The conference will bring together experts, students, and decision-makers to showcase the impact of technology on marine biology research. Innovative tools like remote sensing and marine robotics will be presented, enabling monitoring of marine ecosystems and improving the management of marine resources for the future.

Dr. Derya Akkaynak from the Hatter Department of Marine Technologies recently participated in the 14th anniversary celebration of the mentorship program at Universität Greifswald, Germany – one of the oldest and respected universities in Europe.
Over the past two years, Dr. Akkaynak has served as a mentor to PhD students through this prestigious program, which aims to promote women in scientific careers by offering personal guidance, strengthening professional networks, and breaking down barriers in academia.
At the festive event, Dr. Akkaynak participated in a central panel discussion, held in the presence of State Minister of Justice and Equality, Ms. Jacqueline Bernhardt, discussing the importance of supporting young female scientists and advancing gender equality in science.
The program’s impact is already bearing fruit: one of Dr. Akkaynak’s mentees is now planning to apply for a postdoctoral position at the University of Haifa – a natural continuation of international scientific collaboration that strengthens ties between institutions.
We are proud of Dr. Derya Akkaynak for her significant contribution to advancing women in science and for her outstanding representation of the School of Marine Sciences at this important event.

Photo credit: University of Greifswald

The Charney School has achieved an outstanding ranking of 27th in the world for “Life Below Water” (SDG 14) in the 2025 Times Higher Education Impact Rankings.

This year, over 2,400 universities worldwide were evaluated based on their contributions to advancing social, economic, and environmental sustainability, aligned with the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The prestigious ranking reflects the School’s commitment to leading marine research, environmental protection, and sustainability innovation, making a real impact on the future of the Mediterranean and our oceans.

We are proud of this achievement, which highlights the important contribution of our academic and administrative staff and our students, who make a difference every single day for a better, more sustainable future.

This recognition underscores the School’s position as a global leader in marine sciences and environmental stewardship.

A groundbreaking study led by Prof. Roee Diamant, head of the Underwater Acoustics and Navigation Lab (ANL) in the Hatter Department of Marine Technologies, together with doctoral students Guy Gubnitsky and Yaly Mevorach, has developed the first automated system of its kind for decoding sperm whale communication.

Conducted in collaboration with researchers from Carleton University and New York University, this study is part of a global scientific effort to understand how these deep-sea giants interact. The system accurately identifies and classifies codas—the unique sequences of clicks used by sperm whales to communicate—even in noisy and complex ocean environments where multiple whales are vocalizing simultaneously.

This achievement is part of Project CETI, an international initiative led by Prof. Dan Tchernov, Director of the School of Marine Sciences, which aims to decode whale language using advanced technologies.

Published in Scientific Reports (Nature), the study revealed clear coordination patterns between whale pairs: they used the same types of codas and maintained consistent timing intervals—resembling the rhythm and structure of human conversation.

Another exciting step toward understanding and one day communicating with whales.

Read the full scientific paper