THE LEON H. CHARNEY SCHOOL OF MARINE SCIENCES

AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HAIFA

THE UNIVERSITY OF HAIFA’S CHARNEY SCHOOL LEADS

THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA RESEARCH CENTER OF ISRAEL

The University of Haifa is proud and honored to have been

chosen by the Council for Higher Education to lead the

Mediterranean Sea Research Center of Israel.

Recent discoveries of significant reserves of natural gas in the

Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Israel have catapulted the

Mediterranean Sea into the international spotlight and onto

Israel's national agenda. The current surge of marine activity

and industrial development has spurred the establishment of

the Israeli Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). The offshore EEZ is

larger than the entire onshore area of Israel and holds an

important key to Israel’s future.

In response to these developments and for the first time in

Israel's history, seven of its universities, one college and two

research institutes have agreed to work cooperatively under

the leadership of the University of Haifa to address an

unprecedented array of scientific and technological, economic,

security, environmental challenges and opportunities.

As the founding university of The Mediterranean Sea Research

Center of Israel, the University of Haifa is playing a key role in

advancing marine research in Israel and shaping national policy

on resource management, economic development, security,

peace, and the environment. The Center will focus on:

Educating a new generation of scientists and

researchers who will serve as Israel's decision makers in

academia, the government, industry and NGOs

Developing the modern, scientific infrastructure

needed to study the coastal and offshore Eastern

Mediterranean

Ensuring sustainable development of Israel’s national

resources in the Eastern Mediterranean

This important national research initiative will further

establish our university as a center of excellence in marine

research, a hub for national and international scientific

cooperation, and will strengthen the northern region of Israel

as a strategic asset.

STATE-OF-THE ART RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURE

Deep-sea marine research is difficult and complex, even

with today’s advanced technologies. Investigating the

deep-sea floor requires expensive infrastructures that can

withstand pressure at great depths and are difficult to

finance and maintain. Most of Israel’s marine research

infrastructure is non-existent or antiquated at best. An

adequately funded infrastructure will enable our

researchers and students to make significant new

scientific discoveries.

EDUCATING A NEW CADRE OF ISRAELI MARINE SCIENCE ACADEMICS AND PROFESSIONALS

The Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities recently

warned that "Israel is much too dependent on foreign

industry consultants..."

Due to an acute shortage of qualified local experts, Israel is

currently making energy policy based on data and

estimates being provided almost exclusively by foreign

energy companies. The lack of a locally trained, Israeli

cadre of experts who are dedicated to placing Israel's

national interest first presents a serious threat to Israel's

economic and environmental future. Long -term

sustainable development requires the establishment of a

local Israeli knowledge base and expertise.

Home to the Leon H.Charney School of Marine Sciences, the only graduate school of marine

sciences in Israel, the University of Haifa seeks to attract the best and brightest graduate

students and post-docs to our academic programs. By investing in our students we will

nurture the next generation of highly qualified academics and professionals who will play key

roles in Israeli higher education, government, as well as industry and NGOs.

Exploration and development of new gas and

petroleum wells, p ipel ines, storage and

t r e a t m e n t f a c i l i t i e s p o s e s i g n i f i c a n t

environmental and engineering challenges that

require science-based expertise and solutions.

Our marine biologists and geoscientists are

assessing environmental hazards that will lead to

safer petroleum extraction technologies. We are

also identifying alternative sources of energy that

lay below the Sea floor.

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF ISRAEL'S NATURAL RESOURCES

LEADERSHIP

Professor Zvi Ben-Avraham is the founding director of the Leon H. Charney

School of Marine Sciences and head of the Mediterranean Sea Research

Center of Israel. Prof. Ben-Avraham earned his Ph.D. in Geophysics from

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Woods Hole Oceanographic

Institution. The leading marine researcher in Israel, Prof. Ben-Avraham is a

member of several academies of science including, Academia Europaea,

Heidelberg Academy of Sciences and Humanities, Israel Academy of Sciences

and Humanities, and the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences. Prof. Ben-Avraham

was awarded the Israel Prize in 2003 and serves as a scientific advisor to leading Israeli

government officials.

