B’nai B’rith Uruguay presented the Light and Truth Award for the first time since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic at an in-person event on Sept. 15. This year’s recipients are Matias Castells and Andres Lizasoain, who each received a doctorate in Biological Science. Castells and Lizasoain will travel to Israel in 2023 as part of the award. 

Created by B´nai B´rith Uruguay in 2002, the Light and Truth Award honors young Uruguayan scientists and/or technological experts. Awardees also receive a one-week trip to Israel with a program coordinated by the Director of the B’nai B’rith World Center-Jerusalem Alan Schneider. 

The winners were chosen by an independent jury made up of distinguished authorities in science and technology: Dr. Carlos Batthyany, director of the Pasteur Institute in Uruguay; Dr. Ricardo Ehrlich, founder of the Pasteur Institute in Uruguay and former minister of education; and Cecilia Fernandez, rector of investigation in the State University of Uruguay. 

During the event it was also announced that, thanks to the dedicated work of the World Center in Israel and the leadership of B’nai B’rith Uruguay, the Pasteur Institute of Uruguay and the Weizmann Institute are prepared to sign a Memorandum of Understanding to start an exchange program for experts from both institutes.