Can we program computers in our native tongue? This idea, termed natural language programming, has attracted attention almost since the inception of computers themselves. From the point of view of software engineering (SE), efforts to program in natural language (NL) have relied thus far on controlled natural languages (CNL) -- small unambiguous fragments of English with strict grammars and limited expressivity. Is it possible to replace CNLs with truly natural, human language? From the point of view of natural language processing (NLP), current technology successfully extracts static information from NL texts. However, human-like NL understanding goes far beyond such extraction -- it requires dynamic interpretation processes which affect, and are affected by, the environment, update states and lead to action. So, is it possible to endow computers with this kind of dynamic NL understanding? These two questions are fundamental to SE and NLP, respectively, and addressing each requires a huge leap forward in the respective field. In this proposal I argue that the solutions to these seemingly separate challenges are actually closely intertwined, and that one community's challenge is the other community's stepping stone for a huge leap, and vice versa. Specifically, I propose to view executable programs in SE as semantic structures in NLP, and use them as the basis for broad-coverage dynamic semantic parsing. My ambitious, cross-disciplinary goal is to develop a new NL compiler based on this novel approach to NL semantics. The NL compiler will accept an NL description as input and return an executable system as output. Moreover, it will continuously improve its NL understanding capacity via online learning that will feed on verification, simulation, synthesis or user feedback. Such dynamic, ever-improving, NL compilers will have vast applications in AI, SE, robotics and cognitive computing and will fundamentally change the way humans and computers interact.

Ever since the European Researchers' Night project initiated, our consortium used it to strengthen ties between the academic community and the public at large, bringing scientists to meet the public at eye-level. We are proud to say that along the years we have achieved that goal by running venues all over the country in both main cities and the periphery while partners also engaged the public by outreach activities at local pubs, cafes and community centers. Those achievements will continue to lead our way in 2018&2019 when running the ERN events countrywide by the leading academic institutions and the Ministry of Science, bringing scientists and the public to meet and celebrate science together.

With successive 14 years of successful NIGHTs, support (in time, efforts and funds) from the Israel Ministry of Science and Technology, more than 55,000 visitors a year, one Guinness World Record, 14 venues countrywide from Kiryat-Shmona in the very north to Eilat in the very south and a national TV, national radio and major newspapers coverage, our strong consortium, which consists of 13 major institutions in the Israeli academic community, is committed to European Researchers' Night success. All of the partners which will take part and operate 2020 European Researchers' Night event already have the experience and took part in previous European Researchers' Night events. Our consortium consists of the major research universities in Israel (including the Hebrew University and the Weizmann institute), leading research institutions, education collages and major science museums (including the National Museum of Science which will also coordinate the project for the 10th times in a row). Each partner in the pro