The Leon H. CharneySchool of Marine Sciences

So much yetto discover

The Sea...

Provider of bountiful assets to mankind, itis also full of mysteries and deep secrets.The time has come to probe the sea’s innerworlds more scientifically and understandbetter how to work with it in closer harmony.

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Enhancing our knowledge of the marine environment –ocean, sea and coastline – can only serve to enrich us,making our lives more fruitful and secure.

The Leon Charney School of Marine Sciences is set onthis path of discovery, probing the potential and theneeds of the sea for the benefit of all Mediterranean-bound nations and the world at large.

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Leon Charney has had a life-long association with Israel.As a lawyer and broadcaster he has used his influenceand skills at key moments in history to advance thecountry's long-term interests. His present role as thecatalyst of this new School is the latest expression of hiscommitment to a brighter Israeli future.

I have ambitious plans for the School of Marine Sciences.I envision the School's research endeavors serving as acatalyst for positive change in the geo-political reality ofthe Middle East and as a guiding light for global harnessingof the power of the sea.

Israel's brain power is its most valuable resource and mustbe provided with the proper capital to maximize its potential.

“ he discoveries made in Israel andthe Mediterranean Sea will be a beacon forresearchers around the world.”

It is this resource, brain power, which will find the path to capitalizing on the few naturalresources hidden in Israeli soil and territorial waters. The discoveries made in Israel andthe Mediterranean Sea will be a beacon for researchers around the world. In a worldof natural disasters, global climate changes, coastline erosions, and an inaccessibilityof vital natural resources, it is necessary for Israel to take an active role.

The Middle East is not only the cradle of civilization but the focus of today's mostcomplex geo-political challenges. There are those who say that the next war in theMiddle East will be fought over water. The time has come for a lasting peace in theMiddle East which will be based not only on Israel's military strengths but also on itsclever exploitation of the environment that surrounds it.

We have attracted world renowned researchers to our School and provided them withcutting edge laboratories in which they will conduct their research – alongside someof the world's most fascinating natural laboratories, the Mediterranean, Galilee, Redand Dead Seas.

I am proud to be associated with the University of Haifa and to stand behind thisimpressive assembly of scientists. I invite you to join me on a journey to changing theface of the Middle East.

Mr. Leon H. CharneyDonor and Chairman of the Board of GovernorsUniversity of Haifa

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“ he sea is one of our most precious resources. Among themost pressing challenges of the 21st century is to conserveit better while harnessing its power for humanity.”

The establishment of our new School of Marine Sciences would not have beenpossible without the great generosity of the Chairman of the Board of Governors,Leon Charney. His gift has presented the University with an extraordinaryopportunity to advance in one of the most crucial spheres for mankind.

The University of Haifa, overlooking the Mediterranean Sea and with a longstandingpartnership with the Israeli Navy, is the natural home for this unique school.The University houses outstanding departments of marine studies and the newschool will afford us the opportunity to develop them into a world-leadinginterdisciplinary research center. The foundation of the School has been laid withthe generous donation of Mr. Charney. We would also like to thank The StraussFoundation of Switzerland for their important donation toward "The StraussDepartment of Marine Geosciences". We are currently seeking additional partnersto build on this broad foundation and expand the opportunities for scientificadvances in the myriad spheres of marine studies.

The sea is one of our most precious resources. Among the most pressing challenges of the 21st centuryis to conserve it better while harnessing its power for humanity. The new Leon Charney School of MarineSciences will become a beacon of knowledge, providing a forum for academics from a range of disciplinesto engage and meet this challenge.

The new interdisciplinary school will examine the history- ancient and modern- of the sea. Workingalongside marine archaeologists, historians, sociologists and anthropologists, the new group of marinegeophysicists and biologists will engage in research examining the potential for extracting alternativesources of energy from the sea while preserving our environment. While students in the school willacquire an interdisciplinary education, each will develop an expertise in their chosen field of study.

The School will work closely with research institutes around the world and with Israel's foremost bodyof marine research, the Israel Oceanographic and Limnological Research (IOLR) to maximize our potentialfor scientific research advances.

