Read
below for updates from the winter and upcoming pertinent news and
events. Interested in pitching ideas and/or writing for the newsletter?
Please contact us.
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Scientists for Palestine's Fundraiser
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Help
support S4P's 2025 goals. This year, we focus on uplifting Palestinian
science and holding those who harm it accountable. This includes a legal
campaign against Israel's participation in EU research funding,
documenting scholasticide, organizing a university-level school in
quantum physics, and holding the first S4P in-person meeting in Europe.
Support the campaign by sharing and/or donating here! Print the poster and spread the word where you live.
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Catching up with past S4P schools participants
by the Membership subcommittee
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Throughout
the years, Scientists for Palestine has organized several schools for
Master students in the West Banks, on topics such as Physics and Machine
Learning. You can find a list here. Recently, we caught up with a few of the students that attended these schools, and asked them what they are doing now!
S4P Schools Committee is planning an advanced summer school on Quantum
Physics and Quantum Computing this July 2025 in Ramallah (in-person) and
Gaza (virtual).
Stay tuned for more updates!
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Shayma Wahdan -
Shayma Wahdan, a postdoctoral researcher from Tammoun, Palestine. She
completed her PhD in the field of Experimental Particle Physics with the
ATLAS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider at Wuppertal, Germany.
Shayma earned a bachelor's degree in Physics with a minor in
Mathematics, followed by a master's degree in Physics, and both degrees
from Birzeit University. Since primary and high school, Shayma has been
fascinated by Physics and how it explains many natural phenomena around.
During her university studies, she became particularly drawn to
Particle Physics because it explores the smallest building blocks of
matter, at incredibly tiny scales far beyond our everyday experience. By
studying these fundamental particles and their interactions, it can
deepen our understanding of not just the world around us, but rather the
universe as a whole.
"Growing
up in Palestine and experiencing the challenges of limited resources
and collaborations has shaped my appreciation for education and the
pursuit of knowledge," Shayma said. These experiences taught her
resilience and the importance of hard work, which continue to guide her
professional aspirations. One of the challenges Shayma faced, once she
moved from Palestine to Germany, was adapting to a new culture while
introducing and sharing her cultural background. On the scientific side,
Shayma encountered a knowledge gap when transitioning to her PhD in
Experimental Particle Physics, as her bachelor's and master's studies
had provided only basic exposure to Particle Physics. To bridge this
gap, she engaged in self-directed learning, attended specialized
Particle Physics courses, and participated in several schools focused on
specific topics in the field. These efforts allowed her to gain the
knowledge and confidence necessary to advance in her research.
In 2017, Shayma had the privilege of joining the second Palestinian
Advanced Physics School organized by Scientists for Palestine. "The
school covered key topics such as particle physics, condensed matter
physics, and cosmology, providing foundational knowledge that proved
invaluable as I started my PhD in particle physics the same year. Beyond
the lectures, it was a unique opportunity to connect with international
scientists, who shared invaluable guidance on academic pathways and
practical guidance for pursuing advanced research in physics" Shayma
said.
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So
far, Shayma is most proud of the publication she worked on, which
focused on measuring observables sensitive to color reconnection effects
with the ATLAS experiments. This accomplishment stands out as her team
faced significant challenges during the review process. Convincing the
review team of the importance of this measurement and the correctness of
the implementation required persistent effort and thorough
justification. Despite these difficulties and the extended timeline for
publication, they ultimately succeeded, which made the achievement all
the more rewarding. “While the immediate impact of Particle Physics
research may not be obvious to society, it still makes a significant
contribution By pushing the boundaries of fundamental knowledge,
Particle Physics often leads to technological advancements” Shayma
explained. She continued, “For example, technologies like the World Wide
Web, advanced medical imaging techniques, and data analysis tools were
developed as part of Particle Physics research”. Shayma aims to continue
advancing the research in Particle Physics while pursuing roles that
involve leading collaborative projects. She also hopes to be able to
help other Palestinian students interested in this field to join and
follow their ambitions.
Shaymaa
would like to see greater efforts toward making physics research more
inclusive and accessible to students from developing countries. She
believes that this can be achieved through partnerships with
international institutions, scholarship programs, and virtual education
initiatives to break down geographic and financial barriers. Advice
Shayma would give to others pursuing a career similar to her
specialization is: "balancing personal and professional life which can
be challenging in a demanding field like Experimental Particle Physics".
Shayma tries to maintain this balance by setting boundaries between
work times and personal times. Scheduling time for family, friends, and
hobbies helps her recharge. Shayma also believes in managing
expectations, and knowing when to say no or ask for help to avoid
burnout.
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Falastine Abusaif -
Back in July of 2016 when I was still a master student doing my
graduate studies in Physics at An-Najah National University, I was
encouraged by my professor to attend a scientific event. I remember that
day he said to me: “Falastine, the event is really interesting and
beneficial, you should really go”. That event was the first Palestinian
Advanced Physics School (PAPS) which was hosted by the Arab American
University in Jenin, Palestine.
