LOS ANGELES, CA, May 3, 2012 -- American Associates, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (AABGU) has received a $1 million pledge from long-time Ben-Gurion Society members Henry and Anita Weiss to further nanotechnology research at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU).

This generous donation will support a new unit for advanced computer simulation in quantum optics, as well as provide funding to retain highly skilled technical staff to continue the University's groundbreaking research in nanotechnology. The Weiss's have been supporting nanotechnology at BGU since 2005, funding the Henry and Anita Weiss Family Building for Advanced Research, as well as the Weiss Family Laboratory for Nanoscale Systems. Their daughter, Donna Weiss Lam, is a member of AABGU's board of directors.

"We are so proud to continue to help provide BGU the resources necessary for continued cutting-edge research and training in nanotechnology," says Henry Weiss. "It is so exciting to see the level of research being conducted in the Negev, which will hopefully benefit scientific advancements worldwide."

Their new gift will support the work of the Atom Chip and Quantum Optics R&D Facility, part of the University's "Nano in the Negev" program, which contains advanced research equipment, including sophisticated optics and lasers, high-level computing capabilities and complex electronics.

"AABGU is extremely grateful for the ongoing support and vision of the Weiss family," explains Doron Krakow, executive vice president of AABGU. "They have been pioneers in support of nanotechnology research at BGU for quite some time, partnering with Prof. Ron Folman in driving the University's efforts in this critical field."

To learn more about BGU's "Nano in the Negev" initiative, visit www.aabgu.org/nano or contact AABGU Regional Director Philip Gomperts at pgomperts@aabgu.org or 310-552-3300.

American Associates, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev

American Associates, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev plays a vital role in sustaining David Ben-Gurion's vision, creating a world-class institution of education and research in the Israeli desert, nurturing the Negev community and sharing the University's expertise locally and around the globe. With some 20,000 students on campuses in Beer-Sheva, Sede Boqer and Eilat in Israel's southern desert, BGU is a university with a conscience, where the highest academic standards are integrated with community involvement, committed to sustainable development of the Negev. For more information, please visit www.aabgu.org