BERGMANN, DAVID ERNST

(1903-75)

   Born in Karlsruhe, Germany, he immigrated to Palestine in 1934, becoming scientific director of the Sieff Research Institute. He conducted advanced scientific research for France and Great Britain during World War II while serving on the Technical Committee of the Hagana. In 1948, he was appointed director of the scientific research department of the Israel Ministry of Defense. From 1949 to 1952, he was scientific director of the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot. He was appointed chairman of Israel's Atomic Energy Commission in 1952, a position he held until 1966. Beginning in 1953, he was also professor of organic chemistry at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Recipient of the Israel Defense Prize in 1966 and Israel Prize in 1968, Bergmann was a member of Israel's National Council for Research and Development and the Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanity and a life member of the prestigious New York Academy of Sciences. He died in Jerusalem.