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Blavatnik Awards
June 6, 2026
Bucking Boycotts, Prizewinning Israeli Astrophysicist Finds ‘Zen-like’ Perspective in Space

Astrophysicist Paz Beniamini, an associate professor of physics at the Open University of Israel, has been named a 2026 Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists in Israel Laureate in Physical Sciences & Engineering. Beniamini, who heads the university’s Astrophysics Research Center, was recognized for research into some of the universe’s most energetic phenomena, including fast radio bursts, gamma-ray bursts, and highly magnetized neutron stars. His work explores extreme environments where particles move at extraordinary speeds and magnetic fields far exceed those found on Earth. The recognition marks the first Blavatnik Award for the Open University of Israel, highlighting the strength of its growing research community and astrophysics program. The article also emphasizes Beniamini’s commitment to international scientific collaboration and to education as a foundation for future discovery. Through the Awards, the Blavatnik Family Foundation helps recognize exceptional early-career scientists whose research expands understanding of the natural world and inspires the next generation.

Higher Education
June 5, 2026
Former Canadian PM Justin Trudeau Visits Oxford University

Former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visited the University of Oxford’s Blavatnik School of Government for a discussion on the future of democracy in a technology-driven world. The visit included a conversation with Dean Ngaire Woods and the School’s Master of Public Policy class, as well as a meeting with Canadian students. Trudeau’s engagement offered students the opportunity to hear from a former head of government on the evolving challenges facing democratic institutions, public leadership, and governance. The discussion reflected the Blavatnik School’s role as a forum for rigorous exchange among policymakers, scholars, and emerging public leaders.

Arts & Culture
June 3, 2026
This Joyful Marilyn Monroe Exhibition Will Melt Your Heart

The National Portrait Gallery’s Marilyn Monroe: A Portrait, supported by the Blavatnik Family Foundation, presents a vivid centenary reassessment of Monroe through the photographers and artists who shaped her public image. The exhibition foregrounds photography as a powerful means of understanding Monroe’s presence, from early images of Norma Jeane by André de Dienes to later portraits by Philippe Halsman, Eve Arnold, Cecil Beaton, Sam Shaw, and others. Rather than centering the familiar tragedy of Monroe’s final years, the show emphasizes her vitality, intelligence, and expressive range, including images that capture her playfulness, poise, and introspection. It also places celebrated photographs alongside paintings and works made after her death, inviting reflection on the difference between Monroe as a living collaborator and Monroe as a cultural symbol. Film excerpts and portraits together highlight the artistry and complexity behind one of the most enduring figures in modern visual culture. The Foundation’s support helps make this thoughtful exhibition accessible to broad audiences, encouraging renewed engagement with portraiture, cinema, and the construction of public identity.

Arts & Culture
June 3, 2026
How Ken Burns, David Schmidt and Sarah Botstein’s ‘The American Revolution’ Documentary Lends a Voice to the Underrepresented and Took 10 Years to Make

Ken Burns, Sarah Botstein, and David Schmidt’s six-part PBS documentary series The American Revolution, supported by the Blavatnik Family Foundation, reflects a decade of research, collaboration, and documentary craft. The series was created without the benefit of photography or newsreel footage, requiring the filmmakers to develop an impressionistic visual approach supported by reenactments, archival materials, and a large cast of voice actors. Drawing on the work of historians, writers, archivists, and more than 150 historical voices, the documentary seeks to move beyond familiar mythology and present the Revolution as a complex human story. Particular attention is given to the experiences of African Americans, Native Americans, women, and others whose roles have often been underrepresented in traditional accounts of the founding era. By restoring these perspectives to the broader narrative, the series invites audiences to consider the Revolution’s reach across millions of lives and its continuing relevance to questions of liberty, citizenship, and democracy.

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Providing many of the world's best researchers, scientists, and universities with support, and funding to discover breakthroughs that solve humankind's greatest challenges.

See how we support great cultural institutions around the world

The Foundation contributes to renowned institutions that showcase the breadth of arts and culture, including performance, exhibition and education.

Visit the Blavatnik Archive

The Blavatnik Archive is a nonprofit foundation dedicated to preserving and disseminating materials that contribute to the study of 20th-century Jewish and world history, with a special emphasis on World War I, World War II, and Soviet Russia.

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