Ilanit offers soft skill sessions and workshops on diverse topics relevant to the scientific community. Below is a brief description of the soft skill sessions held at Ilanit 2026. Please note that all workshops require pre-registration via the link provided below, and that some workshops have a participant limit.
SOFT SKILLS SESSION 1
Facts Don’t Speak for Themselves: Communicating Biology in a Post-Truth World
Where: Queens hall, Herods hotel
When: Tuesday, February 24th, 2026, 07:45-08:45
Presented by:
Prof. Ayelet Baram-Tsabari, Applied Science Communication Research Group
Franz Ollendorf Chair at the Faculty of Education in Science and Technology, Technion – Israel Institute of Technology
* Number of participants: No limitation
* Pre-registration is required
Science is a communication-driven endeavor: without it, we cannot build on prior research, collaborate across disciplines and with industry, or engage policymakers, students, and the public. This talk examines what science communication is and why it is especially important in a post-truth world. What do people know, and how this knowledge is related to what they do? How do we decide whom to believe? How is our worldview, the things we love and value, related to what we know? Do people need to know what they are talking about to form an opinion? Finally, we will discuss practical strategies – what works and what doesn’t – for engaging diverse audiences so they can make informed decisions on scientific issues.
SOFT SKILLS SESSION 2
Before It Becomes a Scandal: Using AI to Catch Image Errors and Misconduct in Science
Where: Zeit hall, Royal Beach hotel
When: Tuesday, February 24th, 2026, 07:45-08:45
Presented by:
Dekel Faruhi, Dr. Dror Kolodkin-Gal, ProoFigAI
* Number of participants: No limitation
* Pre-registration is required
Artificial intelligence is reshaping research integrity by identifying image duplication, manipulation, plagiarism, and AI-generated figures before publication. This session presents real examples and practical tools to help researchers prevent rejection, retraction, and reputational harm. Whether it be accidental duplications to deliberate manipulations, such issues can undermine credibility and lead to costly retractions. In this session, we will explore real-world examples and demonstrate complementary AI tools for broader pre-submission quality assurance. Participants will gain practical tools to protect their work and reputation by identifying issues that could otherwise lead to rejection, retraction, or reputational harm. The session will provide clear, actionable insights to help researchers ensure their work meets the highest standards of scientific integrity.
SOFT SKILLS SESSION 3
Navigating Mentor-Mentee interactions
Where: Sapphire hall, Malkat Shva hotel
When: Tuesday, February 24th, 2026, 07:45-08:45
Presented by:
Prof. Jonathan Weitzman, CNRS/Université Paris Cité, France
Prof. Matthew Weitzman, University of Pennsylvania, USA
* Number of participants: No limitation
* Pre-registration is required
For the last two decades, the two Weitzman professors have been running active research laboratories at top international universities, and actively involved in training and mentoring of early career researchers.
Jonathan is also the host of The Lonely Pipette podcast “helping scientists do better science”. They will lead an interactive workshop for students and mentors alike to explore how to improve Mentor-Mentee interactions.
SOFT SKILLS SESSION 4
The Interplay Between Innovative Teaching and Research
Where: Tarshish B hall, Dan hotel
When: Tuesday, February 24th, 2026, 07:30-08:45
Presented by:
Prof. Ido Tavor, Associate Professor, Department of Anatomy & Anthropology, Faculty of Medical & Health Sciences; Vice Head, Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University
Prof. Liat Kishon-Rabin, Dean of Innovation in Teaching & Learning; Professor of Communication Disorders, Steyer School of Health Professions, Sackler Faculty of Medicine
Prof. Einat Sprinzak, Weizmann Institute of Science
* Number of participants: No limitation
* Pre-registration is required
High-quality research and innovative teaching are often viewed as separate endeavors, yet they complement and strengthen one another. This session showcases how modern pedagogical approaches, such as active learning, inquiry-driven tasks, real diagnostic cases, and immersive technologies, can deepen understanding while cultivating the skills essential for advanced research. From engaging with authentic biomedical challenges to enhancing spatial reasoning through virtual environments, these examples reveal how classrooms can become engines of scientific discovery. Join us to explore how integrating innovative teaching not only elevates learning but also fuels scientific excellence and inspires the next generation of innovators.
