The Department of Land, Water, and Environment (LWED) at the Faculty of Agriculture / The University of Jordan organized a scientific seminar on Thursday, May 29, 2025, as part of its scientific meetings with honorary professors during the events of the Second Honorary Professors Forum 2025. The seminar featured distinguished participation from Honorary Professor Gerrit Hoogenboom, a prominent expert in crop modeling from the University of Florida, and from Honorary Professor Ross Thompson, Professor of Water Science at the University of Otago. Both distinguished professors are members of the ClimCLAW research group at the University of Jordan. The event was attended by the Dean of the Faculty, Prof. Dr. Ayyed Al-Abdallat, faculty members, laboratory supervisors in the department, and graduate students and members of the research group, including Dr. Michel Rahbeh (Head of LWED) and Dr. Fayhaa Al-Shibli
During his lecture, Professor Thompson emphasized the importance of environmental irrigation on a broad scale, which presents an opportunity to implement adaptive management approaches. These approaches require a clear understanding of management objectives at all relevant levels. Professor Thompson presented the experience of the evaluation and monitoring program in the Murray-Darling Basin (Australia), showing that adaptive management can be highly effective when community and institutional governance structures align with the management unit (at the "valley" level). He noted the risks scientists face when engaging in policy and management, highlighting the need to fully understand these risks. He also stressed the opportunity to benefit from socio-ecological thinking and the use of tools to engage stakeholders across multiple spatial scales.
Professor Hoogenboom gave a lecture on modeling crop growth and yield prediction amid climate uncertainty and unreliability. He presented the agricultural model and the scientific knowledge base behind computer modeling. He introduced the DSSAT system, explaining how it works, its components, and key results from its use in various applications, including yield prediction, precision agriculture, irrigation management, soil fertility, the linkage between plant breeding and genotype, and its potential application in future digital agriculture. He also showcased initiatives achieved through this system across different parts of the world.
At the end of the seminar, an open, insightful discussion was held on key local issues and the anticipated outcomes of research collaboration between universities and decision-makers.