Professor Nadav Shashar

Professor Nadav Shashar is a renowned marine biologist and full professor at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, at the Eilat Israel. He leads the Sensory Ecology Lab, which explores how marine animals perceive and interact with their environment, in species such as cephalopods, fish, and dolphins.

 

Prof. Shashar is a pioneer in coral reef restoration, and he continuous to explore and develops new ways of restoration and conservation of coastal habitats, ma made structures, and coral reefs.

 

He spearheaded the several artificial reefs projects in the Gulf of Aqaba, developing artificial reefs to enhance tourism and foster marine biodiversity. His team also established coral nurseries to accelerate reef development, significantly reducing the time needed for coral colonization from decades to just a few years.

 

Prof. Shashar interdisciplinary approach, blending marine biology with design and engineering, exemplifies innovative strategies in marine conservation. He is an passionate scuba diver and heads the Eilat Desert and Sea Environmental Association.

 

Prof. Shashar visited in the Torres Strait Islands immediately after the 2016 and 2017 mass coral bleaching event, and continued to research the region, and he is keen on spreading his knowledge and has run workshops and courses the Torres Straits, and the Pacific Ocean, on the phase-shift to address the growing impacts in many countries.

 

Together with the Coralz-Envirotech group, Prof. Shashar was instrumental in developing the ASQA accredited courses in Conservation and Restoration of Coastal Habitats. A significant part of this development was done at the Torres Straits islands.

 

Prof. Shashar's work not only contributes to scientific understanding but also has practical implications for preserving marine ecosystems, aligning with global sustainability goals.