Zafra M. Lerman

Lerman received a Ph.D. in Chemistry from the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot, Israel.[10][11] She conducted research on isotope effects at the Weizmann Institute of Science,[11][12] Cornell University and Northwestern University[13] in the US, and the ETH Zurich, Switzerland.

Zafra M Lerman students dancing to illustrate chemistry 2001 Gordon Conference (photo by David Morton)

Lerman used the arts to help teach science at all levels.[14][15] In 1977, she became the first science faculty member at Columbia College Chicago, an institution of higher education specializing in arts and media disciplines.[16] In 1981, she founded the Department of Science and Mathematics there and served as department Chair through 1991.[17] In 1991, she founded the Institute for Science Education and Science Communication (also known as the 'Science Institute") at Columbia College and served as its head until 2009.[18] Since 1991 she was a Distinguished Professor of Science and Public Policy.

Part of her teaching philosophy is captured in this quote, from a 2011 lecture entitled "Creativity in 3D: "Drawing, Dance, and Drama": "Students remember and understand abstract concepts best by producing their own artistic projects and using their own (sometimes hidden) creativity. Through this process, students are active learners, and utilize both their left and right brain, instead of being just passive observers."[19]

Malta V Conference at UNESCO headquarters in Paris, France, December 4, 2011; His Royal Highness Prince Hassan of Jordan (center-left), Irina Bokova (center-right, Director-General of UNESCO), and Dr. Zafra M. Lerman (right, President of the Malta Conferences Foundation). (Photo by Cynthia Warren Mentz)

In addition to developing innovative methods of teaching science through the arts, Lerman started using science to promote peace and human rights around the globe. In 1986 she was named Chair of the American Chemical Society's Subcommittee on Scientific Freedom and Human Rights.[20] Among other activities, this group's mission included helping scientists who, for political reasons, were jailed, abused, and sentenced to execution. She held that position for 25 years.

Starting in 2001, Lerman began working to develop a scientific conference that would bring together researchers from many different, often mutually hostile, nations in the Middle East so they could cooperatively work toward solving problems facing the region. With support from the American Chemical Society (ACS), International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC), the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC - England), and the Gesellschaft Deutscher Chemiker, the first conference was held on the island of Malta from December 6 to 11, 2003.[21][22] Attendees included six Nobel Laureates and scientists from 15 Middle Eastern Countries (Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Palestinian Authority, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey, and United Arab Emirates).[22] The conference included workshops to foster cross-border collaborations on air and water quality, science education for all, and green energy.

The organizers followed up by hosting a second meeting two years later, Malta II.[23]

The meeting was honored by United States Senator Dick Durbin in a speech on the floor of the U.S. Senate entitled "Chemists Working Cooperatively".[24]

Lerman led the initiative to continue with the conferences and founded the Malta Conferences Foundation to support them. She secured the support of UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization.

List of Malta Conferences