Technion Trailblazers: Wayne Kaplan Reflects on 10/7 and Looks Toward the Future

In the year since the horrific and devastating attacks of October 7, 2023, our world has completely changed. More than one thousand Israelis lost their lives that day – a tragedy that we will never forget. As we reflect and hope for the hostages’ safe return, one thing has become clear: Israeli resilience has never been stronger.

As people around Israel woke up to a new reality on October 8, 2023, so too did the students and staff at the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology. To commemorate this tragic anniversary and honor the bravery of all those called to the front lines, I spoke with Professor Wayne D. Kaplan, Technion Vice President of External Relations and Resource Development. He shared more about how the university stepped up for its students, courageously adapted to change, and found the strength to continue pursuing life-changing research during this difficult year. While this conversation took place before the recent conflict in the north, his insights into the undertaking the Technion has made to support its community are a reminder of how we remain poised for a resilient future.

Michael: I know the Technion coordinated an impressive array of resources for students immediately following the attacks to support them throughout the school year. What was the number one priority in those first few weeks?

Wayne: Our key focus was two-fold. On the one hand, the President of the Technion, Professor Uri Sivan, understood the imperative of ensuring that the campus was prepared for an attack and safe for our community, which remains a continued priority.

On the other hand, we had students being called up for service. Knowing that spending time away from campus would put a significant strain on their academic pursuits, Professor Sivan mobilized a huge effort to ensure that these students had what they needed not only when they were called, but also when they returned to the Technion.

We worked closely with the American Technion Society and our other global societies to fundraise for tuition assistance for returning reservists and other needs to ease the transition back to campus. Thanks to the generous contributions of the Technion community around the world, as well as a strong commitment by Technion management, we were able to cover a higher portion of tuition and dorm costs for students over the last year than any other university in Israel.

Michael: In the last year, there has been an especially strong feeling of solidarity among Jewish and Israeli people all over the world. The instinctual drive to lend a helping hand has also been prevalent at the Technion. Are there any specific examples of this support that stand out to you?

Wayne: The way that our students and staff have proactively stepped up for anyone in need is a beautiful example of the true nature of the Technion community. In the last year, I’ve seen groups jump into action to bring clothing, food, and other necessities to displaced families who lived near Gaza and the northern part of Israel. Entire academic departments also went out into the greater Haifa community to clean out bomb shelters in homes for the elderly and schools. Watching students and staff support each other has been uplifting on its own, and witnessing how they have worked together to reach out to those in need outside of campus is especially comforting.

Michael: The way that everyone in the Technion community finds strength in each other is certainly palpable. When I visited in March, I was blown away by the resilience of the students and faculty who were determined to continue their work as much as possible even in this time of fear and stress. Did this motivation to continue their work surprise you?

Wayne: No, it did not. Israel is very resilient, and our campus community is a true reflection of that spirit. I know that it feels very surreal – and it is surreal – to have a war going on mere miles from your classroom while conducting research or continuing your studies at the same time. But this drive to keep pushing forward during hardship indicates the motivation of the typical Israeli. We have had to persevere through difficult times before, and this is one of the strongest characteristics of our students and staff. I’m sure you have witnessed the same strength throughout the country when you’ve visited.

Michael: Absolutely. You also mentioned that the Technion knew that thousands of students would be called up for service. How has the university been able to proceed with classes and research with this challenge?

Wayne: It has been difficult, which was expected. We are doing everything we can to make sure that every student is supported. We delayed the winter semester beyond that of other Israeli universities to give reservists as much time as possible to return before lectures began. We also knew that hundreds of students would not return to campus until after classes started, and our administration and staff prioritized building academic support programs to make up for lost time. We invested in recruiting senior and graduate students to serve as tutors, which has been incredibly successful.

Research, on the other hand, has understandably been more difficult to continue at the same pace. Some labs had to close for safety measures, and the fact that many labs had graduate students, advisors, and engineers called up for service was an unavoidable obstacle. We’re doing everything we can, however, to make sure that our MSc and PhD students have the time they need to complete their degrees. Many of our labs on campus are still running and pursuing life-changing research, like developing fluidic lenses that will one day bring affordable prescription eyeglasses to rural communities and harnessing imaging technology to help us better address pediatric learning disabilities.

Michael: Continuing to hear about the groundbreaking innovations at the Technion has provided several moments of much needed hope this year. However, even though operations are proceeding as normally as possible, it feels that everyone in Israel has a connection to the victims of the October 7^th attacks, the hostages, and those who have been sent to the front lines. What has support at the Technion looked like for these folks?

Wayne: Indeed. Everybody knows somebody, and unfortunately, we have Technion staff and students who have lost loved ones or who have family or friends held hostage. We have lost alumni, and we have had students killed. Our community’s needs are highly individual, and the folks who are leading the team tasked with addressing these needs have some of the biggest hearts you can possibly imagine. We do all we can to fulfill what students need when they approach us for help, but we also understand that proactive outreach to students is essential so that they know what resources are available to them.

Beyond the official academic, financial, and psychological support that we’re offering to all students, there are some things that simply can never be replaced. Embracing each other – literally and figuratively – is sometimes the most valuable display of support we can offer. For example, we have a student who has been critically injured and still has not fully recovered. One of the best ways we can support him and his family through this hardship is by listening to his experience and letting him know that he is not alone. We’ve also worked with siblings who lost their parents and their home on October 7^th. The least we could do was provide an apartment, clothing, bedding, and other supplies as they courageously continued their studies. If a student reaches out for help, we will do everything we can to make sure they feel safe and cared for at the Technion. Aside from the physical items we try to provide to make our students’ lives easier, we always offer empathy and understanding of the challenges that come with this uncertain time.

Michael: Even though there are some things that cannot be replaced, having a supportive group of people to walk through those challenges with you can certainly make the burden feel less heavy. Our thoughts are always with our friends and family at the Technion during this difficult season. With their eyes toward the future, not only are current students and faculty positioned for a successful year ahead, so are those from around world who accepted Professor Sivan’s invitation to bring their academic talent to the Technion in the face of antisemitism at home. Even through adversity, the Technion will always be a place of world-class innovation and progress for everyone.