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Albert Katz International School for Desert Studies
Albert Katz International School for Desert Studies
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Environmental Physics and Solar Energy

​​The M.Sc. program in Environmental Physics and Solar Energy is a two-year program.

The chairperson of the teaching committee is: Prof. Muhammad Bashouti.

Academic Program for students who began from November 2024

Students are required to complete the following courses during the two-year program:

Subject

Credits

A. Mandatory Course: Academic Writing

2
B. Seminars & Thesis Writing

13
C. Core courses

9

D. Elective courses

18

Total

42

This course should be taken in the 2nd or 3rd semester of your degree.

Course # Lecturer Subject Credits
001-2-0153 Dr. Scott Hansen and Dr. Christopher J. Arnush

Writing a Scientific Paper

  2

Students are required to attend Departmental Seminars (one seminar per semester).

Course # Lecturer Subject Credits
001-2-4444 Prof. Muhammad Bashouti and Dr. Leah Orlovsky (coordinator)

Departmental Seminar A (first year)

0.25
001-2-4454  

Departmental Seminar A (first year)

 0.25
001-2-4464  

Departmental Seminar A (second year)

 0.25
001-2-4474  

Departmental Seminar B (second year)

 0.25

In the third and fourth semesters, students must register for Thesis Writing.

Course # Subject Credits
001-2-9991

Thesis Writing A

 6
001-2-9992

Thesis Writing B

 6

Students who have completed the above Thesis Writing courses and continue their studies for a fifth semester must register for the following course:

Course # Subject Credits
001-2-1000 Thesis Writing – Continuation 0
Course # Lecturer Subject Credits
001-2-4027 Prof. Yossi Ashkenazy / Dr. Roiy Sayag*

Introduction to Geophysical Fluid Dynamic​

 3
001-2-4038 Prof. Golan Bel / Prof. Ido Regev*

Stochastic Processes in Physics

 3
001-2-4045 Prof. Eugene Katz / Dr. Avi Niv*

Physics of Solar Cells

 3
001-2-4050 Prof. Iris Visoli-Fisher / Dr. Muhammad Bashouti*

Nano-Materials and Nano-Technology for Sustainable Energy

 3
001-2-4053 Dr. Avi Niv / Prof. Eugene Katz*

Thermodynamics of Radiating Systems and the Optics of Solar Cells

 3
001-2-4060 ​Prof. Ido Regev

Partial Differential Equations in Continuum Transport Processes

 3

*Substitute Lecturer

Course # Lecturer Subject Credits
001-2-0009 Prof. Avraham Be'er

Physics of Bacterial Communities

 3
001-2-1103 Prof. Hadas Hawlana

​Introduction to Ecology in Arid Environments

 4
001-2-1200 Prof. Simon Barak & Dr. Buzi Raviv

BGU Radio Academy – Podcast production

 2
001-2-2038 ​Prof. Naftali Lazarovich

Soil Physics

 3
001-2-2205 ​Prof. Ido Regev

Modeling in the Earth and Plant Sciences

 3
001-2-4010 ​Prof. Georgy Burde

​Topics in Environmental Fluid Mechanics

 3
001-2-4011 Dr. Roiy Sayag

Non-Newtonian Fluid Mechanics

 3
001-2-4012 Prof. Isaak Rubinstein

​Electro-Diffusion of Ions and Membrane Desalination Processes

 3
001-2-4016 Dr. Leah Orlovsky

Geography of Desertification

 2
001-2-4022 Prof. Ehud Meron

Pattern Formation and Spatial Ecology

 3
001-2-4026 Prof. Yosef Ashkenazy

Introduction to Physics of Atmospheres

 3
001-2-4029 Prof. Yosef Ashkenazy

​ Introduction to Statistics and Probability

 3
001-2-4031 Fall 001-2-4033 Spring ​Prof. Isaak Rubinstein

​Topics in Physico-Chemical Hydrodynamics and Electrodiffusion

 4
001-2-4042 Prof. Golan Bel

Statistical Analysis in Climate Research I

 2
001-2-4044 Prof. Golan Bel

Statistical Analysis in Climate Research II

 2
001-2-4046 Prof. Eugene Katz

Advanced Concepts in Photovoltaic Devices

 3
001-2-4047 Prof. Iris Visoly-Fisher

Surface Science for the Environment

 3
001-2-4048 Prof. Muhammad Bashouti

Physical Optics

 3
001-2-4049 ​Dr. Arik Yochelis

Nonlinear Dynamical Aspects of Electrochemical Systems

 3
001-2-4052 Prof. Muhammad Bashouti

​Fundamentals of Semiconductors

 3
001-2-4056 Dr. Hezi Yizhaq

Aeolian Geomorphology

 2
001-2-4058 ?

