The Center — Transnational Red Sea Center

Actions & Philosophy

Bridging science and diplomacy for the conservation of the "Reefs of Hope", the action of the Transnational Red Sea Center is based on 3 pillars:

• scientific research and innovation, including field missions to implement specific programs on, among others, 3D mapping using AI, eDNA, seascape genomics, with the aim of collecting the information needed by the governmental bodies in charge of drawing up relevant conservation policies.

• education and capacity building for the region's scientific communities, with the aim of training and equipping local partners through tech transfer, and inspiring the emergence of the next generations of scientists.

• public outreach, with the aim of raising awareness and involving civil society as a whole in conservation efforts.

These 3 pillars themselves rely on a philosophy including trust, open science and mutual beneficial actions, each TRSC's activity being carried out in close collaboration with the Center's local partners, in a transnational spirit that aims to foster the emergence of a shared vision in favor of the common good that these corals represent, for the region as much as for the world.

Goals

Through the above mentioned actions and philosophy, the objectives of the Transnational Red Sea Center are to:

• Unite scientists in the Red Sea countries and drive collaborations to push further our understanding of the biological mechanisms by which the Red Sea corals have achieved their extraordinary resistance to climate change, which makes them unique compared to other corals.

• Promote environmental protection policies for the Red Sea coral ecosystem by engaging public and private actors through scientific, educational and cultural collaboration at the regional level. Pave the way for future technological applications potentially enabling to rehabilitate other reefs worldwide.

Achievements

Since its creation, the TRSC has conducted several scientific missions and educational workshops in the Red Sea, either directly or through its regional partners: in Jordan, Djibouti, Soudan, as well as in Switzerland.

To date, through the formal signing of Memorandum of Understanding or through de facto participation in TRSC activities, six countries adhere to its regional vision of conservation issues: Sudan (MoU signed in 2021), Jordan (MoU signed in 2022), Djibouti (MoU signed in 2022), Eritrea (MoU signed in 2024); Israel and Yemen.

In parallel with its scientific and educational activities, the TRSC has organized or participated in numerous public outreach events in the Red Sea region, in Switzerland and beyond such as: conferences including at the UN Ocean Conference, panel discussions, workshops, photo exhibitions or specific program to raise awareness through art.

A long-term ambition

The Transnational Red Sea Center aims to increasingly federate scientists from each partner country and from a wide range of disciplines, including oceanography, biology, genetics, ecology, geology, nature conservancy, civil and environmental engineering, social science, demography, agronomy, industrial fishery, water resources, economy, informatics, and ‘big data’.

It will make direct use of already existing research platforms in the different partner countries, to become a virtual Environmental Science University of the Red Sea region, and will have a very significant and broad international outreach, including to coral research centers in Australia, Japan, China, France, and the USA.

Bridging cultural, religious, and political boundaries

The Red Sea region is rich in diversity that has, in the past, led to conflict and geopolitical tension. A key objective of the Center is to unite the Red Sea countries across political, religious, and cultural boundaries in the common pursuit of scientific knowledge that will form the basis for protection of the Red Sea corals.

Science is not only the basis for effective environmental protection, it also offers a common and even platform for dialogue, permitting people of different conviction and cultural background to communicate effectively. The Center will therefore, through its scientific activities, contribute directly to create a peaceful dialogue between all partner-countries in the Red Sea region.