SOFT SKILLS SESSION 5
WORKSHOP: Diversity in Science: Intergroup Relations on Campus and in the Lab
Where: Laurence hall, Herods hotel
When: Tuesday, February 24th, 2026, 07:30-08:45
Presented by:
Dr. Maya de Vries, Academia Department Director, The aChord Center specializing in intergroup relations
* Number of participants: Up to 35 participants
* Pre-registration is required
The aChord Center proposes a practical workshop on intergroup relations within academic settings. The workshop addresses the challenges of diversity in higher education, particularly during periods of heightened social or political tension.
The workshop aims to provide tools on how to (1) Conceptualize the psychosocial dynamics of students and intergroup relations, (2) Establish constructive group norms in classrooms, labs, and research groups using the “Traffic Light Model” and (3) Strengthen participants’ ability to manage intergroup dilemmas and challenges.
This Workshop will include a lecture session (30 min) introducing socio-psychosocial biases, followed by a small group work session (20 min) highlighting case-based scenarios drawn from real campus dilemmas, and wrapped up with a discussion (30 min) will be dedicated to sharing insights and summarizing key takeaways.
About aChord: aChord is a unique hybrid social-academic organization that develops and disseminates innovative scientific knowledge in social psychology to promote equal, tolerant and respectful relations between different social groups within Israel.
SOFT SKILLS SESSION 6
WORKSHOP: Becoming an Effective Science Communicator
Where: Tarshish B hall, Dan hotel
When: Wednesday, February 25th, 2026, 07:30-08:45
Presented by:
Prof. Ayelet Baram-Tsabari, Applied Science Communication Research Group
Franz Ollendorf Chair at the Faculty of Education in Science and Technology, Technion – Israel Institute of Technology
* Number of participants: Up to 30 participants
* Pre-registration is required
This hands-on workshop will focus on developing skills to distill scientific messages and communicate them in clear, credible, and accessible ways. By doing so, we are creating the basis for dialogue between scientists and decision-makers, media, potential students, and colleagues from other fields.
SOFT SKILLS SESSION 7
WORKSHOP: AI in Action: Ensuring Research Integrity before Submission
Where: Laurence hall, Herods hotel
When: Wednesday, February 25th, 2026, 07:30-08:45
Presented by:
Dekel Faruhi, Dror Kolodkin-Gal, PhD. ProoFigAI
* Number of participants: Up to 75 participants
* Pre-registration is required
This hands-on workshop* demonstrates how artificial intelligence supports research integrity by screening manuscripts for potential issues before submission. Participants will explore real-life examples of figures and references from life-science papers, including how AI tools detect image duplication, manipulation, and retracted or unreliable citations. The session will feature a live demonstration of PubShield, integrating Proofig AI for image-integrity screening and complementary tools for text and reference quality control. By the end, participants will understand how to apply AI-driven solutions to strengthen research quality, prevent submission delays, and promote responsible publishing practices. Laptop required.
(*) All workshop participants will receive complimentary access to the screening platforms demonstrated during the session, which they can use on their own research papers and grant applications during and after the workshop.
SOFT SKILLS SESSION 8
Infographics
Where: Ella hall, Royal Beach hotel
When: Wednesday, February 25th, 2026, 07:45-08:45
Presented by:
Dr. Yael Friedman-Levi
* Number of participants: No limitation
* Pre-registration is required
Infographics is a way to communicate precise information efficiently and clearly, not merely to “make things look nice.”
As researchers, we constantly create infographics: figures, visuals for papers and grant proposals, graphs, graphical abstracts, posters, and more.
In a fast-moving scientific world overflowing with information and fierce competition for every publication, a well-crafted infographic helps you stand out and convey your message with clarity, professionalism, and visual impact.
In this 60-minute session, we’ll learn how to think strategically about our data and ask the right questions to design a focused and effective message. We’ll explore examples from a variety of scientific fields that can be easily applied using any software. Finally, the core principles of infographic design, including the use of color, layout, and visual framing will be covered, and practical design tips will be shared to help you capture attention and communicate your message with precision and power.