Topics in Solar Energy

 3
001-2-4063 Dr. Victor Vishonsky

Hands-on Image and Video Analysis without Coding: From Acquisition to Quantification

 3
001-2-4064 Prof. Muhammad Bashouti

Optoelectronics of Surfaces

 3
001-2-4065 ​Dr. Victor Yashunsky ​Data-Based Research with Python 3
001-2-5074 Dr. Elad Levintal

Envirotech - do it yourself sensors for environmental research

 3

001-2-5075 Fall

001-2-5076 Spring

 Dr. Elad Levintal

Do-it-yourself sensors for environmental research - advanced course

 3

001-2-7011

 Dr. Arik Yochelis

Numerical Analysis Using MATLAB

 3

The recommended semester breakdown is described in the following table: 

Semester Courses (credits) Credit range
1 Departmental seminar A (0.25), core courses (3-9), elective courses (3-9) 6.25-18.25
2 Departmental seminar B (0.25), core courses (0-6), elective courses (6-12) 6.25-18.25
3 Departmental seminar C (0.25), Writing a Scientific Paper (2), elective courses (0-9), Thesis (6) 8.25-17.25
4 Departmental seminar D (0.25), Thesis (6) 6.25

Academic Program for students who began up until April 2024

Subject

Credits

A. Mandatory Course: Academic Writing

2
B. Seminars & Thesis Writing

13
C. Core courses

9

D. Elective courses

18

Total

42

This course should be taken in the 2nd or 3rd semester of your degree.

Course # Lecturer Subject Credits
001-2-0153 Dr. Scott Hansen and Dr. Christopher J. Arnush

Writing a Scientific Paper

 2

Students are required to attend Departmental Seminars (one seminar per semester).

Course # Lecturer Subject Credits
001-2-4444 Prof. Muhammad Bashouti and Dr. Leah Orlovsky (coordinator)

Departmental Seminar A (first year)

0.25
001-2-4454  

Departmental Seminar A (first year)

 0.25
001-2-4464  

Departmental Seminar A (second year)

 0.25
001-2-4474  

Departmental Seminar B (second year)

 0.25

In the third and fourth semesters, students must register for Thesis Writing.

Course # Subject Credits
001-2-9991

Thesis Writing A

 6
001-2-9992

Thesis Writing B

 6

Students who have completed the above Thesis Writing courses and continue their studies for a fifth semester must register for the following course:

Course # Subject Credits
001-2-1000 Thesis Writing – Continuation 0
Course # Lecturer Subject Credits
001-2-4027 Prof. Yossi Ashkenazy / Dr. Roiy Sayag*

Introduction to Geophysical Fluid Dynamic​

 3
001-2-4038 Prof. Golan Bel / Prof. Ido Regev*

Stochastic Processes in Physics

 3
001-2-4045 Prof. Eugene Katz / Dr. Avi Niv*

Physics of Solar Cells

 3
001-2-4050 Prof. Iris Visoli-Fisher / Dr. Muhammad Bashouti*

Nano-Materials and Nano-Technology for Sustainable Energy

 3
001-2-4053 Dr. Avi Niv / Prof. Eugene Katz*

Thermodynamics of Radiating Systems and the Optics of Solar Cells

 3
001-2-4060 ​Prof. Ido Regev

Partial Differential Equations in Continuum Transport Processes

 3

*Substitute Lecturer

Course # Lecturer Subject Credits 001-2-4027 Prof. Yossi Ashkenazy / Dr. Roiy Sayag* Introduction to Geophysical Fluid Dynamic​ 3 001-2-4038 Prof. Golan Bel / Prof. Ido Regev* Stochastic Processes in Physics 3 001-2-4045 Prof. Eugene Katz / Dr. Avi Niv* Physics of Solar Cells 3 001-2-4050 Prof. Iris Visoli-Fisher / Dr. Muhammad Bashouti* Nano-Materials and Nano-Technology for Sustainable Energy 3 001-2-4053 Dr. Avi Niv / Prof. Eugene Katz* Thermodynamics of Radiating Systems and the Optics of Solar Cells 3 001-2-4060 ​Prof. Ido Regev ​Partial Differential Equations in Continuum Transport Processes 3

