Marine affairs – a bridge for peace Sustainable development will be achieved only by combined regional efforts

Prof. David Faraggi, Vice Rector, University of Haifa

Complex nature of Marine affairs

Local reactions to global change

New educational programs

Multi disciplinary approach

July 26th 2008, Le Havre, France

Marine affairs

A conglomerate of all the scientific disciplines dealing with

marine complex systems (open ocean, and also coastal and

estuarine areas):Natural and Social sciences as well as Humanities.

Holistic approach to research and education

BUT

Globalization of

environmental stresses

Similar needs of

the human dimensio

n

Lack of leading methodology

Generalization of a

research methodology

Main beneficiary:Research and education

Or in short

Science

As scientists we have responsibilities ...especially when we talk about global changes and marine affairs

Study challenging regions

Practice the marine affairs conglomerate of approaches

Contributeto the global society

Main beneficiary:Regional cooperation

Or in short

Society and economics

Social +

Political Influenc

e

Cross-disciplinary approachResearch

+ Education

Mutual terms

Quantification

Transfer of knowledge

ONE region – The eastern Mediterranean

ONE theme – Sustainable development of a multi-cultural region which is in a constant state of conflict

ONE topic – future energy sources

TWO beneficiaries:Science – combining all expertise in Marine Affairs to obtain a multi-disciplinary methodology.Regional peace - creating a positive atmosphere for regional cooperation between Middle Eastern countries, based on mutual interests for sustainable development.

Focus our efforts

Suggested research project: Proven hydrocarbon sources are being exploited Prospects are far from reaching their potential Concerns a variety of local societies (e.g. Libya, Egypt, Palestine, Israel,

Lebanon, Syria and Cyprus) EEZ Boundaries have not been officially set yet

Local economies may flourish due to discoveries economic and social stabilityMore fossil fuels into the energy cycle global warming

Implications of Gas and fluid emission at the Seafloor

Regional sustainable development on a scale such as the eastern Mediterranean can only be obtained by combining efforts to produce a systematic management of the marine area, for the benefit of all sides and the global community

The exploitation of fossil fuels is a two sided coin

Suggested research project:Some practical examples for cross-disciplinary research

Implications of Gas and fluid emission at the Seafloor

• Marine geosciences • location and volume estimations of resources• depositional environments and past fluctuations of global climate and sea level

changes• Chemical and biological oceanography

• Biogenic production of fossil fuels in the subsurface• Gas emission at the sea floor as a unique ecosystems

• Marine law and policy • Definition of the boundaries of the EEZs based on studies from the natural

sciences• managing local interests vs. external investments

• Marine economics and transportation• financial and cultural effects on a variety of local societies and their interactions

• Marine anthropology and sociology • Effects on coastal and marine tourism

• Marine archaeology • Preservation of underwater natural and cultural heritage sites as Marine

Protected Areas (MPA), while developing coastal and marine infrastructure

Next marine affairs workshop at the University of Haifa in the heart of the investigated region

Time – June 2009.

Theme - Applying the marine affairs conglomerate of scientific approaches to real world issues, for fostering regional peace as well as ecological well-being under the following topic:

Marine affairs – a bridge for peace: sustainable development of the eastern Mediterranean region, focusing on aspects of future energy sources in marine affairs.

Participants – Aside from the GU8 participants and members it is very important to include marine scientific representatives from all the countries surrounding the eastern Mediterranean basin: Libya, Egypt, Palestine, Israel, Lebanon, Syria, Turkey, Greece, and Cyprus.

Structure – Each participant will present initial results from research conducted within the year until the workshop

Aim - To present results or new concepts and methods which would have extensions in the eastern Mediterranean.

- To present funding sources- To write a draft or drafts for research proposals.

Next marine affairs workshop at the University of Haifa in the heart of the investigated region

Major steps:

August 2008 – Approving details regarding the next Marine affairs workshop in Haifa

– Distribution of first pre-proposal – setting up the framework - Each university will circulate the pre-proposal to promote joint

research

November 2008 - Aggregating into research teams within the research framework: intra or cross disciplinary teams, between researchers from different

institutes

January 2009 – A proposal draft from each team - Circulation of the drafts between the teams

March 2009 – Initiation of background research - Identification of potential funding sources

June 2009 – Haifa marine affairs workshop - “Progress report” of the work done so far by each team

- Finalization of a grand proposal and submission to funding sources

Marine affairs – a bridge for peaceSustainable development of the eastern Mediterranean region, focusing on aspects of future energy sources in marine affairs.

Please contact

Dr. Uri SchattnerSchattner@sci.haifa.ac.il

Department of Marine GeosciencesCharney School for Marine Sciences University of HaifaTel: +972-4-8249266Fax: +972-4-8240493Cell: +972-54-6609348