The proposed program is spread over five years, and aims to promote the entire field of marine sciences in Israel. According to the report, this plan will place Israel in line with neighboring and other countries whose investments in the study of the sea and the use of its resources are steadily increasing
The sea is a strategic national resource of Israel. The area of Israel's "economic waters", which has the geopolitical characteristics of an "island state", is at least equal to its land area. The sea contains an unrealized potential for advancing the country's economy, and the growing demand for its resources requires innovation and sustainable exploitation, which will ensure adequate protection of nature and its marine treasures.
The National Steering Committee for the Assessment of the State of Marine Sciences in Israel of the Israel National Academy of Sciences published a report this week recommending the establishment of a national program to meet the growing need for research on the sea and its resources. The proposed program is spread over five years, and aims to promote the entire field of marine sciences in Israel. According to the report, this plan will place Israel in line with neighboring and other countries whose investments in the study of the sea and the use of its resources are steadily increasing.
Committee report posits a vision according to which Israel will declare itself a "sea country", considering that its economic, social and security future depends on the sustainable exploitation of resources from the sea.
The purpose of the steering committee, chaired by Academy member Prof. Zvi Ben-Abraham, was to map the current situation, evaluate the strengths, weaknesses, and deficiencies in marine sciences in Israel, and formulate a national academic strategic plan for the field of marine sciences in Israel. The committee, whose members are senior researchers from a variety of academic institutions in Israel and a senior researcher from abroad, met with researchers, heads of research institutes, and heads of bodies involved in marine research in Israel to learn about the state of research in Israel. In addition, the committee conducted a comprehensive survey among researchers in the field in Israel and published its results in a published report.
The committee recommends the launch of a national academic program in the field of marine sciences, which will include the following actions:
- Condensation and strengthening of the scientific and engineering community which is engaged in basic and applied academic research in the fields of marine sciences through the recruitment of new faculty members, collaborations with faculty members from other fields and increasing the number of those earning higher degrees and post-doctorates.
- Expanding training in marine sciences and opening it to students from advanced technological fields as well as students from social sciences and the humanities. The training will also include dedicated technical staff.
- Placing the research infrastructure required to establish the State of Israel as a leader in the field of marine sciences at the disposal of researchers in institutions of higher education and industry and providing the resources required to carry out research that meets the competitive requirements of innovation and excellence.
- The development of the relevant interfaces of the academy with the industry and with the government ministries: sharing infrastructures and research centers, promoting collaborations, sharing and transferring knowledge and encouraging external investments in academic research in the field, both for the economic development of the State of Israel and to create opportunities for the academic community.
All of these will be carried out through the creation of dedicated funding tracks for marine sciences based on scientific excellence.
The committee recommends promoting legislation that would allocate a certain percentage of the state revenue fund from the levy on gas and oil profits to finance the long-term development of marine sciences in Israel, as is customary in other countries (eg Denmark and Norway).
Prof. Zvi Ben-Abraham, chairman of the committee, notes: "Implementation of the national plan will position Israel at the forefront of research in the world in the field of marine sciences and will promote economic strengthening. The program will lead to the advancement and academic development of the scientific community in Israel and the exploitation of its capabilities through the strengthening of human capital and the physical infrastructure for sea research."
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