CommitteefortheEvaluationofGeologyandEarthScienceStudy Programs BenGurionUniversity DepartmentofGeologyandEnvironmentalScience EvaluationReport August2013 1 Contents Chapter1: Background....................................................................................................................................3 Chapter2: CommitteeProcedures.............................................................................................................4 Chapter3: EvaluationofGeologyandEnvironmentalStudiesProgramat BenGurionUniversity...............................................................................................................5 Appendices: Appendix1–LetterofAppointment Appendix2–Scheduleofthevisit 2 Chapter1:Background TheCouncilforHigherEducation(CHE)decidedtoevaluatethestudyprogramsingeology andearthscienceduringthe2012/2013academicyear. Following the decision of the CHE, the Minister of Education, who serves ex officio as ChairpersonoftheCHE,appointedareviewcommitteeconsistingof Prof.EdwardStolper,DivisionofGeologicalandPlanetarySciences,California InstituteofTechnology,USA(reviewcommitteechair); Prof.HenryElderfield,DepartmentofEarthSciences,UniversityofCambridge,UK; Prof.KennethLarner,DepartmentofGeophysics,ColoradoSchoolofMines,USA; Dr.YairRotstein,U.S.‐IsraelBinationalScienceFoundation,Israel; Prof.GeraldSchubert,UniversityofCaliforniaLosAngeles,USA;and Prof.MarkThiemens,UniversityofCaliforniaSanDiego,USA; withMs.DaniellaSandlerservingascoordinatorofthecommitteeonbehalfoftheCHE. Withintheframeworkofitsactivity,thereviewcommitteewasrequestedto1 1. examine the self‐evaluation reports, submitted by the institutions that provide study programs in geology and earth science and to conduct on‐site visits at those institutions; 2. submit to the CHE an individual report on each of the evaluated academic units and studyprograms,includingthecommittee'sfindingsandrecommendations;and 3. submit to the CHE a general report regarding the examined field of study within the Israeli system of higher education, including recommendations for standards in the evaluatedfieldofstudy. TheprocesswasconductedinaccordancewiththeCHE’sOctober2012GuidelinesforSelf‐ Evaluation. 1 The review committee’s letter of appointment is attached as Appendix 1. 3 Chapter2:CommitteeProcedures ThereviewcommitteehelditsfirstmeetingsonJanuary8,2013,duringwhichitdiscussed fundamentalissuesconcerninghighereducationinIsrael,thequalityassessmentactivity, andgeologyandearthsciencestudyprogramsinIsrael. FromJanuary9‐16,2013,thereviewcommitteevisitedtheBenGurionUniversity,TelAviv University,andHebrewUniversity.Duringthevisits,thereviewcommitteemetwith variousstakeholdersattheinstitutions,includingmanagement,faculty,staff,andstudents. ThisreportdealswiththeDepartmentofGeologyandEnvironmentalStudiesatBenGurion University.Thecommittee'svisittookplaceonJanuary9‐10,2013. ThescheduleofthevisitisattachedasAppendix2. The review committee thanks the management of Ben Gurion University and the DepartmentofGeologyandEnvironmentalStudiesfortheirself‐evaluationreportandfor theirhospitalitytowardsthecommitteeduringitsvisitattheinstitution. 4 Chapter3:EvaluationofGeologyandEnvironmentalStudiesStudyProgramatBen GurionUniversity Thisreportrelatestothesituationcurrentatthetimeofthevisittotheinstitutionanddoes nottakeaccountofanysubsequentchanges.Thereportrecordstheconclusionsreachedby the review committee based on the documentation provided by the institution, information gainedthroughinterviews,discussionandobservation,andotherinformationavailabletothe committee. 1. ExecutiveSummary Thecommitteewaspleasedtofindadepartmentcommittedtoitsprogramsinresearch andeducationandtocontinuousself‐evaluationandimprovementinbothareas.Wewere struckbythestrongcamaraderieandmutualsupportwithinthedepartmentatalllevels, fromtheundergraduatesuptoalumniandthemostseniorfacultylevels.Thisis characteristicofearthsciencedepartmentsbecauseoftheirgenerallysmallsizeand becauseoftheintenseinteractionsthatdevelopduringfieldwork,butevenso,this departmentisnotableinitsespritdecorps. Thefacultyandtheresearchprogramsofthedepartmentareundergoingatransformation: Theyareinaperiodofagenerationalchange,andtheseniorfacultyhasoverseenthe hiringofanenthusiasticandambitiousgroupofpromisingjuniorfacultymembers. Moreover,thenewfacultymembershavebeenwelltreatedandwellsupportedduring theirstartupperiod,resultinginloyaltytothedepartmentandtheuniversity,whilealso emphasizinghighstandardsandexpectations.Althoughitistoosoontotelltheoutcomes, thenewlyhiredfacultymembersareontracktobeamongtheleadersinIsraelintheir