Alumni Profiles

Erella Tahalev Ben-Shahar is a journalist, author, and Ph.D. in History of Science, specializing in the history of nutrition and food. She also serves as a teaching coordinator for the Biological Thought master's program at The Open University of Israel.

Anat Ben-David is a digital communication researcher in the Department of Sociology, Political Science and Communication at The Open University of Israel, and co-founded the university's Media and Information Lab. Her research focuses on the intersection of new media and Science, Technology and Society (STS) studies. Her dissertation conceptualized the process of boundary-making on the Internet through historical and spatial analysis of the Palestinian web, using digital methods for network research. The work examines the emergence and evolution of the Palestinian web from its introduction to the Palestinian territories in 1993 - following the establishment of the Palestinian National Authority after the Oslo Accords - until 2010. She serves on the board of directors of "The Seventh Eye" website.      

Dr. Ilya Stambler is a leading researcher in the fields of longevity and quality of life. As the Chief Scientist and Chairman of Vetek (Veteran) Association, he spearheads the movement for longevity and life quality in Israel, advancing research and policy in healthy aging. Concurrently, Dr. Stambler serves as a research fellow in the Department of Science, Technology, and Society at Bar-Ilan University, where he continues to deepen academic knowledge on aging and longevity. His doctoral dissertation, "A History of Life Extension in the Twentieth Century," stands as a landmark study in the field. This comprehensive research traces the development of the life extension movement throughout the 20th century, critically examining the ideological premise that significant life extension is both possible and ethically desirable. In his groundbreaking work, Dr. Stambler chronologically analyzes the central currents of life extension thinking, focusing on key works by prominent thinkers such as Élie Metchnikoff, Bernard Shaw, Alexis Carrel, and Alexander Bogomolets. He explores these works within their broader social and intellectual contexts, revealing the intricate connections between these ideas and the political, social, and economic transformations of the era. The research concentrates on four primary geographical centers: France, Central Europe, Russia, and the United States and Britain. Through this meticulous analysis, Dr. Stambler provides crucial insights into the historical evolution of longevity-related concepts.  

Dr. Hami Ramiel is a researcher, consultant, and instructor in the fields of educational technology policy and critical sociology of education and technology. Doctoral dissertation: Techno-educational Visions and the Startupization of Education - An Ethnography of an Educational Technology (EdTech) Incubator  

Professor Eyal Katvan, Senior Lecturer and Head of the Research Authority at the College of Law and Business, holds two doctoral degrees. His first doctorate came from the Faculty of Law at Bar-Ilan University, with a thesis entitled "Compulsory Examinations and Their Relation to the Oppression of Women." He completed his second in the Interdisciplinary Program for Science, Technology and Society at the same university, researching "Medical, Physical and Mental Examinations of Jewish Immigrants to Palestine, 1919-1939." Professor Katvan's research integrates bioethics, law, and medicine, with particular focus on legal and medical professions and their historical development. He specializes in the study of medical, physical, and mental examinations, and the legal history of women, emphasizing their integration into the legal and medical professions in Palestine and Israel. Licensed as an attorney since 1998, Dr. Katvan has expanded his academic expertise as a visiting scholar at prestigious institutions worldwide, including Georgetown University's Center for Clinical Bioethics, the Hadassah-Brandeis Institute for Jewish Women, and Radboud University's Department of Ethics, Philosophy and History of Medicine in the Netherlands. He has also contributed to the International Institute for the Sociology of Law in Spain and the Max Planck Institute for European Legal History in Germany. Beyond his academic work, Dr. Katvan served in a significant public capacity as Chairman of the Public Committee examining age as a criterion for organ transplantation.  

Dr. Galit Welner is a leading researcher in the philosophy of technology, specializing in postphenomenology. Her diverse academic background includes law degrees from Tel Aviv University and a doctorate in Science, Technology, and Society from Bar-Ilan University. Her doctoral thesis, which focused on mobile phones, was supervised by Prof. Don Ihde, the founder of postphenomenology, and Dr. Liat Friedman. Dr. Welner's research centers on analyzing contemporary digital technologies, including mobile phones, virtual and augmented reality, and artificial intelligence. In addition to her academic work, Dr. Welner contributes her expertise as an advisor to the Ministry of Innovation, Science, and Technology in the field of artificial intelligence regulation, bridging the gap between academic research and practical applications in technology policy.  

  Orly (Kramash) Stetiner is the Head of Science and Technology Department at CET. She is also a photographer and genealogy researcher who edits and manages the website of the Siedlce Organization in Israel (http://www.siedlce.org.il). Her doctoral research, "The Life Code: Computer Simulations of Emergent Phenomena in Complex Biological Systems," examined the scientific value of dynamic computer simulations in two key aspects: their ability to scientifically explain biological phenomena, and their capacity to generate new emergent phenomena (structure or behavior) that enable prediction or hypothesis generation about parallel real-world phenomena. The research was based on in-depth analysis of three advanced and complex computer simulations demonstrating the emergence of new properties, characteristics, or behaviors not pre-planned or pre-programmed in the computational models. The research revealed that simulations possess a kind of "independent life," characterized by complexity, creativity, and dynamic interactive computational power that may exceed the standard computational capabilities of a Turing machine. These properties, as proven in the research, combined with various considerations in the simulation development process and its user interface, enable the creation of new properties and unexpected behaviors. These can serve as a basis for scientific hypotheses and follow-up research in actual laboratory conditions. The verification and validation processes embedded in the simulations, alongside the utility and contribution of the models to scientific discourse and the accumulated reliability of the implemented methods, ultimately establish the simulations' scientific credibility and significance.        

Dr. Elad Kaplan, a lawyer and social entrepreneur, serves as the CEO of Trusting Torah and Labor-Kolech and is a lecturer at the Faculty of Law at Bar-Ilan University. He has led significant public initiatives to strengthen the Jewish-democratic voice in Israel, bridge societal divides, and promote fairness and equality within public systems. In his previous roles, he was the director of the Menomadin Center for Jewish and Democratic Law at Bar-Ilan University, where he developed a research and legal infrastructure to reinforce components of Israeli identity. He also managed the Itim organization, working to advance the rights of immigrants, converts, and women facing challenges within the religious establishment. Additionally, he served as legal counsel and was a key leader of the independent Conversion Court 'Giyur Kahalacha', which aims to enable sensitive and inclusive conversion processes, and was a partner in initiatives to strengthen interfaith cooperation and combat hate crimes and racism. Dr. Kaplan holds a first degree with honors in Law and Political Science, a master's degree with honors in Science, Technology, and Society, and a doctorate in Law from Bar-Ilan University. He also possesses a certificate in Organizational Management and Innovation from the University of Cambridge. Elad resides in Rehovot with his wife and three children.  

Dr. Kinan received his doctorate from the Science, Technology and Society (STS) Program in 2019. His doctoral research examined how Israelis of Ethiopian origin used Facebook as part of their protests against police violence. He has extensive research and teaching experience in social sciences, Israel studies, and digital culture. He currently serves as Director of the Marketing Communications Program and Lecturer in the Communication Department at Sapir Academic College.