Dual BSc in Mechanical Engineering and Earth Sciences with a specialization in Environmental

Student Stories

Chen Ornstein

What are you doing today?

Aerospace Engineer

Why did you choose the dual-degree program?

During my post-army travels, I met engineers specializing in environmental integration. The connection between understanding our world and using that knowledge to create solutions fascinated me.

How do you feel the two degrees benefit you?

Absolutely. In my view, the two degrees perfectly complement one another. I once met a team working on an experiment aboard the International Space Station. I asked the engineer about the experiment’s results, and he said, “I don’t know — I only built the device, ask the scientist.” Then I asked the scientist how the data was collected, and he replied, “I don’t know — I only analyze the data, ask the engineer.”

I realized that I understood both sides of the experiment, and to me, that is the greatest strength of this dual degree. You learn how to provide comprehensive solutions — to think both as the engineer developing the solution and as the scientist defining the research goals and analyzing the data.

Advice for first-year students

Think about what you truly want to learn and what interests you, and pursue it — even if it is not exactly part of the official curriculum. The university will always encourage you to explore what excites you, so go for it!

Yonatan Levy

What are you doing today?

I am currently in a direct Ph.D. track in Geophysics under the supervision of Dr. Ariel Lalush, researching seismic ambient noise collected using DAS (Distributed Acoustic Sensing) fiber-optic technology.

Why did you choose the dual-degree program?

I loved physics and Earth sciences and wanted to combine them with a more practical engineering degree. When I began the program, I thought I wanted to work on technological solutions for environmental challenges and climate change. During my studies, I was exposed to many fascinating fields and eventually discovered a different direction.

How do you feel the two degrees benefit you?

Together, the two degrees provide completely different perspectives and ways of thinking that emerge from a similar scientific foundation. The ability to approach the same problem from multiple directions greatly helps me in my research today.

Advice for first-year students

At first, the foundational courses may seem disconnected from real-world applications, but a strong understanding of them gives you the ability to grow in any field later on. Most importantly, despite the workload, do not give up your hobbies, rest, and the things that make you happy — they are what enable you to keep learning and succeed.

Melody Korman

What are you doing today?

I manage the Israeli Space Forum and oversee space mission activities at Rakia.

Why did you choose the dual-degree program?

I wanted a field of study that would help me enter the Israeli space industry.

How do you feel the two degrees benefit you?

They help tremendously. First, they provide me with a broad, multidisciplinary perspective on every project I manage. In addition, they greatly supported my work at the International Space University and my role in managing activities for the first Israeli astronaut mission to the International Space Station, where I served as Flight Operation Manager.

Advice for first-year students

Do not give up. It can be difficult and demanding at times, but once everything you learn across the different courses starts to connect, you realize just how worthwhile this degree truly is.

Ira Tsiganov

What are you doing today?

Vice President at Bar Dov Engineering and Management, a company specializing in consulting and project management in the field of energy production and supply.

Why did you choose the dual-degree program?

I have always had strong technical abilities and an interest in scientific and analytical fields, but it was important to me that my work also connect to environmental and ecological issues. This degree provided exactly the combination of disciplines that mattered to me.

How do you feel the two degrees benefit you?

Definitely. The energy sector is highly interdisciplinary, and establishing energy production facilities requires a holistic perspective to ensure optimal integration into their environment. The Earth Sciences degree provides the complementary knowledge that enables me to improve planning processes and minimize environmental impact.

Advice for first-year students

Be patient. The degree is intensive and challenging, especially during the first two years, but it becomes easier as you progress. In my opinion, the combination of disciplines also provides a valuable balance between technical and human-centered perspectives, giving you room to breathe and adding a great deal to the overall experience.

Students Share Their Experience

“I wanted to work in the field of green energy in the future, and Mechanical Engineering had always interested me. I was looking for a degree that connected the two, until I discovered this program — which was also the only one of its kind in Israel. I invested two years into being accepted, and after a great deal of hard work, I got in. I am extremely happy with my decision.”

“I was looking for a challenging and unconventional program that combined my interest in the environment, Earth, and space with technology and creativity. I believe the knowledge I gain from both degrees together will help me develop technological engineering solutions to environmental challenges such as climate change, air pollution, and the use of depletable resources. In my opinion, a successful mechanical engineer is someone who designs products and processes while considering every stage and implication — including their environmental impact. That is exactly what I aspire to become.”

“I started the dual-degree program because I wanted to understand and help solve the climate crisis by studying both engineering and the exact sciences.”

“At first, I chose Mechanical Engineering because I knew I loved physics, mechanics, and hands-on work. I also knew I wanted to work in renewable energy and environmental fields. When I came across this program, it immediately stood out to me — combining Mechanical Engineering with Earth Sciences felt like a perfect connection between worlds. I also hope it will give me an ‘extra edge’ in companies developing innovative renewable-energy solutions.”

“My desire to join industries fighting global warming motivated me to pursue this dual degree.”

“Curiosity is the key. During my travels, I became fascinated by renewable energy and natural phenomena, and I wanted to understand how these processes work.”

“I wanted to study Mechanical Engineering because I wanted an engineering field that felt tangible and hands-on. Then I discovered the dual-degree program and the Geophysics course list — all the topics sounded incredibly exciting. I also wanted to better understand how Earth works, and I felt that the dual degree could help me integrate more easily into the space field, which greatly interests me. Another thing that fascinated me was understanding how the systems we build interact with, influence, and are influenced by Earth’s natural processes.”

“The combination of theoretical science and applied engineering seemed incredibly exciting to me — exactly what I had always dreamed of.”

“I wanted to study both fields and simply could not choose between them. I’m interested in geology, the environment, and machines.”

“I have always loved machines. Before my military service, I studied practical Mechanical Engineering, and during my service I worked extensively with F-16 aircraft and their weapons systems. While I loved working with aircraft and was fascinated by the mechanics and engineering behind them, I found it increasingly difficult to ignore their environmental impact. I began paying more attention to the world around me and to the ways humans influence it through the machines we create. When I discovered this dual-degree program, I realized it was exactly what I was looking for — a degree that combines my passion for understanding mechanical complexity with my curiosity about how machines affect the Earth. I hope it will allow me to build a career as a Mechanical Engineer developing technologies that protect the environment rather than harm it.”