cohort.Inaddition,initsrecentfacultyhiring,thedepartmenthasbalancedwellthe competinggoalsofidentifyingpromisingyoungresearchers,theneedsoftheteaching program,andtheopportunitiesmadepossiblebysynergiesamongtheresearchprograms ofcontinuouslyevolvinggroupsoffaculty. Initsself‐study,thedepartmentasserts,correctlyinthecommittee’sjudgment,thatto bringitsprogramstothenextlevelbothwithinIsraelandparticularlyonaninternational scale,itwillneedtobelargerthanitscurrentandhistoricallystablesizeofaboutten facultymembers.Thisissmallerbyafactoroftwotothreethantheleadingearthand environmentalscienceprogramsintheworld.Theissueisnotsimplythatmorepeople resultsinmoreoutputandthereforemoreimpact;itisalsothattheearthandplanetary scienceshavemanyinteractingcomponentsandthatwhenaprogramissmallerthana certainsize,importantcomponentsandthereforeopportunitiesarelost.Thisisnottosay thateveryleadingdepartmentcoversallpossiblefieldseventhebestmustalsopickand choosebutattenfacultymembers,theresearchandintellectualinfrastructureissimply insufficienttocompeteonaninternationalscale. Giventhesmallsizeofitsfaculty(andpostdoctoralresearchers),thereviewcommittee judgesthatitwillbedifficultforthedepartmenttoemergeasaleadinginternational programwithoutsomecombinationofwell‐thought‐outgrowthandleveraging opportunitieswhentheyemerge.Therefore,thecommitteesupportstheambitionofthe departmenttogrowtoabout15facultymembersonadecadaltimescale.Thedepartment recognizesthat,giventhefinancesofBenGurionUniversityandofhighereducationin Israelasawhole,aplantoincreaseinsizebyabout50%wouldundermostcircumstances beunrealistic.Inthefaceofthisreality,thedepartment’sproposedapproachistolook continuouslyforoutstandingpotentialfacultymembers,andwhentheyfindthem,tobring themtotheadministrationandaskforanewappointment,hopingforsuccessbasedon theirtrackrecordandtheopportunitypresentedbytheproposedappointment.This 5 opportunisticapproachmaywork,butithasthepossibledownsidesofstressingbudgetary andspaceinfrastructure,whichwillnotlikelyexpandwitheachsuchopportunity,andof growththatishaphazardanduncoordinated. Thecommitteerecommendsthatthedepartmenttakeadvantageoftheopportunityfacing BenGurionUniversitywiththeanticipatedrelocationtonearbyofasignificantcomponent ofthenationaldefenseforces.Theuniversitywilllikelyneedtogrowtoaccommodatethe needsforeducationofthedefenseforcesthemselves,theirfamilies,andthesupport personnelandtheirfamilieswhowillnodoubtalsorelocatetothearea.Werecommend thatthedepartmentdevelopastrategicplantoincreasethesizeofitsfacultybyabout50% onadecadaltimescaleinthecontextofthisanticipatedgrowth.Thisplanwoulddescribe theneedsandgoalsofthedepartmentinordertoimproveitsstandinginternationally,but itshouldalsodescribehowthedepartmentcanhelpmeetthespecificchallengesand demandsthatwillbepresentedbythedefenserelocation,someofwhichwilllikelydirectly relatetotheearthandenvironmentalsciences.Thelistoffieldsgeneratedbythe departmentandincludedintheself‐study(numericalmodeling,geodynamics,global change,fossilfuels,geodynamicsinthecontextofseismichazards)isagoodstart,butthe strategicplanshoulddevelopmorefullytheseandpossiblyotheropportunities,andit shouldspecificallydescribehowtheywouldfittogetherinthecontextoftheanticipated growthoftheuniversityandthedesiretomovethedepartmenttothenextlevel internationally.Thestrategicplanshouldalsodevelopspaceandbudgetaryplansthatwill beessentialforaccommodatingsuchsignificantfacultygrowth. Thestrategicplanshouldaddressseveralissues:(1)Uptonowthedepartmenthasnot hadaresearchprogramcomparabletothatofleadingearthandenvironmentalprograms intheworld.Theplanforgrowthshouldclearlyarticulatehowthedepartmentproposes tomoveintothetopranks.(2)Thereisadisconnectbetweenthenameofthedepartment, “theDepartmentofGeologicalandEnvironmentalSciences,”andthestronggeological emphasisofthefaculty’sresearchandthethincourseofferingsinenvironmentalscience, includingfundamentalareassuchasatmosphericchemistryandatmosphere‐solidearth interactions.Thecommitteerecommendsthatthedepartmentaddressthisdisconnectvia newfacultyappointmentsand/orcurriculumdevelopmentoverthenextfewyears. (3)Geophysicsandquantitativeapproachesareunderrepresentedinthedepartment relativetotheirimportanceinleadingprograms.And(4)issueswereraisedaboutthe standardsforadmissionofundergraduatestudentsand,inparticular,thatthesignificant growthinthenumberofstudentsinrecentyearsmayreflectinpartlowerstandards,aless rigorousordemandingprogram,andfalseadvertisingregardingtheenvironmental emphasisoftheprogram. 