The University has recruited Professor Zvi Ben Avraham, an Israel Prize recipient and internationallyrenowned researcher, to head the new school and lead it to international renown. In the initial monthssince the school's establishment, the faculty has already initiated a number of international cooperativeresearch endeavors. The resources which have been made available to our new School will enable theoutstanding faculty and students to lead Israeli academia in this most exciting field.

Professor Aaron Ben-Ze'evPresidentUniversity of Haifa

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Unlocking myster

Professor Zvi Ben Avraham, Founding Director

of the Charney School of Marine Sciences,

was the first geoscientist to descend from

the lowest point on the earth's surface and

inspect the seabed of the Dead Sea.

M A R I N E G E O S C I E N C E S

What can the seafloor tell us aboutrecent environmental changes? Howcan gas hydrates become a viablesource of exploitable marine energy?These are just a few of the practicalquestions that motivate our scientistsand students every day.

The sea has much to teach us…if weonly know how to look and learn.

ies of the deepMarine Geoscience is an unending voyage of discovery

Our world-leading geoscientists explore the Mediterranean and its margins.In our research we seek innovative observational techniques and apply themthrough challenging marine projects, providing a unique academic track thatis truly interdisciplinary. Some of the exciting domains we study are:

Environmental Changes: Can we monitor global warming trends andchanges in the sea’s environment and prepare humanity to mitigate them?

Gas Hydrates: Does this natural resource have the potential to becomea major source of marine energy for us?

Seismic activity: Can we define recent and past seismic activity and thehazards posed by active tectonic features and tsunamis?

Probing the sea floor, we unravel the record of its evolution. A record ofrecent environmental and tectonic changes provides answers to some of thequestions above. Knowledge of the past opens gateways to mitigating someof the hazards of the future.

The School of Marine Sciences is primarily a world scale leading edge researchfacility offering: state-of-the-art high resolution marine geophysical surveyingand sampling equipment; a modern computing facility using world-leadinggeophysical software packages; a sediment core analysis laboratory, includinga novel radiometric dating facility essential for environmental research.

We liaise closely with major world marine geoscientific centers and researchnetworks in the USA, Germany and France.

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Monitoring changes within the marineenvironment is a critical step in harvestingthe sea and being alerted by it.

ingers on the earth’s pulse

Gas hydrates energy

The natural gas hydrates found in oceanic seafloor sediments have become oneof the hottest subjects of marine research in the last decade. There are more than220 known deposits worldwide, enough to provide the entire world with cleanenergy for 200 years. But great care must be taken to control the release of thesegases, otherwise they can become a major contributor to global warming.

We aim to study how the sensitive system of gas hydrates responds to changesinflicted on it by exploitation or environmental changes. As a semi-isolated marinebody, the Mediterranean Sea is far more sensitive than oceans to global changessuch as warming and sea levels change. Gas hydrates in the Mediterranean aresituated on the boundary of their fragile stability, providing a unique laboratoryto study their response.

Mapping of past environments

The Mediterranean coast of Northern Israel is one of the oldest regions of humansettlement. As such, it presents an ideal location for investigating how localenvironmental changes have affected cultural transitions - and vice-versa.Geological and geophysical research that has been done until now has begunto reconstruct the coastal time slices of human settlement. But much moreresearch is required.

Our research is based on innovative geological and geophysical investigationsof the Mediterranean coastal and shallow shelf - a task that has proven veryelusive to date. Combining the skills of experts in marine geosciences, biologyand archeology, we are providing data on both buried archaeological sites andon environmental changes. Our discovery of the past is already contributing tothe better understanding of the present and giving us a key to the future.

How can methane gas hydrates be safelyharnessed for energy?

What is the link between environmental changesand patterns of human settlement?

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Coral calcification

Living corals on tropical reefs build up calcium in soft tissue to form the hard skeletonof the reefs, a process called calcification. The rate of calcification is affected byocean temperature and acidity, and thus responds strongly to present-day globalwarming. To monitor the effects of global warming on corals it is therefore importantto measure the density of their skeleton. Until now, quantifying this process byefficient and non-intrusive means has not been possible.

We are striving to change that situation by applying ultrasound tissue-recognitiontechniques. We are currently constructing an ‘acoustic microscope’ that will monitorskeletal production in specimens of living corals grown in the laboratory on glassplates. This innovative non-invasive device will be the first of its kind to measurethe calcification of living corals and deliver an accurate report of their condition.

