Joint Research Committee Report Prepared for the Presidential Inha meeting - November 2012 Michal Yerushalmy – JRC Chair David Faraggi – Rector University of Haifa March 2012: GU8 Research Committee meets at University of Haifa • Reaffirm research cooperation foci: Global Logistics, Marine Affairs, Business Adminstration, & Advanced Technologies. • Encourage the development of initiatives in Renewable Energies and in Marine Affairs. • Expand bilateral cooperation to include other member universities • Recommend to support a bottom up approach for research initiatives. • Organize a scoping workshop in Marine Science involving researchers from the 5 member universities to be hosted by Xiamen University and coordinated by the JRC chair (University of Haifa), in summer 2012. • Support research teams looking for funds to carry out research after their initial meetings. GU8 Scoping Workshop on Ocean Sciences & Marine Biotechnology Xiamen University 9-11 September 2012 • Participants: University of le Havre, INHA, Xiamen University and University of Haifa. Rationale: It has become evident that ocean ecosystems are rather complex and marine resources and affairs may only be managed successfully if we employ multidisciplinary approaches and multi-national efforts. Purpose: To share common interests in Ocean Sciences and to explore cooperative ways in supporting future research and education activities among GU8 members The means: (1) Ocean sciences cooperation and networking. (2) Research in marine biology & biotechnology. Meeting Date: September 10, 2012 Meeting venue: Xiamen University • Hosts: Dr. Minhan Dai Professor of Chemical Oceanography Director, State Key Lab of Marine Environmental Science Dean, College of Ocean & Earth Sciences Ms. Sissi Ren - Secretary for Foreign Affairs College of Ocean & Earth Sciences • Attendees: • Xiamen University: Dr. Kejian Wang, Dr. Xinhong Wang, Dr. Weiwei You, Dr. Rui Zhang, Dr. Nianzhi Jiao, Dr. Huasheng Hong, and others • University of Haifa: Dr. Dror Angel, Dr. Michael Krom • Inha University: Dr. Choul-Gyun Lee • University of Le Havre: Dr. Christophe Minier GU8 Marine Sciences Research: Challenges • Identify themes & frames for partnerships • Define research schemes: Funding & Synergy • Building Bottom-Up ties • Continuity & Sustainability: Initiatives Collaborative Research • The following areas of mutual interest were identified during discussions among the group: – Marine ecotoxicology - (GU8 leader Christophe Minier, Le Havre Univ) – Marine biotechnology (emphasis on microalgae) - (GU8 leader Choul-Gyun Lee (CG), INHA) – From watershed to coastal ocean (GU8 leaders Dror Angel & Mike Krom, Haifa Univ) – Marine biogeochemistry and microbial loop (GU8 leader Nianzhi Jiao, Xiamen Univ) Research schemes - Funds • National Research Programs • Bi-national research programs: China-Israel, China-Korea, France-Israel etc. Foundations for seed money supporting initial research links among partners; if successful, these could be expanded to larger projects with more partners MOST- ISRAEL – KOREA SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH COOPERATION ISF- Israel Science Foundation - Joint research Project with NSFC • Consortium collaborations: EU funding has become more flexible and some programs, e.g. ENVIRONMENT enables “third (non-EU) countries”, e.g. China, Korea, USA to participate as fully-funded partners. EU- The Ocean of Tomorrow 2013 The Israel Center for Mediterranean Sea Research Led by: University of Haifa • Head and Scientific Director – Prof. Zvi Ben-Avraham • Associate Institutes: The Israel Center for Mediterranean Sea Research Interdisciplinary and a broad base of expertise Partners are 90% of the leading marine scientists in Israel covering the fields of: • Remote sensing • Environmental Resources Management • Political Sciences • Archaeology & History • Economics • Engineering & Technology • Maritime Law • Biology • Physical & chemical Oceanography • Geology & Geophysics The Israel Center for Mediterranean Sea Research Opportunity and need • The southeastern Mediterranean is a unique oceanographic system - a natural laboratory providing opportunities for new, globally important and exciting science. • Due to poor local resources and political cooperation it is one of the poorly studied regions in the world! • Scientific Challenges: • Pollution • Fishing • Water desalinization • Climate change effects • Migration of organisms • Tourism and recreation • Exploitation – gas (oil?) • Earthquake and tsunami • Expansion – artificial islands • Sand shortage – Aswan Dam The Israel Center for Mediterranean Sea Research Aims and vision • To provide an interdisciplinary scientific framework and common resource base at the national level for Mediterranean marine research in Israel. • To pull the broad marine sciences knowledge base and capabilities, currently distributed in six universities and two governmental research institutes, towards excellent collaborative science. • To address the challenges facing Israel in sustainable development of its Mediterranean offshore, and promote a global scientific leadership in marine sciences. Synergy: Building Bottom-Up Ties Ties explored during the workshop Sustainability of Weiwei You (XU) Dror Angel )HU) Marine aquaculture Marine Choul-Gyun Lee Kejian Wang (XU) Biotechnology (INHA) Marine Christophe Minier Kejian Wang (XU) Ecotoxicology (ULH) Jellyfish ecology Joong-Ki Choi Dror Angel (HU) (INHA) Coastal Huasheng Hong Michael Krom (HU) Biogeochemistry Dror Angel (HU) Comparative Nianzhi Jiao Dror Angel (HU) Coastal Trophodynamics Post-doc opportunities Potential collaborations identified by Haifa University Marine Scientists Marine fisheries Liu Min (XU) Dor Edelist (HU) Management Maritime Xiamen University Simona Avnaim- Civilization (TBA) Katav (HU) Following Xiamen meeting: Planning ahead…… Potential collaborations identified by Haifa University Marine Scientists Marine Eco- Dr. Tamar Lotan INHA toxicologists Xiamen Univ le Havre Univ Hull Univ Microbial Ecologists Dr. Daniel Sher Xiamen Univ Dr. Laura Steindler Marine Geologists Haifa Univ Xiamen Univ INHA Future Actions • Involve more people with common interests in research projects and labs • Attempt to establish external & other support systems • (e.g. funding for individuals involved in GU8 activities) • Establish better information sharing system among GU8 partners, e.g. sharing annual reports and publications • (by pdf or online sources) to find compatible/suitable partners. • Organize workshops on other subjects so as to identify more common interests. Our deep appreciation goes to • Xiamen University: Prof. Tan, Prof. Dai & Ms. Ren for planning, hosting and creating the physical & intellectual setting for the fruitful meeting. • Inha University delegates: Prof. Kim, Ms. Jakyung for helping in creating this setting & Prof. Lee whose efforts already led to a few initiatives. • Le Havre team: Prof. Nichita & Ms. Currie for contributing their vast academic & administrative experience. We salute all GU8 active partners for taking this important step towards fruitful multi-national innovative research cooperation! .