The State of Israel “can win the difficult battle of survival only by developing painstakingly the intelligence and expert knowledge of her young people in the field of technology,” Professor Albert Einstein declared here today at a convocation at which he and Professor James Franck each received the honorary degree of Doctor of Science in Technology from Technion, Israel Institute of Technology.
Two hundred educators, Israel officials and Jewish leaders attended the conferment ceremony and luncheon arranged by the American Technion Society. Professor Franck, who left his research studies at the University of Chicago to share honors with his friend and fellow-scientist, concurred with Professor Einstein on the importance of technological education in Israel.
Professor Einstein said he had seen “with great satisfaction” how well Technion fulfills its task of providing technological education in Israel. “Every bit of practical help that the Jews in this country are giving to Technion contributes effectively to the development of Israel’s economy, “Professor Einstein concluded. Professor Franck said that “the work done by the Technion and the spirit in which it has been done shows that faculty and students alike know what was and what is at stake, and how important their task has been and will remain.”
J. W. Wunsch, president of the American Technion Society, represented General Yaacov Dori, president of Technion, in conferring the degrees on Professors Einstein and Franck. He revealed that approximately $3,000, 000 had been raised nationally by the American Technion Society toward the $10, 000,000 sought in this country as part of the Greater Technion building fund.
Dr. Ben Zion Dinur, Israel Minister of Education and Culture, extended the greetings of his country to Professors Einstein and Franck and said that the convocation “serves in a real sense as a milestone in the spiritual development of science in Israel.” He added that “the identification of Professor Einstein and Dr. Franck with the Technion is a striking demonstration of the educational objectives to which the institute is striving. “
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