Chief Scientist of Keren Kayemet LeIsrael – Jewish National Fund (KKL-JNF)
Dr. Doron Markel has been the Chief Scientist of KKL-JNF since November 2018. In this capacity, he oversees the organization’s research and professional activities, focusing on aquatic environments and sustainability, with a particular emphasis on tackling the climate crisis. His leadership extends to groundbreaking research and development projects, including initiatives in agrivoltaics and energy storage, where he spearheads programs aimed at finding sustainable solutions to environmental challenges.
Within the framework of his role, Dr. Markel is a member of Israel’s Forum of Chief Scientists, contributing to high-level discussions on scientific advancements and sustainability. Since 2022, he has also been an active member of the Israeli Climate Forum, under the auspices of the President of the State of Israel, aimed at addressing the nation’s climate strategies.
Dr. Markel’s expertise and influence in climate-related matters have also taken him to the international stage. He represented KKL-JNF at the Dubai Expo during Climate and Sustainability Week in 2021 and Water Week in 2022, highlighting KKL-JNF’s innovative environmental initiatives. In 2022, he also represented KKL-JNF at the 27th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP27) in Sharm El Sheikh. Additionally, Dr. Markel led the Climate Solution Prize research competition in October 2022 and December 2023, in partnership with JNF Canada. This prestigious program awards a $1 million prize to groundbreaking research that mitigates climate change through either the reduction of carbon emissions or the enhancement of carbon sequestration. Dr. Markel played a pivotal role in leading the scientific evaluation and judging process for the award.
Throughout his tenure at KKL-JNF, Dr. Markel has fostered key collaborations with environmental innovation centres, particularly in the Galilee and the Negev regions. He has worked closely with institutions such as KIC (Kinneret Innovation Centre), Tech7 (the Ecosystem Catalyst of Beer-Sheva and the Negev), Tel Chai College, and Sapir College. He currently serves on the board of the KKL-JNF-Zemach-Kinneret Innovation Centre.
Before assuming his current position, Dr. Markel was the Head of the Lake Kinneret Watershed Monitoring and Management Department at the Israeli Water Authority. Between 2008 and 2013, Dr. Markel represented the State of Israel in the Red Sea-Dead Sea Conveyance Feasibility Study, a project led by the World Bank.