Prof. Ariel Cohen (1940-2025) was a Professor of Atmospheric Physics and Planetary Astronomy in the Department of Atmospheric Sciences, and a pioneer in LIDAR research and remote sensing in Israel. Over more than five decades, he made an extraordinary contribution to Israeli and international science, authoring dozens of articles and books in his fields of research.

Ariel, who came to Israel as a child Holocaust survivor, built a brilliant academic career. During his service in the IDF, he was sent to the United States to study the emerging field of meteorological satellites and laser radar technology, and became a world-renowned expert in these areas. In 1971, he received his doctorate from the Hebrew University for the development of lidar, and continued his research at the American National Institute of Atmospheric Physics through a scholarship from the National Academy of Sciences. Upon his return to Israel, he engaged in a wide range of subjects in the fields of space, astronomy, and remote sensing. At the age of 40, he was appointed full professor, being among the youngest to receive this recognition at the Hebrew University. He also served as a member of the Executive Committee of the Israel Space Agency