2. OrganizationalStructure Observationsandfindings: Communicationwithinthedepartmentappearstobeeffective.Thedepartmentmeets regularlytocommunicateoneducation,research,anddepartmentaloperations.The department’sorganizationfostersitsgoodespritdecorpsamongfaculty,students,and alumni.Anumberoffacultyandstudentsindependentlycommentedonthedepartmentas aclose‐knitoperation.Therearenoproblemsapparenttothereviewcommitteeinthe departmentalstructureandoperations,andthedepartmentshouldbecommendedforits organization. ThedepartmenthasasolidworkingrelationshipwiththeDesertResearchInstituteinboth teachingandresearchthathelpsbothinstitutions.Thereviewcommitteesees,however, opportunitiesfortheuniversityasawholeifanevenbroaderconnection,includingother componentsoftheuniversity,couldbedeveloped.Thismightincludeanumbrella 6 organizationthatembracedtheDepartmentofGeologyandEnvironmentalScience,the DesertResearchInstitute,andotherdepartmentswithinterestsandactivitiesin environmentalscience,includingbutnotnecessarilylimitedtoengineering,computational science,physics,chemistry,geography,andbiology.Thegoalofsuchanorganizational structurewouldbeeaseofinterconnectionsbetweenallofthecomponentsofthe universityengagedinteachingandresearchinenvironmentalscienceandaprojectionto theoutsideworldofcoordinateduniversity‐wideeffortintheserelatedareasthatwould enhancethereputationandvisibilityoftheuniversityasaleadingcenterofresearchand teachingrelatedtothefragiledesertenvironment.Moreover,thiscouldleadtothe“whole beinggreaterthanthesumoftheparts”intheareaofenvironmentalscience.Thiswould bevaluableinthishighlycompetitiveinterdisciplinaryarea.Notethatwearenot proposingmerginganyofthesedepartmentsorunits,simplystrengtheningtheir interconnectionsacrossthelargerdisciplineofenvironmentalscience. Additionalconnectionswithotherdepartmentsorunitswithintheuniversitycouldextend theteachingandresearchcapabilitiesoftheDepartmentofGeologyandEnvironmental Science.ThecommitteerecognizesthevalueofthecurrentrelationshipwiththeFacultyof EngineeringSciencesthroughthegeoengineeringprogramandwiththecomputerscience departmentthroughthecomputersandgeologyprogramandsuggeststhatcomparable relationshipswithotherunitsbeconsidered,suchaswithgeography(withwhichthe departmenthasintellectualoverlap);withchemistrytothinkaboutopportunitiesinfields suchasatmosphericchemistry;andperhapswithothers.Inadditiontoenlargingthe intellectualopportunitiesofthedepartments,thisapproachcouldbeparticularlyvaluable intimesoflimitedgrowthacrosstheuniversity,andbuildingsuchrelationshipscanhelp boththepartneringdepartmentsandtheuniversityasawhole.Thedepartmenthasdone agoodjobto‐datewithbuildingsuchrelationships,andwerecommendthatitcontinueto doso. Thecommitteehasdiscussedthepossibilityofthedepartmentdevelopingstrongerties withotheruniversities(andevencombiningcomponentsoftheprograms),suchaswith TelAvivUniversityandtheHebrewUniversity.Thiscouldhelpmaintainandeven strengthencapabilitiesintimesoffinanciallimitationsand,aswiththedevelopmentofthe tieswithinBenGurionUniversitydescribedinthepreviousparagraph,itcanimprove capabilitiesinbothinstitutions.Thismightbeparticularlyvaluableastheuniversitywants togointonewareas,suchasaneducationalprogramtohelpmeettheanticipated challengeofpreparingaworkforceforthefossilfuelsindustry. 3. MissionandGoals Observationsandfindings: Thedepartmentstrives(1)tobeattheleadingedgeofresearchintogeologyand environmentalsciencewhilemaintainingastrongemphasisoneducation;(2)tobeoneof theleadersinIsraelintheseareas;(3)tohaveaninternationallyrecognizedprogramin teachingandresearch;and(4)tohaverelevancetotheNegevregion. 7 4. Faculty Observationsandfindings: Thedepartmenthasabouttenfacultymembers.Thisissmallbyinternationalstandards foramajorresearchprogram,necessarilylimitingthebreadthofitsteachingandresearch programs.Ifthedepartmentistosucceedatbecomingaplayerontheworldscene,ithas togrow.Thedepartmentrecognizesthisandproposestogrowitsfacultybyatleast50 percent,andthecommitteeendorsesthisingeneralterms,especiallyifthedepartmentcan capitalizeontheexpectedgrowthoftheuniversitywiththenewmilitarybasesthatare plannedinthevicinity.Thefacultyisalsoclearlyinatransitionalperiod,withtherecent andexpectedretirementofmostoftheoriginalstaff,resultinginarelativelyyoung departmentoverashorttime.Thishasputthedepartmentinpositiontorebuildand,in fact,toreinventitself.Theleadershipofthedepartmenthaspartiallyseizedthis opportunitybyhiringyoung,energetic,andambitiousnewfacultymemberswhohave broughtwiththemnewideasandnewtechnologies.Althoughonlytimewilltellhowthis worksout,currentindicationsarepromising.Ontheotherhand,thisprocess,whichin morematuredepartmentsisslowandgradual,hasleftthedepartmentwitharelatively smallnumberofseniorfacultymemberswhoareleadersintheirfields.This,forexample, isreflectedbythefactthatthedepartmenthascurrentlyonlyasinglepersonintherankof