British-born physicist to be awarded Ben-Gurion Prize

A Londoner who made Aliyah in the 1970s in order to live in the Negev desert is to be awarded one of Israel’s most prestigious prizes.

Professor David Faiman will receive the David Ben-Gurion Award later this month in recognition of his environmental work, particular in solar energy.

A physicist who studied at CERN, Faiman left London as a young man to head up Ben-Gurion University’s new Desert Research Institute “when it was just a few tin shacks in the middle of the Negev”.

He later become a pioneer in solar energy, working on photovoltaics, as well as other forms of renewable energy, such as wind, before heading government task-forces and acting as Israel’s representative at the International Energy Agency.

The awards ceremony will be on 20 November at the Dan Hotel in Tel Aviv.