Mitigating seismic hazards

The area around Haifa, situated in a zone of interaction between the Dead Sea faultsystem and the eastern Mediterranean continental margin, is a unique locationfrom which to examine tectonic activity. Within this 50 kilometer wide space,geoscientists are able to study basic processes that govern crustal deformation andearthquake generation. They can also evaluate the hazard to the metropolitan areaof Haifa, where half a million people live and much of Israel’s petrochemical industryis concentrated.

Does the displacement energy that creates earthquakes travel directly along thefault lines between a transform plate and a continental margin - or is it diffusedin the linking area between the two? By focusing on the marine environment, wherehuman development interferes far less with seismic imaging, we can gain a unique4D perspective into the complex structural nature of such interactions. The morewe learn about such tectonic forces, the more we can work towards mitigatingseismic hazards in populated areas worldwide.

Can we measure the response of corals to globalchange without damaging them in the process?

How can we assess movements of the earth’scrust in order to mitigate future seismic hazards?

Revealing the sea'

Significant biological and ecological changes

in the waters off our coasts are redefining

the Mediterranean Sea before our eyes.

M A R I N E B I O L O G Y

The sea holds many clues about thestate of the marine environment – butinterpreting these clues is a complexundertaking. It calls for biologicalresearch that covers many in-depthstudies, from a single molecule up toa complete ecological process.

Which are the bio-indicators that canalert us to changes in thisenvironment? How can they beidentified and monitored?

a's life secretsMarine Biology takes research to the core

The rich and multi-faceted habitat that comprises the underwater worldcontains a wealth of signals which hint at its condition. Our studies in fieldssuch as the immunology of marine life, the biology of marine organisms andthe physiology of diving mammals are important steps towards revealingthe Mediterranean’s life secrets.

When students enter our research-based graduate program they embracethe major aspects of marine biology, as well as gain a solid understandingof marine geosciences and maritime culture. Our goal is to help them acquireinterdisciplinary skills, so that they are better equipped to deal with thecomplex world they will be facing – the sea.

There is much to be gained by forming multi-task research groups withscientists from different disciplines within the School itself and in outsideinstitutes. In Israel these bodies include the Department of Natural Resourcesand Environmental Management and the Recanati Institute for MaritimeStudies (RIMS) at the University of Haifa, the Department of Biology at theTechnion, Israel Oceanographic and Limnological Research (IOLR), the IsraelNaval Mediccal Institute (INMI) and the Israel Marine Mammals Researchand Assistance Center (IMMRAC).

Internationally we have forged close links with the many overseas marineconsortia, institutes and societies that already collaborate with our facultymembers. All these strands are being drawn together to make the disciplineof Marine Biology a focal point for scientific development.

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To those willing to observe and learn,sea life is full of small but vital clues thatcan lead to greater things.

icking up tiny clues

Climatic changes

As a semi-isolated marine body, the Mediterranean Sea is highly affected by globalwarming. Israel therefore has a stake in protecting its coastline and fragile ecosystem.However, the diversity and interconnectivity of the research processes demand thatany study of the marine environment follows an interdisciplinary approach.Understanding the complex relations between the atmosphere, the ocean's physicaland biological conditions and the land is vital for human survival.

To this end, our researchers are working closely with IOLR scientists and colleaguesat the University of Nice to monitor the geographic distribution of fish andinvertebrate. They are also studying the 'Lessepsian migration' of Red Sea speciesto the eastern part of the Mediterranean, via the Suez Canal. Sensitive species ofsea life may be affected in many ways by new invading species, sea level, temperatureand water circulation regiment changes. By monitoring such species, we may findearly indicators of future global changes.

A 'green' Mediterranean Sea

Human impact on the coastline, shallow waters and the continental shelf is constantlyincreasing. The quality of our marine environment is being systematically degradedby oil drilling and gas (including gas hydrate) exploration, construction and operationof ports, water desalination, coastline development, marine transportation, thetourism industry, fishing and aquaculture industries.