Course # Lecturer Subject Credits
001-2-0009 Prof. Avraham Be'er

Physics of Bacterial Communities

 3
001-2-1103 Prof. Hadas Hawlana

​Introduction to Ecology in Arid Environments

 4
001-2-1200 Prof. Simon Barak & Dr. Buzi Raviv

BGU Radio Academy – Podcast production

 2
001-2-2038 ​Prof. Naftali Lazarovich

Soil Physics

 3
001-2-2205 ​Prof. Ido Regev

Modeling in the Earth and Plant Sciences

 3
001-2-4010 ​Prof. Georgy Burde

​Topics in Environmental Fluid Mechanics

 3
001-2-4011 Dr. Roiy Sayag

Non-Newtonian Fluid Mechanics

 3
001-2-4012 Prof. Isaak Rubinstein

​Electro-Diffusion of Ions and Membrane Desalination Processes

 3
001-2-4016 Dr. Leah Orlovsky

Geography of Desertification

 2
001-2-4019 Prof. Georgy Burde

Application of Symmetry Methods to Problems in Mathematical Physics

 3
001-2-4022 Prof. Ehud Meron

Pattern Formation and Spatial Ecology

 3
001-2-4026 Prof. Yosef Ashkenazy

Introduction to Physics of Atmospheres

 3
001-2-4028 Prof. Arnon Karnieli

Remote Sensing for Agriculture, Rangeland and Forestry

 3
001-2-4029 Prof. Yosef Ashkenazy

​ Introduction to Statistics and Probability

 3
001-2-4031 Fall 001-2-4033 Spring ​Prof. Isaak Rubinstein

​Topics in Physico-Chemical Hydrodynamics and Electrodiffusion

 4
001-2-4037 Prof. Amos Zemel

Optimization Methods

 3
001-2-4042 Prof. Golan Bel

Statistical Analysis in Climate Research I

 2
001-2-4044 Prof. Golan Bel

Statistical Analysis in Climate Research II

 2
001-2-4046 Prof. Eugene Katz

Advanced Concepts in Photovoltaic Devices

 3
001-2-4047 Prof. Iris Visoly-Fisher

Surface Science for the Environment

 3
001-2-4048 Dr. Avi Niv

Physical Optics

 3
001-2-4049 ​Dr. Arik Yochelis

Nonlinear Dynamical Aspects of Electrochemical Systems

 3
001-2-4052 Prof. Muhammad Bashouti

​Fundamentals of Semiconductors

 3
001-2-4056 Dr. Hezi Yizhaq

Aeolian Geomorphology

 2
001-2-4058 Dr. Avi Niv

Topics in Solar Energy

 3
001-2-4061 Prof. Boris Zaltzman

Partial Differential Equations in Continuum Transport Processes II

 3
001-2-4064 Prof. Muhammad Bashouti

Optoelectronics of Surfaces

 3
001-2-5074 Dr. Elad Levintal

Envirotech - do it yourself sensors for environmental research

 3

001-2-5075 Fall

001-2-5076 Spring

 Dr. Elad Levintal

Do-it-yourself sensors for environmental research - advanced course

 3

001-2-7004

 Dr. Nafatali Smith

Solution Methods in Mathematics

 3

001-2-7011

 Dr. Arik Yochelis

Numerical Analysis Using MATLAB

 3

New course

 Prof. Yair Zarmi

Nonlinear Waves

 3

The recommended semester breakdown is described in the following table: 

Semester Courses (credits) Credit range
1 Departmental seminar A (0.25), core courses (3-9), elective courses (3-9) 6.25-18.25
2 Departmental seminar B (0.25), core courses (0-6), elective courses (6-12) 6.25-18.25
3 Departmental seminar C (0.25), Writing a Scientific Paper (2), elective courses (0-9), Thesis (6) 8.25-17.25
4 Departmental seminar D (0.25), Thesis (6) 6.25