fullprofessoraccordingtotheself‐study.Itmayalsobeoneofthereasonsforwhatthe committeeviewsasalessthanexcellentpublishingrecordofthedepartmentasawhole. Asmentionedpreviously,anoticeablecharacteristicofthedepartmentisitscollegial atmosphere.Thismanifestsitselfinvariousways,includingthesharingofresourcesand helpingnewfacultytoestablishtheirlabs.Thisatmospherehelpsthedepartmenttotackle thedifficultiesitfacesandtoattractstudentsandfaculty.Asitisnotacommonstateof affairsinacademia,agreateffortshouldbemadetopreservethisatmosphere. Thecommitteewastoldbythejuniorfacultythat,accordingtouniversityregulations,a Ph.D.studentwhosementorisajuniorfacultymemberisrequiredtohaveaseniorfaculty memberasanadditionalthesissupervisor.Wenotethatwhilethismightalsobethe situationinotherIsraeliuniversities,itisinconsistentwiththepracticeinternationally, anditstruckthecommitteeasanoddandlikelyunproductivepractice. Thedepartmenthasonlyasmallnumberofpostdoctoralscholars(theywereintroducedto thecommitteeas“adjunctfaculty”).Thecommitteerealizesthatthismightbe characteristicofBGUasawholeand,indeed,ofotherIsraeliuniversities.Nevertheless, thissituationlimitstheprofileandimpactofthedepartment,theresearchopportunitiesof thefacultyandstudents,andultimatelythepotentialandinternationalstandingofthe department.Thecommitteerecommendsthatthedepartmentconsiderhowitmight increasethenumberofpostdoctoralscholars(especiallyinternationalones),perhapseven bylaunchingacompetitiveprize(i.e.,“named”)postdoctoralfellowshipprogram. 5. Students,Teaching,andLearningExperience Observationsandfindings: Studentenrollment:Thedepartmenthasalargestudentpopulation.Mostofthestudents continuetograduateschoolandeventuallyfindemploymentrelatedtotheireducationin theearthandenvironmentalsciences.Somealsopursuegraduatestudiesabroadinfirst‐ rateuniversities.Thecommitteenotes,however,thewidedistributionofmatriculation andpsychometricgradesoftheadmittedstudents.Thisobservationraisesthequestionof whetherornot,inordertoincreasethenumberofstudentsenteringtheundergraduate 8 program,somecompromiseshavebeenmadeontheprofileofacceptedstudents. Furthermore,wenotethattheself‐evaluationacknowledgesaproblemwiththetrainingof theincomingstudents,whichmayberelatedtothisissue.Althoughtheapparentlylow dropoutratefromthedepartmentmightindicateotherwise(andissurelytobe commended,probablypartiallyasacorollaryofthedepartment’ssupportive environment),weneverthelessrecommendthattheuniversityanddepartmentlook carefullyintothisissue.Inthiscontext,itwouldbeusefultoconsidercomparingthe entrancerequirementsinBGU’sgeologydepartmentwiththoseinotherearthsciences departmentsinIsraelandwiththoseinotherBGUsciencedepartments. Whilethenumberoffacultymembersinthedepartmentissmall,wenotethesignificant growthinnumbersofstudents(about20%forundergraduatesandabout25%total)inthe pastthreeyears.Atthesametimethenumberoffacultymembershasremained essentiallyconstant.Thisgrowthinenrollment,whileexcitinginmanyaspects,hasput significantburdensonthefacultythroughsqueezedbudgetsandtime,restrictionson space(classroom,laboratory,andworkspace),andstressesonlaboratoryinstructionand equipmentavailability.Inparticular,studentswemetnotedthatsomeclassroomsare overcrowdedandcomputerfacilitiesareinadequate,againaproblemexacerbatedbythe increaseinthestudentpopulation.Ourunderstandingisthatcapsonundergraduateand M.S.enrollmentnumbersperhapsarebeingplanned,butevaluationoftheoptimalsizeof thestudentpopulationwouldbetimely. Mandatoryclasses:Thephilosophyunderlyingtheorganizationofundergraduatecourse structurevariesconsiderablyamonguniversities.BGUhaschosenaformatofhavinga largenumberofitscoursesbemandatoryones,withrelativelyfewopportunitiesfor studentstotakeelectives.Forexample,inthesingle‐departmenttracks,ofthe122 requiredcredits,studentshavejustsixcreditsoffreeelectives;oneoftheofferedtracks evenhasnofreeelectives.Someofthemandatorycoursesaretrack‐specific,andforsome trackssomeoftheelectivesarelimitedtoaselectnumberofcourses.Theresultisa programofstudythathaslittleroomforstudentstodiversifyandaddbreadthanddepth totheiruniversityexperience.Thishasseveraladverseimplications.Forexample, graduatesandalumniwhochoseaquantitativedisciplinefortheirM.Sc.studiesnotedthat thelackofelectivecourseshadpreventedthemfromtakingmoremathematicsandphysics aspartoftheirundergraduatetraining.Thisinturnmighthaveputthematacompetitive performancedisadvantagewhensubsequently,intheirM.Sc.program,theytookgraduate coursesfromotherdepartments,suchasphysicsandmathematics.Thelargenumberof mandatoryundergraduatecoursesalsolikelyhastheunintendedconsequencesthatthe