To quantify and anticipate this increasing threat, our researchers in the MarineBiology field are looking for 'biomarker clues'. These can be specific micro-organismactivitys, changes in population distributions, disturbance of the ecological balanceamong related species and the toxicological effects on various biological functionsin model marine animals. The researchers' ultimate goal is to develop biotechnologicalmethods that assist in eliminating potential biological hazards to the sea.

What are the local biomarkers that canindicate global changes?

Can we identify the biomarkers to help usavoid ecological hazards?

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Special ecological habitats

Recent surveys of the east Mediterranean Sea floor using advanced measuringequipment have revealed several peculiar morphological structures such as east-west canyons, fault lines, sand rock formation, and even cold sips of gas of unknownnature at a depth of hundreds of meters. There is no knowledge regarding theecology of these suspected habitats.

We plan to study the nature of the microbial populations, invertebrate populations,fish distribution and their behavior in these habitats with the assistance of advancedsampling equipment, remote controlled vehicles and video cameras. In collaborationwith our colleagues in Marine Geosciences, we will obtain a high resolution surfacedescription of any particular study area. We expect this joint project to yield manyunexpected data that may open a new window of understanding to some of these'enigmas of the sea'.

Marine mammals

People everywhere feel close to whales, dolphins, porpoises, seals and sea lions,which are among the most intelligent creatures on our planet. These astonishingdiving mammals can reach 2000 meters, hold their breath for an hour and withstandwater pressures up to 200 Atm. By contrast, we can only reach 170 meters whileholding our breath and need SCUBA gear to stay underwater. Clearly theseextraordinary animals have much to teach us about adapting to aquatic life.

Our faculty and students are investigating sea mammals. Working closely withIMMRAC and sponsored by RIMS, we are studying how these mammals behaveand communicate, and track their locations so that we can protect them. Togetherwith INMI researchers, our scientists are studying the diving physiology of theseanimals compared to humans diving under compressed gas conditions. Others arestudying water sensory problems such as the shift from aerial to aquatic vision andacoustic noise, and the molecular basis for high pressure resistance.

Can studies of special conditions help us to unlock the‘enigmas of the Mediterranean’?

How can we acclimatize better to the sea by learningfrom these champions of diving?

Taking a broad MSlovenia

Balancing tourismand conservation

FranceFinding biomarkers to

indicate climate change

ItalySea-level changesduring the last2000 years

"The Mediterranean is a uniquelaboratory for studying the processestaking place in the world's oceans."Professor Zvi Ben Avraham

Exploring theformation andmovement ofwater masses

TurkeyExcavating an Archaicharbor at Liman Tepe

Mediterranean view

Studyingmovements inthe earth’s crust

Harnessing gashydrates for energy Israel

Recoveringancient

shipwrecks,anchoragesand harbors

Lessepsian migrationof Red-Sea species

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Probing our marit

Climate and sea level changes

profoundly affected population

settlement in ancient times.

Could history be destined to

repeat itself?

M A R I N E C I V I L I Z A T I O N

Looking into our maritime past is afascinating journey into the multi-facetedrelationship between man and the sea.How much do we know of ancient ship-building skills? How did sea levels affectpast population patterns? How cantoday’s marine sanctuaries be bestplanned and maintained?

The most revealing answers are foundwhen research covers both the sciencesand the humanities, as is the case withthis unique discipline.

ime heritageMaritime Civilizations give us pointers for the future

This discipline, perhaps more than any other in our School, gives substanceto the term “tell me where you’ve been and we’ll tell you where you’regoing”. Uncovering the hidden stories of past civilizations is our passion –combining underwater archaeology, maritime history, marine biology andliving resources, oceanography, marine geology and coastal geomorphology.With this unique interdisciplinary approach, our research has become oneof the world’s attractions for this broad field of study.

Our three main areas of research cover both the ancient and modern worlds:

Maritime history: How have great maritime civilizations evolved fromthe earliest to the most recent times, based on written sources and artifacts?

Maritime and coastal archaeology: What can we learn of ancientmaritime activity and skills from coastal settlements and harbors (such asCaesarea and Atlit), the remains of ships, cargoes, graffiti, art, inscriptionsand literary sources?

Coastal geomorphology: How different were the Mediterranean andLevant coasts 20,000 years ago and how did climate changes and marinedisasters affect settlement?

