Background on A.S.G.

The Academic Study Group was established in 1977 in order to forge closer links between political and social scientists in Britain, and their counterparts in the higher education sector in Israel.

In its infancy A.S.G. concentrated almost exclusively on analysing developments in the newly-reborn State of Israel and conflicts raging in the Middle East.

Latterly A.S.G. has radically revised and enlarged its terms of reference.

The Trust now applies all its modest resources to the promotion of new collaborations between researchers in the U.K. - in any field of enquiry - and their most accomplished counterparts in Israel. A.S.G.'s modest budget is provided entirely by well-wishers in the U.K.

Israel at 50+ has evolved into a highly sophisticated, premier league “player” in many areas of academic research. A.S.G., as a British foundation, seeks to enlarge networks of bi-lateral co-operation between centres of excellence in the two countries.

TWO PRINCIPAL INITIATIVES

A) Workshops :

A.S.G. organises two or three workshops / study tours each year in Israel. Each workshop runs for 2-3 days followed by field trips around Israel. Recent workshops have focused on issues in child psychiatry, women's studies, economic theory, giftedness in children, geology, cultural geography, gerontology, nursing studies, theology, high tech innovations and neuroscience.

Future workshops will bring together British and Israeli specialists on paediatric endocrinology, social policy, archaeology, tropical medicine and water management.

B) Isaiah Berlin Israel Travel Awards :

In addition, each academic year ASG offers 20-30 modest travel bursaries to Israel which are awarded to individuals conducting ground-breaking research with academic colleagues in Israel. These scholarships bear the name of Sir Isaiah Berlin who was one of the original founding Council Members of the Trust.

British academics in any field of enquiry may apply.

Priority is given to :

  1. First-time visitors to Israel
  2. To scholars who have been in regular correspondence with colleagues in Israel and received personal invitations to lecture / explore joint research programmes in Israel
  3. British scholars interested in obtaining research data for comparative Anglo-Israeli studies

Generally we do not furnish grants to British scholars who have merely been invited to participate/present at international meetings held in Israel.

Applicants should submit :

  1. A detailed c.v.
  2. A summary of reasons for wishing to visit Israel
  3. Names of Israeli academic counterparts or correspondents

Applications are considered each year in March and again in November.

ADMINISTRATION

A.S.G.’s Executive consists of :

  • Sir Walter Bodmer (President)
  • Aviva Petrie (Treasurer)
  • John D. A. Levy (Director)

Members of the National Council include:

  • Prof Vernon Bogdanor, University of Oxford
  • Prof R F Boucher, University of Sheffield
  • Sir John Boyd, University of Cambridge
  • Prof Glynis Breakwell, University of Bath
  • Prof Sir Kenneth Calman, University of Durham
  • Prof Dame Averil Cameron, University of Oxford
  • Prof Sir Colin Campbell, University of Nottingham
  • Prof Sir Philip Cohen, University of Dundee
  • Prof Sir Graeme Davies, University of London
  • Sir Howard Davies, London School of Economics
  • Prof C R W Edwards, University of Newcastle
  • Prof John Friend, University of Hull
  • Prof Alan Gilbert, University of Manchester
  • Prof Malcolm Grant, University College London
  • Baroness Greenfield, The Royal Institution
  • Prof Peter Gregson, Queen's University of Belfast
  • Prof Sir Andrew Haines, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
  • Gavin Henderson, Trinity College of Music
  • Prof Stephen Hill, Royal Holloway College
  • Prof Christine King, Staffordshire University
  • Prof David S Latchman, Birkbeck College
  • Prof Sir Eli Lauterpacht, University of Cambridge
  • Prof Simon Lee, Leeds Metropolitan University
  • Prof Peter Mathias, University of Cambridge
  • Prof David Melville, University of Kent
  • Prof Jerry Morris, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
  • Prof Sir Howard Newby, University of the West of England
  • Prof Daphne Osborne, Open University, Oxford
  • Prof Sir Gareth Roberts, University of Oxford
  • Prof Steve Smith, University of Exeter
  • Prof Christopher Snowden, University of Surrey
  • Sir Richard Sykes, Imperial College
  • Prof Sir John Meurig Thomas, University of Cambridge
  • Prof Richard Trainor, King’s College London
  • Prof V D VandeLinde, University of Warwick
  • Prof Paul Webley, School of Oriental & African Studies
  • Prof Sir David Williams, University of Cambridge

Friends of Israel Educational Foundation