numberofgraduatecoursesofferedbythedepartmentissmallandofputtingstressonthe facultyintermsoftheirteachingloads.Somewhatrelatedtothehighratioofmandatoryto electiveclassesistherelativelylargenumberoftracks.Althoughthismightbeapartial compensationforthelackofelectivecourses,anddoesofferstudentsadegreeofdiversity intheireducation,withthepresentsmallsizeofthedepartmenttheresultcouldbetoo manycourseswithsmallenrollment.Althoughtheemphasisonmandatoryclasseswasan issueforthereviewcommittee,wewerealsoimpressedtohearfromthealumnithat whethertheycontinuedinacademiaorenteredanotherprofession,theyviewthemselves aswelltrainedandabletotackleawiderangeofproblems(includingtopicsbeyondthe subjectscoveredinthecurriculum);so,despiteourconcerns,thecurriculumappearstobe effective,and,overall,studentsaresatisfiedwiththeirlearningexperience. Fieldexperiences:Anaspectofthestressintroducedbytheincreasedenrollmentthatis perhapsuniquetothisdepartmentrelatestothepedagogicallyessentialyetcostlyprogram offieldcoursesthedepartmentoffers,whichrangeindurationfromasingledaytoaweek orlonger.Bygoingintothefield,studentsgainessentialexperiencesthatcannotbe adequatelyconveyedintextbooksorintheclassroom.Moreover,therelationships 9 developedfromone‐on‐oneinteractionsamongstudentsandbetweenstudentsandfaculty whileinthefieldprobablyplaysaroleinthestrongcamaraderieofthedepartmentatall levels.However,thecostofconductingfieldcoursesconsumesasizableportionofthe department’sbudget(e.g.,studentsneedtobetransported,housed,andfedwhentheyare inthefield),andthishasbeenexacerbatedbytherecentgrowthinenrollmentinthe department.Weurgethattheuniversityacknowledgethespecialroleplayedbyfield experiencesinageologicaleducationandincreaseaccordinglythedepartment’sbudgetso astoaccommodateincreasesinthecostsoffield‐basededucationthathaveresultedfrom therecentincreasesinthenumberofstudentsinthedepartment. Studentresearchopportunities:Thecommitteelearnedthatundergraduatestudentsoften participatewithresearchindepartmentallaboratories,andweviewthisasaverypositive aspectoftheprogram.Nevertheless,despiteopportunitiestoinvolveundergraduatesin researchprojectsinthedepartment,wealsoheardfromundergraduatestudentsthatthey areoftenunawareoftheresearchactivitiesofthefaculty,andwenotedthatthereappears tobeanemphasisbythefacultyinemployingundergraduatesinlargelyroutinetechnical activitiesintheirlaboratories.Althoughthisarguablyhaspositiveconsequencesandoffers employmentopportunitiestoundergraduateswhoneedjobs,werecommendthatmore effortbemadetoprovideactualresearchexperienceforundergraduatestudents. EnvironmentalScience:Thecommitteefoundfromitsdiscussionswithstudentsthatmany oftheincomingstudentstotheuniversityselectthisdepartmentbecauseoftheirdesireto studyenvironmentalscience.Yetdespitesignificantstudentinterestinenvironmental science,thedepartment’scourseofferingsinenvironmentalsciencearefewinnumberand oftenmoregeologicalthanspecificallyenvironmentalintheirfocus.Whilegeological approachesandknowledgearecriticalforwell‐trainedenvironmentalscientists,andthe studentslikelygainthebasictoolsthatenablethemtogetmoredeeplyintoenvironmental sciencelateronthroughfurtherstudies,thecommitteewasneverthelessstruckbythe paucityofcoursesinthisdisciplinethatissocriticaltothestudentsenrolledinthe department.Thesmallnumberofcourseofferingswithinthedepartmentispartly compensatedbycoursesofferedbyotherBGUdepartments,butthisisnecessarilylimited bythelargenumberofmandatoryinternalcoursesundergraduatesarerequiredtotake. Whileweemphasizeagainthepositiveaspectsthatstemfromthesolidgroundingstudents receiveinthefundamentalsandingeologicalscience(andcommentsbythestudents confirmthattheyareappreciativeofthis),thecommitteefeelsthattheprogramwould benefitbybetterbalancebetweencoursesingeologicalscienceandthoseinenvironmental science. Whileourcommentsinthepreviousparagraphrelateprimarilytopedagogicalissues,we alsofeelthatthereisdisconnectbetweenthenameofthedepartment,"theDepartmentof GeologicalandEnvironmentalSciences,”andthefactthatsofewclassesareofferedin environmentalscience,includingfundamentalareassuchasatmosphericchemistryand atmosphere‐solidearthinteractions.Thisdisconnectwassensedbythecommitteefrom readingtheself‐evaluation,anditwasraisedbysomeoftheundergraduatestudentswith whomwemet. Geophysics:Theundergraduateandgraduateprogramshavelessemphasisonsolid‐earth geophysicsthanwouldbeexpectedgiventheimportanceofthissub‐disciplineinthe geosciences.Thecommitteefeelsthatgeophysicsshouldbestrengthenedinthecurriculum atallscales,rangingfromthewhole‐earthtotheregional,andalsosoastoinclude explorationandenvironmentalapplications.Somealumniwithwhomwemetalso