Chief Scientist of KKL-JNF
As the Chief Scientist of KKL-JNF, a role he has held since November 2018, Dr. Markel oversees the research and professional aspects of the organization’s core activities, including the aquatic environments, sustainability and leading KKL-JNF R& D in relation to the climate crisis.
During 2021 and 2022 Dr. Markel has represented KKL-JNF at the Expo Dubai during the Climate and Sustainability week and the Water week. In October 2022 he also led the Climate Solution Prize research competition together with JNF Canada.
Prior to his current role, Dr. Markel served as Head of the Lake Kinneret Watershed Monitoring and Management Department at the Israeli Water Authority.
Between 2008-2013 he represented the State of Israel at the Red Sea-Dead Sea Conveyance Feasibility Study, led by the World Bank.
From 2009-2018 he also served as an external lecturer at the Geography Department of the University of Haifa.
Dr. Markel received his Ph.D. in 1999 from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. His Ph.D. thesis dealt with the biogeochemical cycles of sulfur and iron in the re-flooded Hula wetland (Agamon Hula) in northern Israel.