In seeking answers to urgent questions such as these, our School liaisesclosely with the Leon Recanati Institute for Maritime Studies at the University(RIMS). Scientists teach in the faculty and our students participate in theextensive interdisciplinary research projects related to the sea. RIMS MaritimeWorkshop provides the professional technical support for all field research.

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The Mediterranean Sea Basin, the cradleof mankind, contains a rich trove ofarcheological wonders within its depths.

he roots of civilization

Sunken ancient harbor at Liman Tepe, Turkey

Since 2000, members of the Leon Recanati Institute for Maritime Studies (RIMS) and studentsfrom the University of Haifa have been involved in a joint project with members of the IzmirRegional Archaeological Project of Ankara University. The object was to commence underwaterexcavations at Liman Tepe, believed to store a history of at least 5,000 years of maritimecontacts, with fortifications larger than Troy at its height.

Underwater finds so far have included a harbor, dated to the end of the 7th century BCE; andpart of a wooden anchor with a metal tooth - one of the earliest found so far. Under ourguidance, the Turkish students have become adept at working in a submerged archaeologicalexcavation. The University of Haifa group is the first Israeli archaeological mission since 1973to be granted a permit by Turkey as an equal partner in the Mediterranean.

Ma'agan Mikhael Ship, Israel

In 1985, the waters off the Mediterranean coast near Kibbutz Ma‘agan Mikhael in Israelreceded far enough to reveal the wreck of an ancient ship. Located just 70 meters from theshoreline, it was an amazing find. Carbon dating and ceramics put its age at 2,400 years. Ittook three seasons of underwater excavation to dismantle the wooden hull and retrieve allthe timbers and other finds. These were then conserved in a seven-year process in the RIMSlaboratories at the University of Haifa. The imposing hull was then reassembled in the ShipWing of the Hecht Museum at the University and displayed with its other artifacts.

Discovering this ship has been listed as an archaeological find of major significance. It allowsus to move to the next research phase: planning the construction of a full-size replica andsailing it to examine the operating characteristics, seaworthiness and performance of theoriginal vessel. This will then give us valuable insights into the maritime skills of ancient cultures.

How did we help Turkish archaeology students touncover their submerged 5,000-year heritage?

What can a 2,400-year old shipwreck teach usabout ancient sea-faring practice?

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Acre/Akko harbor underwater excavation, Israel

Akko, a UNESCO World Heritage port city, has over 4,000 years of maritime history, yet little isknown of its harbor’s history which has never been systematically investigated. RIMS and theMaritime Civilizations discipline have undertaken the Akko Project, which uniquely combinesunderwater archaeology with marine geomorphology and history into an interdisciplinary endeavor.

Along the way to reconstruct the millennia of Akko’s maritime history, we are currently excavatingtwo shipwrecks. The first, Akko 1, was probably sunk during Napoleon Bonaparte's siege of thecity. The second, Akko 2, indicates an earlier ship. We are also excavating the submerged rampartthat connects the Tower of Flies to the shore.

The Dor/Tantura Lagoon, Israel

The lagoon of Dor/Tantura, 30 km south of Haifa, is probably one of the richest shipwreck sites inthe Mediterranean. Ships over many ages chose this location as a convenient anchorage - to theirultimate grief. There are over 25 shipwrecks, building and ballast stones, pottery from the Canaaniteperiod onward, more than 250 stone and iron anchors, Crusader and Muslim weapons, and armsand ammunition abandoned by Napoleon’s army.

Out of 25 wrecks found, 12 have been excavated. Each wreck can typically require several seasonsof excavation and two years to produce the final report. All excavations are conducted by RIMS andthe Department of Marine Civilizations, in collaboration with institutes from abroad.

What treasures are submerged beneath Akko,a port dating back over 4,000 years?

What can be found in one of the richest shipwrecksites in the Mediterranean?

The marine envi

Mankind needs to seek greater

understanding, for any change in the

oceans affects life in general and the

human condition in particular.

M A N , S O C I E T Y & S E A

The need to adjust our societal needs tothe environment of the sea is becomingincreasingly evident as our demandsincrease. We wish to find natural gas,desalinate sea water and develop seafarming, to name a few activities.