It
was a three-day event with students from different Palestinian
universities as participants. During the school, we, the
Palestinian students, got the chance to hear lectures from a group of
great scientists (Prof. Philip Argyres, Prof. Giorgio Paolucci, and
Prof. John Ellis) on different topics that were Particle Physics
oriented. Those lectures were indeed interesting, and although the event
is more than 8 years old, I still remember parts of their talks
especially on symmetry breaking, SUSY particles, and the physics of
synchrotron radiation! We also got the chance to carry out some computer
tasks related to understanding and analyzing some simulated collision
data from CERN experiments.
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One
year later, I left my beloved Palestine and headed to Germany where I
did my PhD at the Nuclear Physics Institute at the Forschungszentrum
Jülich and the RWTH Aachen University. By the end of 2021 I
graduated and finished my PhD on the development of compact, highly
sensitive beam position monitors for storage rings.
Since
then, I directly started my Postdoctoral position at the Karlsruhe
Institute for Technology in Germany. My current research activities
involve the technology of superconductors for accelerators, and energy
management for large research infrastructures where operations are
optimized to be more sustainable considering both physics and
engineering levels in a comprehensive and systematic way. Additionally, I
am the Innovation Manager at the Horizon Europe project: Research
Facility 2.0, an EU project with six large accelerator facilities in
Europe and four SMEs. My role is to help guide this project
towards a more energy-efficient and sustainable path.
During
my past and current research, I usually attend (yearly) big
international scientific gatherings in the form of conferences and
workshops in Europe and in USA; however, that one particular event that
occurred in July 2016, the first PAPS, remains my best!
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Spotlight on Palestinian Science. Emilia Rappocciolo: A Life Dedicated to Microbiology and Education
by the Membership subcommittee
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Dr.
Emilia Rappocciolo is an Italian microbiologist and immunologist with a
career spanning several decades and countries from Italy to Palestine.
Since 2006, she has been a faculty member at Birzeit University, where
she currently serves as an Associate Professor of Microbiology and
Immunology and chairperson of the department of Biology and
Biochemistry.
She
graduated from the University of Milan with a degree in Biology before
pursuing a PhD at the University of Florence in experimental pathology.
Her doctoral research focused on the regulation of ferritin gene
expression under different pathological conditions, making early and
significant contributions to the understanding of molecular mechanisms
that regulate gene activity. She earned her PhD in 1990 and soon
embarked on a diverse and impactful career in academia and research.
Rappocciolo’s
foray into the microbial world came during her time as a visiting
graduate student and then later as a postdoctoral fellow at the
University of Edinburgh, where she worked in the Department of Genetics
on the malaria parasite Plasmodium chabaudi. Her research during this
period focused on identifying genes involved in gametocyte
differentiation.
After
a series of personal and professional shifts, Rappocciolo moved to
London, where she took on the role of Commissioning Editor for Trends in
Microbiology, a leading scientific journal. This position provided her
with valuable experience in the publication and dissemination of
scientific research. In 2004, she and her family relocated to Palestine
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Her
journey to Palestine was a personal and family decision. Married to a
Palestinian, she knew early on that moving to Palestine was a part of
their future and that they would want their children to grow up there.
Since joining Birzeit University in 2006, she has taught a range of
courses, including Microbiology, Immunology, Parasitology, Virology,
Histology, and Food Microbiology for Nutrition students.
Throughout her career, Rappocciolo has achieved numerous milestones. As
an administrator, she is particularly proud of her role in establishing
the first Master’s program in Environmental Biology at Birzeit
University and later developing a BA program in Biology and
Biotechnology. As a researcher, she recalls with pride her early work in
molecular biology, especially her first scientific publication in 1986,
which marked one of the first uses of RNA extraction, Northern
blotting, and cloning techniques in Milan.
One
of the most profound lessons Rappocciolo has learned from her students
is to challenge assumptions and discard preconceptions. Many students
have shared with her their personal experiences as Palestinians, their
struggles, and their aspirations, shaping her understanding of their
realities and deepening her connection to the land and its people.
Rappocciolo
has also witnessed firsthand the challenges faced by Palestinian
academia under occupation. She notes that while the recent destruction
of academic institutions in Gaza is unprecedented, efforts to undermine
Palestinian education have been long-standing. From roadblocks and
halted deliveries of research materials to military raids and student
arrests, the barriers to education are immense. She emphasizes that
international academic institutions must take a stand, calling for
boycotts of Israeli counterparts and active support for the Palestinian
right to education.
Through
her dedication to research, teaching, and advocacy, Emilia Rappocciolo
has not only contributed significantly to the field of microbiology but
also played a vital role in advancing education in Palestine. Her story
is one of perseverance, passion, and an unwavering commitment to
scientific and academic excellence.
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Upcoming Events from the Bisan Lecture Series
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Don't miss out on the next events of the Bisan Lecture Series!
Wednesday, April 9, 2025, 7 pm Palestine time
Prof. Areej Sabbagh-Khoury, Associate Professor in the Department of Sociology at the University of California, Berkeley
Title: TBA
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Become a member!
Are
you a scientist, trainee or learner interested in contributing to
Scientists for Palestine's mission? Take a more committed role by
becoming an S4P member, and work with our diverse committees on their
concrete projects. Follow the link here!
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See the links at the bottom of the email in order to follow us on social media!
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