expressedthatthisshortcomingofBGU’sprogramputthematadisadvantageinseeking employmentinindustryandthattheyrequiredconsiderablegeophysicaltrainingonce theywerehired.Relatedtothisisourobservationthatthedepartmentwouldbenefitfrom 10 improvingthedepthandbreadthofitscomputer‐basedtechniques;theseshouldbe incorporatedintothecurriculumtothemaximumextentpossible.Astepforwardinthis directionhasrecentlybeenaccomplishedwiththeadditionofnewfaculty. Industrialrelations:Thereviewcommitteetriedtoevaluatetheextenttowhichthe departmentiswellconnectedandwellpositionedinitsrelationswithindustry.Such connectionscanleadtofundingsources,stimulatingopportunitiesforfacultyandstudents, andemploymentopportunitiesforgraduatesoftheprogram.Althoughthereareseveral successfulcollaborationsofthissortinthedepartment(especiallywithIsraelEnergy Initiatives,Ltd.),thereappeartobefewersuchopportunitiesthaninsomeothercountries. ThismayreflectlessemphasishistoricallyinIsraeloncollaborativeresearchbetween industryandtheuniversities,onphilanthropicfund‐raisingfromindustry,andon enhancementofthecurriculumthroughseminars,lectures,andcoursesofferedbypeople inindustry. Relatedtothelargerissueofindustrialrelationsisourimpressionthatstudentsdonot appeartoworkinindustrymuchduringthesummer(whetherasactualemployeesor interns).Thedepartmentmightencouragestudentstoseeksuchexperiencesontheirown and/ordevelopmechanismsfordepartmentaloutreachtoindustrytohelpstudentsfind suchopportunities.Asdescribedinapreviousparagraph,weunderstandthatmany undergraduateshaveopportunitiestohelpinBGUlabs,andalthoughthisisvaluable,work inindustrialorganizationsremovedfromtheuniversityenvironmentcangreatlyenlarge students’perspectives,andwesuggestthatthedepartmentthinkabouttheappropriate balancebetweenthesedifferenttypesofopportunity. ShouldBGUundergraduatestudentsstayonasgraduatestudentsatBGU?Thecommittee observedthatmostofthegraduatestudentsinthedepartmentalsodidtheir undergraduatestudiesatBGUinthesamedepartment.Westronglybelievethatthe studentsgainmorewhentheycarryontheirgraduateworkinauniversityand/or departmentotherthantheoneinwhichtheydidtheirundergraduatestudies.Inthisway, theyarechallengedandgrowbybeingexposedtodifferentpeopleandapproachesto science.Similarly,thedepartmentshouldmakeallpossibleeffortstorecruitstudentswho graduatedfromotherdepartmentsatBGU,andevenmoreimportantly,fromearthscience andenvironmentalprogramselsewhereinIsraelandbeyond.Thiswillenrichthe departmentandtheeducationofitsstudents.Wenotethatthisisanationwideissue,and werecognizethatitmaybemoreprevalentinIsraelthanelsewhereforvery understandableandpracticalreasons(e.g.,Israelistudentstendtobeolderthanthosein othercountriesandhavefamilies)andthatweweretoldbyseveralofthestudentsthat theirdecisiontoattendBGU(andtoremainthere)relatetoauniversityandliving environmentthatisespeciallypleasantandthattheyperceiveasbeinguniqueinIsrael. Weneverthelessurgethedepartmenttotrytochangethispattern,perhapsbyworking withtheotherIsraeliuniversities. Oneideathatthedepartmentmightconsider,giventhatitsundergraduatestudentstendto stayonasgraduatestudents,isaprogramforencouraginginternationalstudyexperiences foritsstudents.Studyinginaforeigncountrycanbeverybeneficialtostudents,providing alife‐andeducational‐broadeningexperience.Amongotherthings,itcouldalsoopen avenuesforgraduatestudyabroad.Conversely,exchangeprogramscanopenavenuesfor studentsfromabroadtoconsiderstudyatBGU.Weunderstandthatbecauseofthe militaryrequirementbeforeattendinguniversitysuchexchangeprogramsmightbeless appealingandmoredifficultfortheolderpopulationofmarriedB.S.studentsatBGUthan isgenerallytrueforstudentsfromoutsideIsrael,butthecommitteethinksthatitcouldbe avaluableadditiontothedepartment’sprogramsforthosestudentswhomightbeableto participate.Onecouldalsoenvisionsuchaprogramforgraduatestudentsaswell(weare 11 awareofsuchprogramsatnon‐Israeliuniversities)andthiscouldbeespeciallyvaluable fortheresearchprogramsofthedepartmentasawholeaswellasforthestudentswho participate. Theroleofthedepartmentintheuniversityasawhole:Thecommitteewastoldthatthe departmentdoesnotofferbasicandbroadearthscienceandenvironmentalscience coursesaimedatthegeneralstudentpopulationoutsidethedepartment.Althoughthere mightbeinsurmountablehurdlesrelatedtothetraditionalstructureofIsraelihigher education,wefeelthatitisimportantinthisdayandage—whencitizensandgovernment officialshavetoformopinionsandtakeactiononavarietyofresource‐,hazard‐,and environment‐relatedissues—thattheyhavetheopportunity(indeedtheencouragement) tobeexposedtoandtogainsomebasicscientificunderstandingintheseareas.Such coursesarecommonworldwide,andtheyareusuallyhighlypopular.Relatedtothis,BGU studentsareproudthatBGUisrecognizedasa“green”institution;loweringthebarriersto provideallBGUstudentswiththeopportunitytolearnabouttheplanetonwhichtheylive wouldsolidifyandjustifythisdesignation. 