Contact Information

Office of the Vice President for Development and External Relations Tel: +972-4-824-0093

vice-president@univ.haifa.ac.il www.haifa.ac.il

REQUEST FOR SUPPORT

The University of Haifa invites you to partner with us to recruit the best and brightest graduate

students and post-docs to our academic programs. Scholarships will enable these future leaders to

devote themselves fully to their studies and not be distracted by additional work obligations.

Graduate scholarships - $5,000 per year ($10,000 supports an MA degree)

Doctoral scholarships - $25,000 per year ($100,000 for a PhD degree)

A $150,000 endowment provides an annual scholarship for one graduate student

A $450,000 endowment provides an annual scholarship for one doctoral student

An $800,000 endowment provides an annual scholarship for one post-doctoral student

Meet the Next Generation of Marine Scientists

A number of our promising young scientists require advanced facilities to conduct their exciting research. They are awaiting laboratories equipped with the necessary scientific infrastructure that will enable them to advance their research and mentor the next generation of doctoral students. Making Aliyah & Making Israel Greener

Maura Schonwald was born and raised in Oklahoma, a landlocked state with little cultural variety. For Maura, traveling to distant lands to pursue her academic goals was always in her plans. "After completing my BA in archaeology in marine resources at Indiana University, I traveled to Mexico to learn about marine ecology." Maura spent two years conducting research on coral reef conservation while living on an island with no running water and only as much electricity as the sun provided. With the help of her sister who lives in Israel, Maura was accepted to the graduate program at the Department of Maritime Civilizations. "Ever since I visited Israel in 2004, I have always had a great appreciation for the country as well as its special culture," recalls Maura. "I have now been here for more than two years, made aliyah, and have a full- time job. I am also working towards finishing my MA thesis on underwater fauna and look forward to beginning my PhD degree in the near future." Eco-Friendly Fish Farming of the Future

Dafna Israel recently returned to Israel after nine years abroad, where she earned her BSc in Canada and MSc in Iceland. "I chose to pursue my doctoral studies at the

University of Haifa because of its special multi-disciplinary approach, which is critical to my research," she explained.

Dafna is currently conducting research on Integrated Multi Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA), with a focus on discovering eco-friendly food sources to support fish farms in the Eastern Mediterranean Basin.

"The field of aquaculture will play an important role in feeding the world's growing population. Our research will make a contribution to reducing world hunger and could be a potential area of economic growth for the State of Israel."

Uncovering the Mysteries of Ancient Civilizations

Four years ago, Ehud Arkin left a career in high-tech management to pursue an MA at the Department of Maritime Civilizations specializing in maritime archaeology. "I was looking for a career that was more fulfilling and combined my passion for the underwater environment with intellectually stimulating research that gives us a window into understanding ancient civilizations." Bodies of water, fresh and saline, have been important sources of food for people throughout history. It should be no surprise then that ancient villages were located at the water's edge. Rising water levels over the past 2,000 years have submerged a great deal of human activity. Today, Ehud is taking part in underwater excavations at the Dor Roman and Byzantine ports, and offering new insights into the coastal societies in the Levant. "Our research is contributing to our understanding of the economy, culture, and politics of the ancient world." Marine Medical Research

Dr. Daniel Sher returned to the Department of Marine Biology after completing his post-doctoral fellow at MIT. Dr. Sher has won numerous awards, including recognition as a Fulbright Scholar. Born in the U.S., Dr. Sher came with his family to Israel as a child and earned his PhD at the Hebrew University. As a post-doc in Boston, Sher built a significant international reputation in the field of marine biology. He chose to return to Israel, and specifically to the University of Haifa, to pursue research to better understand

how marine organisms use advanced chemistry in order to survive in a hostile environment. “The marine environment presents an ideal stage on which chemical interactions can be played out,” Dr. Sher explains. “Studying these interactions often brings with it the discovery of novel chemical compounds which have biotechnological, pharmacological or medical uses. Antibiotics, for example, are often synthesized by microorganisms in order to fight other microbes and protect themselves against pathogens. For example, we believe that jellyfish venom hold tremendous promise for medical research."