Gad Degani

In 1996, Degani initiated the opening of other departments in the college, including the environmental studies department, the biotechnology department and the nutrition department. He also initiated the MA in biotechnology, a program which Degani headed since its establishment and until it was approved by the high education committee. Later on, he initiated a BSc in life science. Since 1997, Degani serves as an associate professor, and later on as a professor in the Faculty of Agriculture in the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and since 1998 he serves as a professor in the faculty of science and technology in the Tel-Hai Academic College. He also served as the academic manager of the Faculty of Agriculture exchange in the Tel-Hai Academic College, between 1987–1999, and started the MA program for Masters in biotechnology, which he headed between 2008–2013. In 2021, Degani received the Yakir Certificate from Tel Hai Academic College in recognition of the construction of a faculty of science and technology at this college.

Degani is one of the founders of the MIGAL research center in Kiryat Shemona, and he served as the scientific manager of the institute between 1986–2011. In 1990, Degani initiated a cooperation with Aliza Amir-Zohar, a member of Kibbutz Bar'am who served as the manager of the regional Tel-Hai Academic College, and with Ya’akov Arazi, the manager of the MIGAL institute, that founded the association founding the science school, that later becomes the science faculty in the Tel-Hai Academic College. Initially, the association submitted a request to open three programs in the college: biotechnology, environmental studies and computer engineering studies. These programs were the core of the Science School, that became, upon reception of the approval of the high education committee in 1993, the faculty of science and technology. Between 1999 and 2003, Degani served as the faculty dean.

In 1976, Degani graduated from his MSc in Biology in the Technion, and in 1979 he completed his PhD in the faculty of Life Sciences in the Tel Aviv University. He started his way as a lecturer in zoology in the field of vertebrates and invertebrates. Later on, he studied fields of biotechnology of agriculture and water, and specialized in the nutrition and reproduction of fish. In 1981–1982 he served as a research fellow in the Technion biology department, and between 1983–1984 he served as a guest scientist in East Carolina University, United States, where he was also an adjunct professor in 1993. Additionally, he served as a guest scientist in New York City University in Brooklyn in 1991, and in Maryland University in 1994. Between 1990 and 2000 Degani was the head of the Golan Research Institute (today known as the Shamir Research Institute).

Degani was born in Kibbutz Dan, to a family that founded the Kibbutz during the Tower and Stockade (Homa u’Migdal) settlement period, He attended high school in the Kibbutz. In 1962, Degani joined the Nahal as a Kibbutz member, and later on, took an officer course and served as a Platoon commander and an emergency battalion communications officer in the artillery corps base in Shivta, where he also served on reserve until the Six Day War. After the war, he requested to transfer to an infantry corps battalion, and continued to serve as a company commander and later on as a battalion commander as a lieutenant colonel. Upon release from service, Degani returned to Kibbutz Dan, was in charge of the Nahal settlement in the Kibbutz and reestablished Hashomer Hatzair nest in Kiryat Shemona.

Gad Degani (Hebrew: גד דגני; born 6 February 1943) is an Israeli Professor in the Faculty of Agriculture in the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and Professor in the Faculty of science and technology in the Tel-Hai Academic College. Degani is life sciences researcher, zoologist, eco-physiologist, and genetic ecologist. Degani is the initiator and founder of the science and technology faculty in the Tel-Hai Academic Collegee and one of the founders of the MIGAL research institute in Kiryat Shmona.