6. Research Observationsandfindings: Theresearchcarriedoutbythefacultyencompassesasignificantbreadthforafacultyof aboutten.Researchareascoveredbythedepartmentincludepaleoceanography, paleontology,stratigraphy,structuralgeology,rockmechanics,geomorphology,tectonics, igneousandmetamorphicpetrology,geochemistry(high‐andlow‐temperature), engineeringgeology,environmentalgeology,andgeophysics.Thefacultypublishesata modestrateofonaverage~2papersperyearingood(orhigher)qualityjournals. Therehavebeenfourfacultyappointmentsinthedepartmentsince2010:Dr.Havivhas establishedaprograminlow‐temperaturethermochronologythatisoperationaland bringsanewresearchareatothedepartmentthatisuniqueinIsrael.Dr.Granothas establishedaprograminpaleomagnetismanditsapplicationtotectonicsandocean structure.Dr.Kamyshnyhasestablishedanenvironmentalbiogeochemicallaboratory rootedinstableisotopegeochemistrythatestablishesBenGurionUniversityin biogeochemistrywithimplicationsforenvironmentalscience.Dr.LiranGorenapplies analyticalsolutionsandnumericalmodelingtostudyawiderangeofgeologicaland geomorphologicalproblems. Thedepartmentappearstohaveadequateoutsidesupportforfaculty–ledresearch.The researchfacilitiesareofgenerally(butnotuniversally)goodqualityandrange,andin somecasestheyareatthestate‐of‐the‐art. AsdescribedintheExecutiveSummary,thedepartmenthasageneralconcepttogrowits facultybyabout50percent.Possiblefocioftheseappointmentswouldbenumerical modelingofearthsystems,geodynamics,globalchange,fossilfuels,andgeomechanicsin thefaceofseismichazards.Wenotethatatpresentitisuncertainifthereissufficient spaceforthismanyappointments. 12 7. Infrastructure Observationsandfindings: Thedepartmentincludesaboutadozenlaboratoriesassociatedwithprofessorialfaculty members,andthesecomprisethemajorinfrastructureofthedepartment.Thecommittee visitedaselectionoftheselaboratoriesandwasimpressedbythequalityandthescopeof theresearchbeingpursued.Ineachcase,agraduatestudentuserwaspresentandweread intheself‐evaluationthatupto~10graduatestudentsuseeachofthelaboratories. Asmallnumberoftechnicalstaffarealsoassociatedwiththelaboratories.Despitearecent turnoverofacademicstaff,therehasnotbeenanequivalentturnoveroftechnicalstaff. Fourtechniciansarepresentlysupportedbydepartmentalfunds,twoofwhom,wewere told,nowoperateoutmodedequipment. Theneedforadditionaltechnicalsupportwasthenumberoneissueraisedbyfaculty membersandgraduatestudentswhentheymetwiththecommittee.Allgroupsargued stronglythataninadequateleveloftechnicalsupportishavinganegativeimpactontheir researchproductivity. Thecommitteerecognizestheneedforhighlyqualifiedtechnicalsupportgiventhe demandsofmodernlaboratoriesandtheirinstrumentation.Thecommitteerecommends thatthedepartmentconductastudyofitsneedsandofcurrentandpossibleresources, includingsupportfromgrants,departmentalfunds(includingpart‐timeteachingsupport fortechnicalstaff),sharingwithotherdepartments,andpossiblyuniversity‐widefunds.A pyramidofneedsshouldbedeveloped;startingwiththeminimumneeds,uptowhat wouldbedesirableiffundswereunlimited.Thecommitteenotesthatitisnotan uncommonpracticeforadepartmenttoassessaresearchtaxongrantstosupport technicalpeopleandtobuildabridgingfundtohelpintheeventofalossofgrantsupport. Likewise,weknowofsomecasesinwhichthedepartmentand/oruniversityputsfunds asideinproportiontograntfundingoftechnicianstoprovideabufferforlostfundingat somefuturetime.However,withoutafullevaluationofwhatisnecessaryandofsourcesof supportfromtheusersandthedepartment,wethinkitunlikelythattheuniversitywould committosignificantadditionalsupport.Wealsonotethatsupportforfourtechnical personnelinadepartmentof~10facultymembersdoesnotstrikethecommitteeas necessarilyoutoflinewithexpectationselsewhere. Otherinfrastructureissuesthatwereraisedrelatetospacelimitationsthatcouldinhibit futuregrowthandonsitecomputationalfacilities.AsdescribedintheExecutiveSummary, theseshouldbeconsideredasthedepartmentproducesitsstrategicplan. 8. Self‐EvaluationProcess Observationsandfindings: Thedepartmenttookseriouslytheself‐evaluationprocessandproducedagoodreportand updateforthecommittee.Somecommitteememberswouldhavelikedamoreexplicit statementofweaknesses. 