How can we accomplish all this whilepreserving our marine environment? Whatadjustments are advised? In seekinganswers, this unique discipline focuseson the Mediterranean Sea basin and thecoasts that surround it.

ronmentThe search for a harmonious co-existence

Israel is highly sensitive to all matters connected to the sea. The vast majorityof our population lives along a small strip running the length of theMediterranean Sea. In addition, many of our economic activities andinfrastructure systems are located nearby. This makes us the ideal candidateto examine how mankind needs to co-exist with his coastal environment.

How can we handle the growing pressure from different interest groups tocontinue and develop Israel’s coast? This includes issues such as marine lawand management, marine policy, marine infrastructure and transportation,and marine tourism and leisure.

To ensure that research is well-balanced, we have formed the Departmentof Man, Society and Sea. Drawing from our expertise in social sciences,economics, geography, marine and environmental resources management,we are training experts to seek better utilization and preservation of oceanand coastal resources.

Our graduates will deal with economic and marine policy, as well as theirassociation to society and the culture of sea bordering nations in our region.Adapting our own study programs from overseas models, we are also keento share our findings with other nations whose borders touch theMediterranean.

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For too long, mankind has treated the seaand the coastline without restraint. Thetime has come for responsible regulation.

lanning our future

Tourism and conservation

Since the mid 1960s, the Mediterranean basin has become the cradle of mass tourism. Withoutany forward planning or control, many coastal areas have been turned into a Riviera-type chainof commercial construction that consumes the beachfront while ignoring local community needs.In most cases such changes have left a negative imprint on the geographical as well as the humancondition. What can be done to reverse the situation and avoid further environmental and socio-cultural damage?

Our project intends to develop holistic management tools that can establish benchmarks for aviable tourist infrastructure. We will create workable guidelines on how to restructure tourismsystems along the coast to be far more sustainable in their consumption of space, environmentand cultures. Furthermore, we plan to work within a consortium of selected Mediterranean countriesthat share our concerns about uncontrolled tourist expansion. In this way, the benefits of ourresearch will have an impact on a pan-Mediterranean scale rather than on a specific country basis.

A marine strategy for Israel

As early as 1932, David Ben-Gurion said: "One of the great gifts – if not the greatest of all – withwhich our country was blessed plentifully, is the sea". Indeed, Israel has made great advances indeveloping its coastal resources and is now investing in various new marine activities from large-scale seawater desalination to offshore gas production. But there is a strong risk in affecting theenvironment and the resource base upon which marine-related economic activities depend. Inplace of ‘ad-hoc’ decisions there needs to be a comprehensive national marine strategy wheredevelopment becomes a series of well-considered and coordinated steps.

With this understanding, our experts in Man, Society and Sea are proposing an ambitiousmultidisciplinary project aimed at developing such a national marine strategy. We will seek soundmodels for the sustainable management of Israel's marine and coastal resources. One importantoutcome of the project will be a proposal for a national marine research strategy that integratesthe natural, social and economic sciences.

How can we find the right balance between stimulatingtourism and preserving the Mediterranean’s coastal areas?

How can Israel manage wisely its marineand coastal resources?

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Climate affecting sea-level change

Potential sea level rise in the Mediterranean basin is one of the most troubling factors related tofuture climate change. It is estimated that in the past century the level has already risen by 10-25cms. Now considerable research effort is being focused on predicting how further sea level changesmay impact us. A recent prototype project conducted by NRERC researchers found that Israelsuffered land losses due to inundation and erosion. How can such losses be quantified?

The objective of our study is to assess the major socio-economic impacts of sea level rise onMediterranean countries. Starting with beaches as a public resource for recreation, we firstly assessthe land lost by size and location, then characterize its former usage and finally place a monetaryvaluation on this loss. By placing the impact of sea level changes within understandable social andeconomic parameters, we hope to guide the policy of governments in regulating the various usesof land along the coastline.

Better use of water resources

Many of the countries bordering the Mediterranean are feeling the impact of reduced waterresources. The prognosis is that matters will only get worse. There is an urgent need to initiate orupgrade the policy for using water and ensuring that this vital resource is used in the optimal way.The way that water is used has a major impact on agriculture, farmers’ revenues, allocation of landfor cultivation, selection of crops, irrigation methods and use of different qualities of water (fresh,recycled, brackish, saline).

