The Dead Sea-Arava Science Center (DSASC) operates along the entire Dead Sea and Arava Valley, a region that covers about 20% of the area of the State of Israel. This area is under the jurisdiction of the regional councils Megilot, Tamar, Central Arava and Hevel Eilot.
This area, the lowest in the world, combines an array of extreme geographical, geological, physical, and climatic conditions displays a unique flora and fauna and contains a combination of minerals that does not exist anywhere else in the world. The area is also home to sites of international culture, religious and historical value including the Dead-Sea Scrolls, Masada, the Dead Sea, and Timna Mines.
The local settlements, regional councils, and research bodies have taken economic advantage of region's special characteristics, particularly in the fields of agriculture, tourism and industry. These enterprises exist while preserving the area's unique natural resources.
DSASC Goals:
- To conduct applied research based on the region's relative advantages, within the context of sustainable development.
- To be a center for cross-border scientific cooperation.
- To improve scientific literacy in the local adult and youth populations.
- To be a focal point for mapping, developing, and spreading knowledge regarding issues of importance to the Dead Sea and Arava through conferences, courses, publications, and more.
- To promote in the growth of the scientific community in the region.
Areas of Research and Activity:
- Climate change, infrastructure, geology, and water (groundwater, flooding, salination)
- Regional involvement of the alternatives being offered for halting the lowering of the level of the Dead Sea and rehabilitating the Jordan River, including the "Red Sea-Dead Sea Conduit," regarding the effect on settlements, agriculture, water, and environment.
- Sustainable management of transborder infrastructures in the Dead Sea, Arava, and Jordan River.
- Botanical and zoological species diversity along the length of the valley and in the Dead Sea.
- Local environmental quality, natural resources, and ecology (air quality, waste recycling, renewable energy, et al.).
- Biotechnology, agriculture, and sustainable agriculture in an extreme arid climate (plants, algae, microorganisms).
- Eco-, archeological, and heritage tourism.
- Medical implications of the Dead Sea climate, minerals, and environment.
- Environmental education and scientific literacy.
The DSASC publishes an electronic journal, "The Dead Sea and Arava Research."
DSASC Organizational Structure:
The Center was established by the Ministry of Science, Culture, and Sport and the Regional Councils, and runs under the auspices of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. The Center is a registered non-profit association, and receives support from Partnership 2000 of the Jewish Agency for Israel.
The DSASC includes three divisions:
The Southern Arava Division, located in the offices of the Arava Institute for Environmental Studies at Kibbutz Ketura, Hevel Eilot Regional Council. Research Director: Dr. Hanan Ginat hanang@school.ardom.co.il
The Central Arava Division, located in the Hatzeva Field School, Arava Tichona Regional Council. Research Director: Dr. Rivka Ofir riviv@bgu.ac.il
The Dead Sea Division, located at the Tamar Regional Council and at eh laboratory of Kibbutz Ein Gedi, Tamar and Megillot Regional Councils. Research Director: Prof. Shimon Moses moses@bgu.ac.il
General Research Director: Dr. Hanan Ginat General Director: Yael Maor. The Science Center is actively seeking young researchers from Israel and abroad, and offers housing assistance in the region.
