Research-supporting activities Heinz Steinitz

1 research-supporting activities

1.1 scientific expeditions
1.2 building-up , management of fish collection
1.3 forging connections international scientific community
1.4 founding marine biology research laboratory near eilat

research-supporting activities

parallel research , teaching @ university, steinitz involved in 3 types of research-supporting long term pursuits: (a) participation, organization , management of scientific expeditions; (b) building-up , curation of fish collection; (c) planning, founding , managing marine research station near eilat.

scientific expeditions

in earliest expeditions, in 1938-1940, steinitz explored fauna of lake hula , surrounding marshland. following outbreak of suez crisis of 1956, steinitz organized , headed expedition examining marine fauna along red sea coasts of sinai peninsula , suez canal. in 1962 led first israeli south red sea expedition (isrse) based on islands of dahlak archipelago of eritrea. isrse part of first international indian ocean expedition (iioe) 1962-1965. interdisciplinary marine sciences research effort survey south red sea , collect biological specimens , data region. otto haim oren haifa sea fishery research station , lev fishelson tel aviv university, both @ time doctoral students of steinitz, assisted in organizing project. expedition team included crew of researchers universities , research institutes in israel, scientists netherlands, usa , ethiopia.

building-up , management of fish collection

the fish collection of hebrew university begun in 1920s prof. israel aharoni , prof. georg haas, after opening of department of zoology. steinitz added specimens beginning of work in department. during 1950s, collection of fish specimens carried out prof. adam ben-tuvia sea fishery research station in haifa, former student of steinitz. considerable augmentation of collection occurred harvest of expeditions sinai in 1956 , israeli south red sea expeditions in 1960s, when on 3,000 lots of fish deposited. taxonomic , zoogeographic identification of specimens conducted correspondence between steinitz , ichthyologists , curators of research institutes , science museums around world. consequence, collection became recognized having major international importance, serving reference collection international community of ichthyologists.

forging connections international scientific community

the formative years of steinitz s career took place under difficult conditions prevailing in budding university, compounded instability of wars accompanied resurrection of state of israel. steinitz pursued connections , collaborations international community of scientists in order ensure research in israel met highest standards—a goal of critical importance himself, university, , country. furthermore, realized connections colleagues foreign countries diminish limits , disadvantages inherent in working in small local scientific community geographically removed global science centers. wide , branched connections wove on many years scientists worldwide helped him form sound basis was, @ time, days of marine biology, oceanography, , ichthyology in israel.

a special facet of steinitz s international activities building-up contacts , collaborations west germany s scientists, institutions , organizations. commenced doing years prior establishment, in 1965, of diplomatic relations between germany , israel. in 1946, working on fish collection, exchanged information , biological material german zoologist , geneticist curt kosswig. prof. kusswig emigrated in 1937 nazi germany turkey, established department of zoology @ istanbul university. returned west germany in 1955, appointed head of zoological institute , zoological museum of university of hamburg, , visited steinitz @ hebrew university of jerusalem. 1960s steinitz invited several times visit guest professor @ university of hamburg , other german universities. visited , tied connections museums of science, zoological museums , marine biology research stations in west germany. became acquainted dr. günther böhnecke, oceanographer played central role after world war ii in rehabilitating germany s scientific relationships countries worldwide. dr. böhnecke advisor german research foundation, deutsche forschungsgemeinschaft (dfg), in field of oceanography. personal acquaintance , mutual appreciation between steinitz , böhnecke led support dfg building , operating marine biology laboratory near eilat.

founding marine biology research laboratory near eilat

doctor walter steinitz, father of heinz steinitz, published in 1919 vision , proposal establish marine biology research station on mediterranean coast of palestine. hebrew university, , scholars in palestine , in other countries, supported plans of project, attempts raise funds failed. inspired father s vision, heinz steinitz resumed effort carry out concept. however, decided in 1950s station better situated if built on coast of red sea, in gulf of eilat (gulf of aqaba). had 3 reasons preferred location: (a) being time knowledgeable marine life in both mediterranean sea , red sea, heinz steinitz recognized higher richness , notable biodiversity of latter, still remained uninvestigated. (b) first reports presence of fishes of indo-pacific origin in eastern mediterranean sea began appear in beginning of twentieth century. indo-pacific fishes observed along coast of palestine first time walter steinitz. findings indicative intrusion of alien fishes eastern mediterranean sea via suez canal constructed , opened several decades prior first observations. heinz steinitz believed research base in golf of eilat best placed conduct investigations phenomenon of migration of marine biota indian ocean , red sea (a northern branch of indian ocean) through suez canal mediterranean sea. furthermore, marine station in gulf of eilat facilitate analysis of environmental , ecological changes resulting man-made connection between 2 global water bodies. (c) polluting spills cities of eilat , aqaba gulf waters, , pollutants discharged ships , oil tankers traffic along red sea , cross suez canal, constituted environmental perils. marine research station staff in eilat able monitor impacts of anthropogenic activities on ecological processes , on sensitive marine ecosystems of region.

in preparation construction of marine research station, steinitz visited during 1950s , 1960s dozens of oceanographic research stations , marine aquariums in europe, usa , in caribbean islands in order learn other s experience managing such facilities. since gulf of eilat in geographical periphery of israel , remote academic center, , considering israeli nucleus of marine biologists @ time still small, steinitz developed relationships colleagues abroad , convinced them come , conduct of research in planned station. reinforced local station s research , management staff international scientific advisory board of oceanographers europe, australia , usa in order strengthen , sustain nascent activity. in way guaranteed laboratory, inception, run @ levels meeting international standards.

steinitz received support , collaboration initiative colleagues @ other israeli universities , research institutions, israel oceanographic , limnology research (iolr) , german research foundation (dfg). vision of walter steinitz realized in 1968, 5 years after died, when marine biology laboratory (mbl) of hebrew university near eilat inaugurated. launching laboratory peak in career of heinz steinitz israeli zoologist , internationally recognized senior marine biologist. died in 1971 while being first director of laboratory; in honor, laboratory renamed heinz steinitz marine biology laboratory.

the scientific activity in station gained momentum after inception, , under leadership of successive directors research spread marine biology wide scope of additional disciplines including chemical , physical oceanography, marine ecology , environmental quality. supplemental buildings, new laboratories, teaching spaces , lecture halls constructed. israel s council higher education decided in 1985 station become interuniversity institute, marine biology laboratory being integral part of it. interuniversity institute marine sciences (iui) near eilat became national facility shared universities in israel, weizmann institute of science , technion (israel institute of technology).