BGU to Establish Ocean Studies Center in Eilat
BGU to Establish Ocean Studies Center in Eilat
January 23, 2014
Leadership, Awards & Events, Natural Sciences
The Jerusalem Post — This week in Jerusalem, in the presence of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, the presidents of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev and Dalhousie University of Nova Scotia signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish an Ocean Studies Center in Eilat.
BGU’s goal in establishing the Center is to create an internationally recognized site for marine sciences that focuses on basic, applied and industry-partnered scientific advances, and to create a gathering place for marine scientists from around the world.
BGU President Rivka Carmi and Dalhousie University President Richard Florizone
The Center will focus on a number of fields – including marine biology, oceanography, under sea geology, transportation systems, marine law governing sovereignty and the regulation of endangered species, as well as marine security and marine management.
BGU’s top-notch Department of Marine Biology and Biotechnology is already hosted at the University’s Eilat campus, and this new Center will augment and enhance its activities.
Dalhousie University has over 100 world famous ocean scientists distributed across a number of faculties and disciplines. In addition, it has close ties through its Halifax Marine Research Institute with five Canadian federal government laboratories and a number of successful ocean technology companies.
BGU and Dalhousie will collaborate on applied joint research projects, co-supervision of doctoral students, industry research internships in both countries, joint field courses in the winter in Eilat and in the summer at Dalhousie University, co-taught courses delivered electronically over long distances, and major international scientific thematic conferences and workshops both in Eilat and Halifax.
“The sea covers 70 percent of the earth’s surface and is essential for our survival. And yet, at the same time, most of it remains unexplored – filled with mystery and unfulfilled potential,” says BGU President Prof. Rivka Carmi.
“We believe this partnership will strengthen cutting-edge science at both universities and place this unique initiative at the forefront of global research,” she adds.
Read more on The Jerusalem Post website >>
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