For EcoOcean 2010 was a year blessed with activity. The organizational changes that
started taking place during 2009 came in to effect during 2010. Educational programs
and methods developed by EcoOcean's personnel were implemented and connections with
researchers allowed the R/V Mediterranean Explorer to take part in larger and more
complex research programs.
During 2010 the Mediterranean Explorer almost doubled its ship time compared with
2009.
We are especially happy with the scientific collaboration with IOLR (Israeli Oceanographic
& Limnological Research) speared by Prof. Barak Herut and Dr. Gideon Tibor.
This collaboration sent the Mediterranean Explorer to the Gulf of Eilat ( Gulf of
Aqaba) to participate in a geological research project headed by Prof. Zvi Ben Avraham
in collaboration with scientists from Jordan, Israel and the United states. This
project included seismological surveys and coring of numerous cores along the many
geological faults located in the bay.
Hopefully the outcome of this research will affect the planning of the two neighboring
cities of Aqaba and Eilat for the safety of their inhabitants in the future.
The Mediterranean Explorer also participated in the ongoing project, funded by Dr.
John Hall, in which the sea bed off the Israeli coast is surveyed and mapped with
Multi Beam technology. Over a month the vessel ran five legs in which almost 9000
square Kilometers were charted in depths between 500 and 1600 meters. We hope that
this new knowledge about our sea bed will promote and enhance additional deep sea
research in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Another project which the Mediterranean Explorer took part in, headed by Dr. G.
Tibor with the participation of researchers from Germany, was a Geological survey
along the south coast of Israel. The project's aim was to search for fresh water
reservoirs under the sediments of the sea floor.
Prof. David Gruber from NY City University, U.S.A and Dr. Dan Tchernov from Haifa
University used the vessel to examine the distribution of fluorescent proteins in
various depths and the bio diversity of deep sea reefs.
In 2010 we continued our support of Prof. Aldo Shemesh of the Weitzman Institute
in his research in the Eastern Mediterranean.
2010 was the second year in which we continued to work with Dr. Ruthy Yahel from
the Parks And Nature Authority. Dr. Yahel strives to bring more data and information
about the biodiversity of the Israeli Mediterranean coast to decision makers so
that an expansion of marine protected areas and reserves can take place along Israeli
shores.
Once again hundreds of university level students sailed on board the Mediterranean
Explorer as part of their curriculum. As always courses taught by Dr. Gitay Yahel
of the Marine School of sciences at Ruppin Academic Center, lead the score board
in this field but other students from Haifa University, Tel Aviv University, Bar
Ilan University, the Kibbutzim Seminars in Tel Aviv and Oranim, also participated
in courses and scientific cruises aboard the vessel.
As mentioned above, 2010 brought a major increase in EcoOcean's educational activities
with Almost 13,000 Children, youths and adults participating. We started implementing
the programs we worked on the previous year and this allowed the increase not only
in volume but also in the variety of programs we offer.
During 2010 EcoOcean continued its tight cooperation with the Green Network with
the "Along the Sea" program that was expanded to new municipal areas and to Junior
High school age groups.
We continued our 'Man & Sea' educational program, supported by the Jewish Funders
Network and a privet donor. In this program we help schools from socioeconomic and
geographical segments of the Israeli society that would find it hard to participate
in extra curriculum activities and allow them to learn about our influence on the
marine & coastal environment. Our instructors first visit the schools and teach
the children about the sea and coast and then the children visit us at the "Megalim"
Center for a day of 'hands on' activities.
This year we have initiated a continuous educational research program for 'Mofet
Hofim' school in Hadera, aimed at introducing research questions regarding organisms
in the coast and the dunes and the coastal environment in general.
We have expanded our activities with beit Ekstein School (Tom School) in Sdot Yam
by adding the Seventh & Eighth grades to the activities on a weekly basis.
High school students participated this year in programs that EcoOcean has built
to fit their matriculation curriculum set by the Ministry of Education.
EcoOcean has also developed a pioneering program that will allow a selected group
of high school students to take part in ongoing research checking the biodiversity
of shallow rocky habitats along the Northern shores of the Israeli coast. This project,
run by Dr. Gil Rilov of IOLR and in collaboration with Dr. R. Yahel of the NPA,
is funded by the Goldman fund.
In the past year we strengthened our working relations with the visitor's center
at the OROT RABIN power station. This allows us to bring forth the many environmental
aspects of our culture of consumption and allows in depth discussion and debate.
We are also glad to see an increase in our programs for adults. In 2010 we conducted
seminars for a variety of audiences: teachers, workers and volunteers at animal
care centers and hospitals and more. We also started a series of lectures open to
the public called "A Window to the Mediterranean". The variety of topics are related
to the marine environment and culture. The fact that we are fully booked each lecture
only comes to prove that the general public is interested and wishes to learn more
about the issues facing our marine and coastal regions