We conduct multidisciplinary research on jellyfish from the Mediterranean and Red Seas, spanning their life cycle and reproduction to the exploration of potential applications. Our work includes studies of jellyfish mucus, stinging cells, and associated parasites, alongside continuous collaboration with the public through citizen reports of jellyfish observations.

The TRANSEATION main objective is to demonstrate the effectiveness of marine and coastal hybrid blue-grey infrastructures and validate a new level of ecosystem-based management combining nature-based solutions, social implication digitalization to the protection and restoration of marine ecosystem health and services. 

"Meduzot Baam" is a project in which researchers and citizens work together to improve the quality of life on the coast of Israel. Using a mobile app, citizens are encouraged to monitor and report swarms of jellyfish on Israeli beaches. The data is analyzed by researchers to gain an understanding of jellyfish and how they affect Israeli industry and tourism. This project also aims to track and forecast jellyfish swarms in real-time, and to offer practical ways to avoid and treat jellyfish stings.

From a citizen science perspective, in addition to public jellyfish sighting reports, we are actively engaged with the community through outreach activities in schools and kindergartens and by delivering public lectures. We also conducted a structured survey on jellyfish stings, which led to a peer-reviewed publication with evidence-based conclusions regarding recommended post-sting treatment for Rhopilema nomadica. 

Our laboratory conducts integrated research on microplastics and plastics in the environment, focusing on particle identification and quantification, spatial distribution patterns, and the development and assessment of approaches for microplastic removal from wastewater. 

During research cruises, we collect plankton samples, perform quantitative counts, and analyze the resulting data. Plankton abundance is assessed using both manual counting under a binocular microscope and an automated imaging device (PlanktoScope). Data generated by the PlanktoScope are subsequently uploaded to the EcoTaxa platform for classification and further analysis.

In nature, CO2 is captured by plants and naturally carried by rivers out to the sea, where the organic carbon sinks to the sea floor. The bottom of the Black Sea, completely lacking oxygen, preserves this plant carbon for thousands of years. Rewind leverages the abundant agriculture and forestry around the Black Sea, existing supply chains, and proprietary technology to scale carbon removal to a gigaton and beyond.

Iliad builds on the assets resulting from two decades of investments in policies and infrastructures for the blue economy and aims at establishing an interoperable, data-intensive, and cost-effective Digital Twins of the Ocean (DTOs). It capitalises on the explosion of new data provided by many different earth sources, advanced computing infrastructures (cloud computing, HPC, Internet of Things, Big Data, social networking, and more) in an inclusive, virtual/augmented, and engaging fashion to address all Earth Data challenges. 

OTTERS views citizen science as an excellent tool for fostering citizen engagement and stewardship of the natural environment, including the marine and freshwater domains. To achieve its mission successfully, OTTERS aims to help citizen science in establishing standardise methods of collecting data in line with policy and scientific objectives and standards as well as overcome institutional and ethical challenges. 

'GoJelly – a gelatinous solution to plastic pollution' is an EU H2020 funded project where jellyfish are used as source of innovative solutions to combat marine litter.  Our contribution to GoJelly is in driving mechanisms and predictions of jellyfish blooms, sustainable harvesting & aquaculture of jellyfish, developing protocols for handling and processing of jellyfish, development of microplastic pollutant filters using jellyfish mucus, development of products from jellyfish biomass, Socio-ecological analyses of jellyfish blooms and of microplastic pollution, marketing and exploitation of jellyfish goods, and the dissemination of project’s results and communication with local stakeholders

The overall objective of this EU-funded project is to "effectively promote the sustainable growth of climate-change resilient, environmentally-friendly organic and conventional aquaculture of major fish species and low trophic level organisms in Europe, to meet future challenges with respect to the growing consumer demand for high quality, nutritious and responsibly produced food."