the University’s greatest assets: its students. Meet them face to face. Hear their stories. Discover their groundbreaking research, bold aspirations, and the sacrifices they have made through more than two years of war. These remarkable students are not only persevering — they are driven by a profound determination to use science to solve the world’s greatest problems.
