The Marine Ecology and Sustainable Coastal Management Research Group at the University of Jordan is an interdisciplinary research initiative dedicated to advancing scientific understanding, conservation, and sustainable management of marine and coastal ecosystems, with a primary focus on the Gulf of Aqaba and the Red Sea region. The group integrates expertise across marine ecology, environmental science, climate change, coastal hydrology, and geospatial technologies to address critical challenges facing marine ecosystems under increasing environmental and anthropogenic pressures.
Through cutting-edge research, environmental monitoring, and international collaboration, the group contributes to the protection of marine biodiversity, the sustainability of coastal resources, and the development of evidence-based policies supporting the Blue Economy and climate resilience. The group plays a key role in strengthening the University of Jordan’s leadership in marine science at the national, regional, and international levels.
To position the University of Jordan as a regional and international center of excellence in marine ecology, sustainable coastal management, and climate-resilient marine research, contributing to global scientific advancement and sustainable ocean stewardship.
The group’s mission is to advance interdisciplinary scientific research, build capacity, and foster international collaboration to support the conservation, sustainable management, and resilience of marine and coastal ecosystems in alignment with global sustainability and climate goals.
The group focuses on achieving the following core objectives:
The group’s research activities are organized around several interconnected thematic areas:
Coral reef ecology, resilience, and adaptation
Seagrass ecosystem structure, function, and ecosystem services
Marine biodiversity assessment and monitoring
Species interactions and ecosystem dynamics
Food-web structure and ecosystem functioning
Climate stressors including ocean warming, acidification, and extreme events
Coral bleaching and adaptation mechanisms
Ecosystem resilience and recovery processes
Climate change impacts on coastal ecosystems
Integrated coastal zone management
Environmental monitoring and ecosystem health assessment
Marine protected areas effectiveness and management
Ecosystem-based management approaches
Coastal sustainability and environmental protection
Water quality assessment and pollution monitoring
Nutrient cycling and biogeochemical processes
Marine pollutants and environmental stress impacts
Ecosystem responses to environmental change
GIS and remote sensing applications in marine science
Spatial analysis of coastal ecosystems
Environmental monitoring and modeling
Coastal hydrology and environmental dynamics
Scientific support for sustainable marine resource management
Ecosystem services and natural capital assessment
Blue Carbon ecosystems and climate mitigation
Sustainable coastal development and marine resource planning
The research group actively contributes to several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including:
SDG 14 – Life Below Water: Marine biodiversity conservation and sustainable ocean management
SDG 13 – Climate Action: Understanding and mitigating climate impacts on marine ecosystems
SDG 15 – Life on Land: Coastal ecosystem protection and sustainability
SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals: International scientific collaboration and capacity building
The primary geographic focus of the group is:
Gulf of Aqaba (Jordan)
Northern Red Sea
Aqaba Marine Reserve
The group also contributes to broader Red Sea and international marine research initiatives through collaborative projects.
The group integrates expertise from multiple disciplines, including:
Marine Biology
Marine Ecology and Coastal Ecology
Marine Biogeochemistry
Environmental Sciences
Climate Change Science
Integrated Coastal Zone Management
Hydrology and Environmental Modeling
GIS and Remote Sensing
Blue Economy and Sustainability Science
The group conducts a wide range of research and academic activities:
Field-based marine ecosystem research and environmental monitoring
Laboratory-based experimental and analytical studies
Climate and environmental data analysis and modeling
Graduate student training and supervision
Scientific publications in peer-reviewed journals
International collaborative research projects
Scientific advisory support for environmental management and policy
The group plays an important role in training the next generation of marine scientists by:
Supervising MSc and PhD students
Providing research training opportunities
Supporting student participation in international scientific programs
Promoting interdisciplinary education and scientific skills development
The research group maintains strong partnerships with national and international institutions, including:
Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA)
Ministry of Environment, Jordan
University of Jordan research centers
Free University of Berlin, Germany
Transnational Red Sea Centre (TRSC), Switzerland
Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), Switzerland
King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Saudi Arabia
These collaborations strengthen the group’s scientific capacity, expand research opportunities, and enhance global scientific exchange.
The research group contributes to:
Strengthening the University of Jordan’s international research profile
Supporting national marine conservation and sustainability goals
Advancing Red Sea marine science
Providing scientific foundations for evidence-based coastal management
Supporting sustainable Blue Economy development
Enhancing regional and international scientific collaboration
The research group is led by:
Dr. Ali Al Sawalmih Principal Investigator Marine Science Station University of Jordan
E-mail: a.sawalmih@ju.edu.jo
Expertise: Marine ecology, coral and seagrass ecosystems, coastal sustainability, and climate change impacts on marine ecosystems.