SOFT SKILLS SESSION 9
Doing a Post-Doc: More Than Just Another PhD
Where: Topaz hall, Malkat Shva hotel
When: Wednesday, February 25th, 2026, 07:45-08:45
Presented by:
Prof. Mickey Kosloff, The Department of Human Biology Faculty of Natural Science, University of Haifa
Dr. Yael Litvak, The Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Science, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
* Number of participants: No limitation
* Pre-registration is required
The session will discuss how to choose a Post-Doc, how to prepare for this life-changing event, consider location (Israel vs. abroad), how this might affect family and personal life, how to plan your scientific career in the long run, and the options of returning to an academic position in Israel or staying abroad. Importantly, how NOT to do a post doc will be discussed, as well as new visions such as the double Israel/USA post doc experience.
SOFT SKILLS SESSION 10
The Next Pandemic, Man-made or Natural
Where: Big blue hall B, Dan hotel
When: Wednesday, February 25th, 2026, 07:45-08:45
Presenting panelists:
Prof. Oren Kobiler, Chair of the Council for Research into Disease Agents, Tel Aviv University
Dr. Shay Weiss, The Israel Institute for Biological Research (IIBR): What can we learn from past lab leaks.
Dr. Ronit Meyuhas, Chief Scientist Office, Ministry of health: Dual Use research concerns
Lieutenant Colonel Libby Weiss, Ministry of defense: AI and Synthetic biology, an increased threat?
Prof. Lior Nesher, Director of infectious disease institute, Soroka Medical Center: Stopping the next pandemic before it starts: The power of vaccines.
* Number of participants: No limitation
* Pre-registration is required
Outbreaks of infectious diseases, can escalate into pandemics if they spread rapidly across geographical regions and populations. Several factors can contribute to an outbreak escalating into a pandemic, including high rates of transmission, a lack of effective treatments or vaccines, and global interconnectedness through travel and trade. Reducing the risk for the emergence of such pandemics is a key priority for the life science research community.
Advances in the life sciences and technology, such as synthetic biology and artificial intelligence (AI) are making significant improvement for global health. However, these technological improvements can pose significant risks. Dual-use research of concern (DURC) is defined as research that is intended for beneficial outcomes that might be misapplied, leading to harmful consequences.
In 2008, the Knesset of Israel legislated the Law: “Regulation of research into biological disease agents”. The law establishes the legal framework for the supervision and accreditation of institutions that possess and/or conduct research on biological pathogens that have the potential to be used for biological terrorism. The emergence of COVID-19, Monkeypox and similar zoonotic infection, has led to more labs conducting research on potential pathogens and developing new methods and technologies to detect, identify and treat dangerous pathogens.
The origin of the next pandemic can only be speculated at this time. However, learning from past events and better understanding of the areas in which life sciences research could be most seriously misused, can make us more prepared. Raising awareness among researchers as well as the public will increase responsibility, strengthen governance and national, regional and international preparedness in response to emerging threats.
SOFT SKILLS SESSION 11
WORKSHOP: AI Beginners Workshop - Getting Started with ChatGPT and AI Tools for Research
Where: Laurence hall, Herods hotel
When: Wednesday, February 25th, 14:30-16:15
Presented by:
Dr. Tilda Barliya
* Number of participants: Up to 75 participants
* Pre-registration is required
Description: Designed for participants with no prior experience using AI tools, this hands-on workshop introduces effective interactions with ChatGPT, prompt crafting, and literature searches using Scispace. Participants will practice identifying relevant research, extracting insights, and applying AI tools to streamline the review and writing process. Laptop required.
SOFT SKILLS SESSION 12
WORKSHOP: Advanced Workshop on Data Analysis and Smart Presentations with Julius AI
Where: Laurence hall, Herods hotel
When: Thursday, February 26th, 08:30-10:15
Presented by:
Dr. Tilda Barliya
* Number of participants: Up to 75 participants
* Pre-registration is required
Designed for those familiar with basic AI tools, this workshop covers data analysis using Julius AI, including experimental and survey data. Participants will generate visualizations and create automated summary presentations to enhance research impact. Laptop required.