The purpose of our research study is to develop a planning model for water policy, based on scientificfactors and field experience, which can encourage a more intelligent use of water. Applicable ona national or regional scale, this planning model will help governments and agricultural expertsto adapt themselves to the new reality of water scarcity. They will be able to decide on land allocationfor cultivation and crops based on types of water available and the market price of agriculturalproduce. They will be in a better position to grow more while consuming less fresh water.

Can the rise in the Mediterranean sea level be evaluatedin terms of social and economic damage?

Can a planning model for water policy help farmers togrow more while using less fresh water?

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The increasing impact of global changes on marine and coastalenvironments, combined with growing pressure on marine resources,amplifies the need for a truly interdisciplinary understanding of theocean. A natural demand has arisen for a new generation of experts inmarine sciences with a wide view to understand the causes andconsequences of diverse stresses in order to develop proactive responseson regional and global managerial levels.

The Leon Charney School of Marine Sciences is a unique initiative ona global scale, applying an interdisciplinary approach at highly professionalstandards. It encompasses features that are mostly absent from theother institutions in Israel and the entire Mediterranean. The context,wide perspective and interdisciplinary approach - which is the essenceof the School - places it at the forefront of research in the global arena.

The School strives to be a world-class institution and to leadinterdisciplinary and international collaborations. Its four departments- Marine Geosciences, Marine Biology, Maritime Civilizations, and Man,Society and Sea – cover a wide range of topics, all essential when dealingwith complex marine systems. Only quantitative scientific research canproduce important information for marine policy, law and management.

The new School will endeavor to devise monitoring techniques forenvironmental changes using interdisciplinary approaches such aspollutant accumulation and the well-being of coral reefs. It will alsoinvestigate marine related hazards such as tsunamis, storms, earthquakesand submarine slides. Researchers will examine the complex characteristicsof biological and ecological processes in the marine environment asproxies for global change and investigate the history of ancient maritimecivilizations and their remains. The topic of gas hydrates, one of thehottest subjects of marine research in the last decade due to its potentialas both an alternative source of energy and a global threat to theenvironment, will be a major focal point of the School.

“ nly an interdisciplinary approach issufficient to solve complex and pressing issuesof the marine environment.”

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The timing of the establishment of the Leon Charney School of MarineSciences along with other institutions worldwide is far from being acoincidence. It reflects a common realization for the urgent need tocomprehend global changes and seek solutions. It also reflects theunderstanding that uni- or bi- disciplinary approaches are not sufficientto solve complex, pressing issues of the marine environment.

Combining an enthusiastic and innovative scientific team with state-of-the-art technology and working in cooperation with the well experiencedIsrael Oceanographic and Limnological Research Institute, the LeonCharney School of Marine Sciences promises to become a cutting-edgeresearch facility on a global scale, in both marine research and education.The best is yet to be discovered.

Zvi Ben AvrahamProfessor of GeophysicsTel Aviv UniversityFounding Director of the Leon CharneySchool of Marine SciencesUniversity of Haifa

University of Haifa

Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management

Natural Resource and Environmental Research Center

Recanati Institute for Marine Studies

The Department of Geography and Environmental Studies

Israel Marine Mammals Research and Assistance Center

Other Bodies

Israel Oceonographic and Limnological Research Institute

Departments of Biology and Biomedical Engineering, Technion

Israel Naval Medical Institute (INMI)

Geological Survey of Israel

Geophysical Institute of Israel

Global U-8 Consortium of Universities Worldwide

Ankara University, Izmir Regional Archaeological Project, Turkey

University of Nice Sophia Antipolis, France

German Federal Ministry of Science and Techology

The Mediterranean University in Portoroj, Slovenia

Paradigm Geophysical

European Union Research Directorate

University of Bremen, Germany

GFZ Potsdam, Germany

An emerging center for marine research

National & international cooperation

Israel

International

We have close bonds with the international scientific community,to which we contribute and from which we draw strength.

Fax: 972-4-8246037University Website:www.haifa.ac.il

The Leon H. CharneySchool of Marine Sciences