First Graduation in the New Building

The Porter School's traditional graduation ceremony took place, for the very first time, in our new building – the greenest building in the entire Middle East.

Thirty two new graduates – 16 from the non-thesis Master's program, and 16 who have completed an MA or MSc with a thesis – along with many excited guests, gathered in the building's lobby on a fine summer evening to celebrate the event. The natural light of the Tel Aviv sunset, flooding the scene through the towering glass walls, gave the occasion a new, festive grandeur, and a special significance.

The graduates and their guests enjoyed a guided tour through the unique building, recently completed after a complex planning & construction process. The tour was followed by warm words from the School's Head Prof. Dan Rabinowitz and Founder Dame Shirley Porter, as well as the General Director of TAU, Mr.  Mordehai Kohn.

"Since the environment can be defined as all that surrounds us, ways to protect it can be found in various fields," said honorary graduate Elad Shochat, who spoke on behalf of the graduates.  "Some of the students graduating today focused on urban communities, others on waste-management; some students dedicated their research to energy issues, others to treatment of water. But all of us share one concern: how to stop the deterioration of environmental and social systems, and to protect what was given to us for the benefit of future generations."

The Porter School of Environmental Studies Building will open officially at the beginning of the coming academic year.