13 Signedby: _________________________ Prof. EdwardStolper‐Chair ___________________________ Prof.HenryElderfield ____________________________ Dr.YairRotstein ______________________________ Prof.KennethLarner _______________________________ Prof.GeraldSchubert Prof.MarkThiemens 14 Appendix1:LetterofAppointment February21,2012 Prof.EdwardStolper DivisionofGeologicalandPlanetarySciences CaliforniaInstituteofTechnology USA DearProfessorStolper, TheIsraeliCouncilforHigherEducation(CHE)strivestoensurethecontinuingexcellenceand quality of Israeli higher education through a systematic evaluation process. By engaging upon thismission,theCHEseeksto:enhanceandensurethequalityofacademicstudies,providethe public with information regarding the quality of study programs in institutions of higher educationthroughoutIsrael,andensurethecontinuedintegrationoftheIsraelisystemofhigher educationintheinternationalacademicarena. Aspartofthismostimportantendeavorwereachouttoworld‐renownedscientiststohelpus meetthecriticalchallengesthatconfronttheIsraelihighereducationbyacceptingourinvitation to participate in our international evaluation committees. This process represents an opportunitytoexpressourcommonsenseofconcernandtoassessthecurrentandfuturestatus of education in the 21st century and beyond. It also establishes a structure for an ongoing consultative process among scientists around the globe on common academic dilemmas and prospects. Ithereforedeeplyappreciateyourwillingnesstojoinusinthiscrucialenterprise. ItiswithgreatpleasurethatIherebyappointyoutoserveasthechairoftheCouncilforHigher Education’sCommitteefortheEvaluationofGeologyandEarthScience.Thecompositionofthe Committee will be as follows: Prof. Edward Stolper (Chair), Prof. Harry Elderfield, Prof. Ken Larner,Dr.YairRotstein,Prof.GeraldSchubert,Prof.MarkThiemens. Ms.MarissaGrosswillcoordinatetheCommittee’sactivities. InyourcapacityasthechairoftheEvaluationCommittee,youwillberequestedtofunctionin accordancewiththeenclosedappendix. Iwishyoumuchsuccessinyourroleaschairofthismostimportantcommittee. Sincerely, GideonSa'ar MinisterofEducation, Chairperson,theCouncilforHigherEducation 15 Appendix2:SiteVisitSchedule Wednesday,January9,2013(Room‐112,Building58) Time Subject Participants 10:00‐10:45 Openingsessionwiththeheads Rector – Prof. Zvi Hacohen oftheinstitutionandthesenior Deputy Rector – Prof. Steve Rosen staffmemberappointedtodeal Dean–Prof.ShlomiDolev withqualityassessment 10:45‐11:30 Meetingwith theDeanofthe Prof.ShlomiDolev FacultyofNaturalSciences 11:30‐12:15 MeetingwiththeChairofthe DepartmentofGeologicaland EnvironmentalSciences Department Prof.JiwcharGanor – DepartmentChair 12:15‐13:15 Meetingwithseniorfacultyand representativesofrelevant committees (teaching/curriculum committee,admissions committee,appointments committee) 13:15‐14:00 Lunch‐closed‐doorworking meetingofthecommittee Inthesameroom 14:00‐14:45 Touroflaboratories Prof. JiwcharGanor ‐ Chair 14:45‐15:30 MeetingwithseniorUntenured Faculty Dr. Roi Granot, Dr. Alexey Kamyshny, Dr. ItaiHaviv,Dr.MichaelTsesarsky 15:30‐16:00 Closeddoorcommitteemeeting GraduateCommittee:Prof.Chaim Benjamini,Dr.ItaiHaviv UndergraduateCurriculumCommittee: Prof.YossefHatzor,Dr.YaronKatzir,Dr. SigalAbramovich AdmissionCommittee:Dr.YaronKatzir 16 Thursday,January10,2013 Time 10:00‐10:45 10:45‐11:00 11:00‐11:45 Subject Meetingwithadjunctfaculty Closeddoorcommitteemeeting MeetingwithBachelorsstudents 11:45‐12:30 MeetingwithMastersStudents 12:30‐13:15 Lunch‐closed‐doorworking meetingofthecommittee 13:15‐14:00 MeetingwithPhDstudents 14:00‐14:45 Meetingwithalumni Participants Dr.RanFrank, Dr. NavotMorag,Dr.Itay Reznik 1st year:Ms.OrGranot,Ms.HadasBarr,Mr. AlmogBaram 2ndyear:Ms.MilaMuravyov,Ms.Miriam Gindis,Ms.AyaCohen 3rdyear:Mr.AmitReiss,Mr.AssafLiebstein, Ms.BibiKerpel 4th year: Mr.AsafGoldberg 1st year: Mr. Guy Tzur (Dr. Itai Haviv) , Mr. NirBadt(Prof.YossiHatzor),Mr. ElanLevy (Dr.OritSivan) 2st year: Mr. Michael Anenburg (Dr. Yaron Katzir), Mr. Nadav Knossow (Dr. Alexey Kamyshny), Mr. Peter Rendel (Prof. Jiwchar Ganor),Ms.DafnaBraun(Prof.YehudaEyal, Dr. Rami Weinberger), Ms. Yael Leshno (Prof.ChaimBenjamini) Inthesameroom 1st year:Mr.GilyMerkado (Dr.Sigal Abramovich),Mr.ChenGruber(Prof. JiwcharGanor) 2ndyear:Mr.ItayBar‐Or(Dr.OritSivan) 3rdyear:Mrs.MichalAdler(Dr.OritSivan), Mrs.DaniellaGat(Dr.MichaelTsesarski), Mr.ShaharShaniKadmiel(Dr.Michael Tsesarski) 4th/5thyear:Mr.YoavRosenberg(Prof. JiwcharGanor),Mrs.GonyBiran(Prof.Yossi Hatzor) Mrs.TamarFishel,Dr.OritHyams,Dr.Shai Ezra,Ms.May‐TalSadeh,Dr.ItayReznik,Mr. YonatanSadeh,Mr.ZivSade,Ms.Ina Ryvkin,Ms.RutiTalby,Mrs.AlitWiel‐ Shafran 17 14:45‐15:15 Closed‐doorworkingmeetingof thecommittee 15:15‐16:00 Summationmeetingwithheads oftheinstitutionandofthe department Rector – Prof. Zvi Hacohen Deputy Rector – Prof. Steve Rosen Dean–Prof.ShlomiDolev Chair–Prof.JiwcharGanor 18
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